Two University students decided to stray from the popular tendency to take a traditional foreign language and enrolled in one not so well known — but definitely on the rise.
Jason Lambert, a liberal arts sophomore, and Karen Chapman, a history senior, work at the foreign language lab and currently are enrolled in Beginning Arabic 1102.
Lambert and Chapman decided they wanted to take the class because of its peculiarity.
“I wanted to take a language,” Lambert said. “I tried Latin, but it wasn’t for me.”
Lambert’s major requires him to take a foreign language, and Lambert saw Arabic as different and interesting.
“I wanted to take something I didn’t know — something totally different,” Lambert said.
Lambert and Chapman already have taken Beginning Arabic 1101. The University offers four Arabic courses — two entry-level and two intermediate classes.
Taking all four classes allows students to complete their language requirements for any degree.
“We had to add another section of the entry-level class for this semester due to the increase in demand for the class,” said Emily Batinski, director of the foreign languages department.
Batinski said there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of students enrolled in Arabic in the past few years, and a big increase in the demand for students wanting to take the language.
A Modern Language Association study released in November showed more college students than ever are studying foreign languages, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The number of college students taking foreign languages has increased 18 percent since 1998. The number of students taking Arabic jumped 93 percent across the same time period.
“I think the increase at LSU is part of a national trend of more students taking Arabic,” Batinski said.
The reasons for different students taking Arabic may vary, but for Chapman, it comes down to what interests her.
“I heard it was a good class with a good teacher,” Chapman said. “I really like it — Dr. Bachar puts a lot of culture into the class and makes it interesting.”
Batinski said the increase is good for the University. It indicates students are beginning to look for non-traditional languages.
One advantage of taking a non-traditional language during college may be a better chance of being hired into positions wanting multi-lingual employees.
“Even two years provides a huge advantage for students going into government positions or the business field,” Batinski said.
The foreign language department said it would like to see the expansion of Arabic classes at the University, but accomplishing it may not be easy.
“There is such a high demand for Arabic instructors across the country,” Batinski said. “It is hard to find them — after the events of September 11th, Arabic became a very sought-after language.”