lundi 11 juillet 2011

Arabic Language and Culture

 

A diverse young group of 75 students booked their flights some months ago,  from Australia, Africa, Europe, Canada, Korea, UK, US, Latin America and other continents to arrive and to be present on Monday 11th of July in the Old City to learn Arabic in Jerusalem.


The Centre for Jerusalem Studies of al Quds University launched
its Arabic Language School for the 2011 Summer season.. Six classes of spoken Arabic and modern standard (fussha,) are open for beginners, intermediates and advanced levels. several are students preparing dissertations and thesis in the topic of Palestine and Jerusalem.

  'its hot summer day, but a refreshing one with all of you here, having chosen to come to Jerusalem to learn Arabic".
i expressed in my welcome note and orientation.
I introduced the Centre:  where Academia meets Culture;
the place: Khan Tankaz, Hammam al Ayn 14thC Mamluk site; the working team:  Amira, Samira, Ayman and Mohammad;
CJS team, with speical thanks to Lana who's been working along the clock processing applications, placement, accommodation"...


The neighbourhood: in Tareeq al Wad, at the entrance of Souq
al Qattanine leading to al Aqsa Mosque. Today a marginalized tough spot of the Moslem Quarter. Surrounded with Jewish colonizers on the top roofs and deep underneath;

"The city today is ironically one of the safest in the region, actually in the world, the spirit is that of a police city loaded with pointed machine guns and cameras zooming-in the youth and their movements...























A typical Palestinian breakfast: ka'ek, falafel, zaatar, hoummos, foul with olives and tea with mint
made a quite fulfilling interval, between morning and afternoon classes. 

The Schedule is set for Arabic quite intensive classes, seminars and tours to religious and historic monuments, souqs, bazars, the Old City wall ramparts, the mosaic of communities in the different neighbourhoods, witnessing human violations, a contemporary quotidien practice on inhabitants;
the Annexation Wall will be visited along our way to al Quds University campus. There we will learn about stories of prisoners at Abu Jihad Museum, the Math museum, faculties, students, cafes
and gardens with mural of callligraphy and poetry and more: 
'a success story where a culture of education is being built against all odds"

On campus, we shall hopefully meet with the author of  'Once upon a country' and 'What's a Palestinian State worth ?', the President of al Quds University Prof Sari Nusseibeh,
stay tuned......

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