On Sunday, I started taking Arabic classes at the language center. I had no real experience in studying Arabic, though I had gained some understanding of how the Arabic alphabet worked. It was helpful to use a combination of things like Memrise, various apps/ebooks, StudyBlue online flashcards, and an Alif Baa textbook lent to me by my colleague, Lynn. (Thanks again, it really helped!)

However, I had a lot of language deficits. They put me in the lowest class, with 3 other students. Two of them had been at the program for several weeks and, although they were beginners, were still light years beyond me in Arabic. Luckily, the other new student had even less understanding of Arabic than I did.

This caused a very awkward first day of classes, in which teachers visibly floundered over how to teach students at vastly different levels. The other student and I were confused most of the time and the higher students had to review some things that they didn’t really need to review. My colleagues will know what I’m talking about—it was having Bs and 1s in the same class, only I was the B in this scenario. LOL.

It was decided that the other low student and I would be separated out and taught by a different teacher. We also have a kind of tutor, a student from a local college, who works with us three days a week. It has worked out well so far; lots of one-on-one time and lots of new information to take in.