Rachel Spahn
What language did you study and why?
I studied Arabic because I wanted to improve my language skills to be able to speak about complex topics, but more importantly, I wanted to better understand the language in a cultural context from native speakers.
What program did you attend and why did you choose it?
My experience at CET Jordan’s summer intensive program exceeded my expectations. I studied with CET through their semester abroad program in the fall of 2022, so I had reasonable expectations for what returning to Jordan would look like for me. Still, I was beyond pleased with how the program helped me learn Arabic through the intensive classroom experience, field-based excursions throughout the country, personalized time with professors, and the driven cohort of students.
Describe your experience doing summer language study. Was it tricky? How do you think your language skills improved?
We spent up to five hours daily speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Arabic in a classroom setting (where I worked with five other students). For example, we read and discussed a famous Arabic novel, “Men in the Sun” by Ghassan Kanafani; we watched Arabic news to discuss our course’s central theme ‘phenomena’ including the study of women’s rights, child labor, and climate change; we had weekly presentations on class topics and field-based activities, such as a presentation on our takeaways from a trip to a local radio station. We were regularly assessed on these skills and also took the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview at the end of the summer. Last fall, I achieved Advanced Mid and advanced to Advanced High on my interview this summer. When I studied abroad in the fall, I felt like I was learning a new word every two minutes and was solely focused on language acquisition. While I still learned hundreds of new words this summer, I was thankful that I had a different experience while language learning. I prioritized solidifying my confidence in my language skills: I would not resort to English if someone did not understand me, I learned how to speak casually and conversationally by engaging in more conversations with local shop owners and with taxi drivers, and by the end of the summer, I was able to confidently call taxis, bargain at local shops, and ask new people for help if I needed it. It became clear to me that while it is beneficial to focus on mastering words and complex structures, I could also grow my language skills by speaking in a wider variety of settings and with people from different Arabic-speaking countries. This was difficult and often made me feel vulnerable, but language learning is not linear, and I think that this experience gave me the confidence to continue making mistakes and learning from them.
Did intensive summer language study change or solidify any of your future goals? If so, how?
As for my academic development, my language acquisition from this summer will now allow me to take more advanced Arabic courses at Northwestern to complete the new Arabic minor, which I am very excited about. I also have more resources to keep practicing my language skills, including the textbooks I used in class, reading and listening to the news, and even simply staying in touch with my Arabic-speaking friends from Jordan. Through the program, I also interned at a local NGO that promotes women’s and children’s economic and social empowerment in Jordanian society. I used Arabic to translate the company’s resources and extrapolate governmental data written in Arabic. This showed me how I could use Arabic in a professional setting and especially in a way that can help people and communities, which I hope to do in the future. In particular, I would love to use Arabic to work in the government/ for a foreign policy agency to facilitate cross-cultural and multi-national discourses. Not only did the summer solidify my career goals, but I also learned a lot more about how I learn and can support others with their learning. It was challenging to commit to the language pledge when it would be a lot easier to resort to English with my student cohort. But our commitment to each other and ourselves and as a result, our much-improved language skills, taught me a lot of perseverance and resilience. Immersing myself in a new language and culture was uncomfortable at first. It made me a lot more grateful for my friendships and support systems, especially the locals I met that were patiently willing to listen to me stumble over words sometimes. I appreciated learning about a new culture and environment by living in it, and I am forever thankful to CET, my program, and the ULG for showing me I could.
Do you have any tips or advice for students similar to you that are interested in pursing intensive language study?
If you are studying in a new country, find communities and places that connect you to home! My program required me to speak exclusively in Arabic for the whole summer; I felt more comfortable exploring new areas while listening to my favorite songs in English and sometimes just drinking a mocha from Starbucks. I started writing down one good thing that happened and one thing I was grateful for every day, which was SO grounding! I also love looking back and reading about my experience now that I’m back at NU. Give yourself some grace. Prioritize self-care. You’ve got this!
What is something that you could give a 10 min presentation on right off the cuff?
Why the color green is the best color ever