In this op-ed for the student newspaper of Princeton University, Lebanese-American sophomore student Anais Mobarak laments that Arabic-language instruction inaccurately conflates the Arabic language with the religion of Islam. Reiterating that Arabic speakers span multiple faith communities, he encourages a more inclusive understanding of Arabic linguistic and cultural history. Relying on his own experience visiting family in Lebanon, the author points out that even within the Arabic-speaking world, cultural nuances persist, and that language instruction should accommodate that diversity.
View the full op-ed here.
