A stunning linguistic experience at Goethe Institute gave me an impetus to re-explore the poor situation of my rich language

   Consecutive visits to Germany over the past three years left a perpetuating impact on my personal intellectual trends. Naturally, when you had never navigated a theme or an area irrespective was it cultural, social, or political. There are stereotypes overflying your head, and these shape your perspective toward it especially when the first-hand experience for you is suddenly brought up.

It’s very smooth nowadays, that many topics are thoroughly available to us whenever there is a need to explore wittingly or spontaneously due to the existing modern technology that made the universe a small realm, where a heterogeneous social fabric is susceptible to be understood smoother than expected by all people.

This is the estimation to how human behavior is formed by any phenomenon; unknown unless the bubble of ambiguity that revolves around it is blown up through bringing out the uncertainty to make it clear. It undoubtedly requires making a crack in that wall in order to figure out what’s going on behind. Otherwise, the things you see or the changeable phenomenon you watch will remain blurry, and consequently, you’ll keep stereotypically thinking about.

Thus, the process of convergence of views has proven to be a promising toward a better off world where diversity, heterogeneity, and the fascination of multicolored nature, if applied extensively in terms of understanding the other, and then accept his orientation. Therefore, the globalized universe is in dire need for breaking the barriers down more than ever, given to its expansion interminably to the degree we feel that the newborn after incubation period begins wondering what’s going on in the other hemisphere! It’s a real fantasy! But, of course, this is metaphorically used to express how we touch upon this at the present. We need just to understand and taste of the amazing experience of multiculturalism because we come across myriad of things on social media alone for instance, which put us into the circle of inquiries under the title what’s going on on the other side of the world. It’s imaginable how rich our knowledge would be if we exceed watching things virtually to experience them on the ground in which language acts as a focal point!

Well, space here is insufficient to express my sensation toward how cultural exchange leads to convergence of views. So, I want to set off on narrating an experience drove me to enroll in a series of German courses at Goethe Institute in Ramallah -a well-known institute for teaching German aims at bridging understanding between Germany and outside world at the international arena- and what affected my intellectual trends aftermath.

In the second half of 2015, I eagerly and unconditionally decided to delve into German culture after I had been two times to German academic community through a short project organized by the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena in 2014, and in a high-profile conference by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in cooperation with Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) in Frankfurt in 2015. I had no hope that I’ll go back to Germany again later on. However, this didn’t hold me back carrying on exploring the affairs of this nation.

It was a stride didn’t come into being aimlessly, but there had been a simulation running led me to end up being a darling for this culture that I must find a bridge to be hooked up with all the time. Consequently, I went ahead seeking out a good institute to have German courses that put up the bridge to climb over and catch the reins of German culture.

At that time, and unexpectedly, an email popped up informing me regarding a new academic opportunity to spend a semester at one of Nord-Rhein Westfalen (NRW) universities, it was an interesting email sent by a professor, friend of mine lives in Jerusalem. It was a full-paid bursary sponsored by the Ministry of Innovation and Science in NRW, this encouraged starting off with German rapidly.

One thing must be admitted that the tendency to learn foreign languages within my society is barely implemented for the purpose of voluntarily exploring other cultures and deepening personal knowledge. I bet, most of the students who learn foreign languages doing so other than academic and rarely commercial purposes. Otherwise, the potentiality of learning foreign languages and spending much money and time just to explore other cultures isn’t very common.

Probably, would be more obvious if the administration at Goethe Institute conducts a survey in a task of exploring why cohorts of students regularly resort to their institute for learning German, without leaving out the cases of family unification where some go to have German courses for the chance of winning permanent residency which requires a good command of German.

At the beginning of 2016, that marginal desire came into effect, I began learning German at Goethe Institute-Ramallah with an endless flood of hopes to be a promising experience, in which that minor plans or probably -pipe dreams- would be fruitful. Who knows it would be so after having been taking courses for almost a year on a separate basis, including a course during three months research leave at the Bergische University of Wuppertal where I had a very stunning academic host.

By returning to home at the end of the last year, the journey of learning German was not over yet, it followed by a new enrollment in an intermediate course (B1) to build on what had been earned before either at Goethe Institute or in Germany. At this point, the change and the new perspective I’ve come up with thus far will be brought out to show that it has been a watershed linguistic experience where I saw my lingual background through, it moreover mixed up with a taste of intellectualism. It’s an imaginable to be as such despite the fact that it’s still booming incrementally.

To be honest, I haven’t accomplished remarkably in this field yet though the interesting thoughts I have had. However, and without overestimation, this experience conceals too much behind the curtain to be explored.

Deviating into another angle, I can capture the overwhelming feeling towards what I would share, it’s a multidimensional feeling is formed by two factors, firstly, the current linguistic experience, and secondly, my native language “Arabic” in which I had a protracted linguistic experience as well. The amazement of the first mentioned experience is what pushed me to think over the existing impediments on the path of progression of our own Arabic language, intellectualism, identity, and missing horizons will be clarified on the other hand. I actually hadn’t this sensation to share 5 years ago to think over the matter of -why do they have these cultural efforts, but we don’t have them?!- during my first linguistic experience at a well-known U.S. institute (AMIDEAST) for teaching English and building understanding with the U.S. nation in the entire Arab World.

First of all, and admittedly, Goethe Institute is a great success story of bridging civilizational understanding, it’s a success story of how the German historical character and its cultural elements weren’t outmaneuvered despite undergoing to historical vicissitudes, came to an end with the debacle of the mastermind of Nazism “The Führer.”

Who could imagine that German civilizational character would have been totally eradicated in line with the unbearable repercussions of WWII aftermath, had it not found courageous patriots who worked hard to keep it vivid until this moment!

This is what do I believe about Goethe Institute since was established in the 1950s. It’s a global network works on spreading not only German culture but also the German core message to the world over by which Germans could have a positive reaction toward their policies through this absolute openness. So, to what extent has contributed to strengthening the bonds of understanding where Germany could have minimally resolved previous dilemmas? To what extent has managed to disseminate the German word around the globe or make revenues by bringing great talents and gifted people in?

These inquires might have open-ended answers which this article hasn’t enough space to go into. I, therefore, consider them as a reminder to the reader to keep looking into them, because there is an interesting conundrum behind this immense cultural edifice to figure it out.

This success story worth to say, congratulation Germany! Congratulation for those who are indefatigably working for maintaining their identity and heritage! It makes me thrilled and proud of something I wished I had the similar, but I don’t have it now as something represents my background though integrating with day in and day out in order to fulfill my goals.

I actually, paved my path firstly in the academic field to learn Arabic.  Although it’s my mother tongue, doesn’t mean it’s all about proficiently using four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). No! Arabic is more than that, Arabic is a deep-seated culture, heritage, an identity, magnificent literature, the well-structured linguistic character can assimilate myriad of sciences due to its enrichment and conformability. Arabic is what distinguishes us; our civilization, and our interesting eventful history that was carved by our predecessors in monuments that narrate it. Not to mention, that this history was the most prosperous in one of the epochs centuries ago.

“In fact, for a period stretching over seven hundred years, the international language of science was Arabic. For this, was the language of the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, and thus the official language of the vast Islamic Empire that by early eighth century CE, stretched from India to Spain.” Jim Al-Khalili 

To make it clear, very important theories and postulates were drafted by Arab-Muslim scientists to become adoptable by many Western scientists later on. They proved their credibility and logical linkage with the interpretation of different manifestations running around us.

In this regard, former U.S. president, for instance, in his June 4, 2009, speech in Cairo, praised Muslims for their historical scientific and intellectual contributions to civilization:

“It was Islam that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed.”  

Back to the main theme, during almost daily attendance at Goethe Institute, I’ve observed –without overestimation- a remarkable number of cohorts of German learners who are flooding into on a daily basis. Well-equipped classrooms are occupied and full of the incessant thread of German language is being taught. I can imagine how it constitutes a far-sighted lens that the students or whoever interested in German can look through to watch the German landscape from different angles many miles away.

It has for several times drifted me out of this track to think out of German classrooms and ponder what’s going on around me, to find myself embarking on a platform of different thinking. But that thinking is leashed with a previous Arabic intellectual experience intervened in my own debate where I debate what’s running in my mind. So, I’ve been alone debating myself about these inquiries and what’s occurring within that special realm of German culture or “Goethe Institute.” I sometimes couldn’t cope with that unfathomable momentum that has burdened me down several times, it could be ascribed to a cluster of complex overlapping ideas. Eventually, these questions were raised in, what are the tangible outcomes that both German language learners and Germany itself reap by this cultural edifice? How does German individual who lives in Deutschland now feel when he realizes that his language is being taught globally, so his cultural identity is existent almost everywhere?  

Again, I leave this to the reader as an attraction to keep thinking it over, it seemingly inquiries drives me out of this thread to think of many sources could be purposeful to answer. I, however, shed some light on to show a glance of the indicative scene that the argument is reliant on what precisely want to talk about and why?

To simplify this, I believe in an approach to understanding one another, it states that “look at your image in the mirror of others whenever you want to unravel the mystery behind it.” What doesn’t make it a quite suitable way to find the answer while going through a new linguistic experience at Goethe Institute? But, didn’t Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said once,

“Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.”

And, as Nelson Mandela said also, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”

Basically, there are other inquiries have frequently been brought up in this self-debate from the other hand, what about the Arabic language doesn’t have foreign conduits overseas by its own native speakers irrespective who are they intellectuals or leaders have a staunch zealousness to open up cultural institutes teach Arabic and introduce our culture to whoever interested?! Doesn’t Arabic represent the identity of a formidable nation and distinguishable on the international map stretches from the Arabian Gulf in the East to the Atlantic Ocean in the West? It mathematically consists of 22 recognized countries their native language is Arabic. Don’t they acknowledge the undeniable fact that Arabic represents our historical identity inwardly and outwardly? Doesn’t this language -spoken by approximately 300 million people- frame the concept of the term Arab World abroad as contextualized in the international charts or formal documents like on the map? Why don’t we have a successful network of well-known institute sponsored unanimously or individually by Arab countries for teaching Arabic Language and transferring the message of Arabic World through as the strenuous efforts being done by those who in charge of Goethe Institute?

These propping questions are endless. So, two factors play a role to think them over all the time. First, my experience at this institute where I’ve seen how are Germans and French on other hand applying their professional mechanism, which they attract learners at local community who sometimes drive for long distances carrying the burden of unbearable Israeli roadblocks to reach Ramallah from other cities including the surrounding rural areas in order to learn either language (French or German). Needless to highlight the reasons why those foreign languages learners within Palestinian society dart into Goethe Institute seeking out linguistic proficiency, because they are quite clear like sophistication, richness, stability in many fields and so on and so forth in either country.

I incredibly feel that it’s admirable how French and Germans working for keeping their culture viable in different parts of this world. I however, feel indignant toward an incomparable case between a successful linguistic and cultural story of Germany-France and distressing story of Arabic language that was experienced during my BA degree which I dived into a deep ocean of knowledge that inheritably delivered generation by generation, especially its wonderful literature by which I tasted my own heritage, identity, and cultural character. It’s really magnificent when you explore the Arabic language through profusely written by great and gifted authors and poets, through their productions we enjoy that taste. Those pioneers helped in accentuating the Arabic cultural character over the past two centuries passing through Ottoman Empire.  

As far back as 19^th and the first half of 20^th centuries, for instance, we can touch upon Arab authoring movement, it reached peak with the Awakening Movement “Al-Nahda,” Arabic word for “renaissance,” was a cultural renaissance set off on an intellectual journey in late 19^th and early 20^th centuries in Egypt, then later reached out many Ottoman Arabic-speaking regions including Syria, Lebanon, Iraq …etc. It was known as Arabic intellectual modernization movement aimed at strengthening the Arabic culture and identity.

There were many outstanding Arab intellectuals who contributed to and left their fingerprints like Rifa’a al-Tahtawi, (1801-1873) an Egyptian scholar is widely seen as the pioneering figure of the al-Nahda, was sent to Paris in 1826 by Mohammad Ali’s government to study western sciences and educational methods. Butrus Al-Bustani, (1819-1893) a Lebanese polyglot, educator, and activist left a big impact on authoring movement.  Hayreddin Pasha al-Tunsi, (1820-890) was brought into contact with the Western ideals, as well as with the Tanzimat reforms of the Ottoman Empire. As well as, the remarkable impact was carved out by Jamal Al-Din Al-Afghani, (1839-1897), kept up with modernism to modernize Islamic interpretation during his anti-colonial and radical dogmatic plans.

In addition to some minor initiatives incepted throughout the first half of 20^th century came as a reaction to the obliteration strategies to Arabic culture during colonization era in the Arab World.

Later on, exactly since the beginning of Cold War till this time, Arabic intellectual movement hasn’t produced much. Moreover, other than aforementioned pioneers including the ones who appeared after WWII, the Arab World hasn’t known new intellectuals carrying the message of Arab World through this language on their shoulders. It’s probably attributable to obstructive and contemporary issues that have our countries been suffering from passing through colonization era of the 20^th century to this revolutionary time that characterized by modern painstaking reformations Arab peoples are bravely making in order to change the general democratic situation. New rulers and new titles have been showing up since the “Al-Jasmine” revolution occurred in Tunisia  in 2010, was the kick-start of series of “Arab Spring” revolutions aimed at overthrowing totalitarian regimes with their anachronistic political dogmas, this is what have led millions of people till this day to dart onto streets for a new life.  The ongoing Syrian bloody civil war is an exclusive example.

Consequently, Arabic language is a dysfunctional method can’t be acting at international arena to represent an old history full of values as long as there are no zealous patriots work for, either the Arab leaderships have been uninterested in setting up projects for supporting Arabic language as Germans do through Goethe Institute, or Arabs themselves are careless to maintain this valuable culture. And, of course, there are impediments hold them back, but nothing impossible at the end. Because I don’t think that Japan and Germany the countries that have a groundbreaking background of development didn’t exert too much to reach this result after were totally ruined. It’s a matter of perseverance.

“Since history reveals that Arabic was a language of universal civilization and that it displayed its ability to meet the scientific and cultural requirements of the past, we should prove today that it is still able to create new concepts for all arts,” stated Dr. Mustapha Benkharefa, Theory and practice in language studies, 2013.

It’s not the end; Arabic was praised by great leaders. For instance, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy called Arabic “the language of the future, of science and of modernity,” and expressed that, “we must invest in the Arabic language to teach it symbolizes a moment of exchange, of openness and of tolerance, and it brings with it one of the oldest and most prestigious civilizations of the world. It is in France that we have the greatest number of Arabic and Muslim origin. Islam is the second religion of France.”

Obviously, and based on his statement, there is nothing clamps down on learning or spreading Arabic in the West, though Arabic was included among its working languages by the UN general Assembly in 1973. It indicates that Arabic hasn’t been that significantly required for the purpose of understanding the Arab World. Therefore, France is a receptive environment calls for diversity; why not there are no concerted efforts to install the pillars of understanding and rent some nice offices abroad for teaching Arabic sponsored formally by Arab diplomatic channels in other countries as well. Maybe it’s a figment of imagination at the moment due to some reasons, like our Arab World isn’t interesting and attractive for outside peoples to visit and explore, or the ongoing crises where no safety, the issue of Islam that recently has been the top of talks at media given to the heinous crimes are committed by irresponsible extremist groups like notorious group so-called (ISIS)… etc. Not to mention, there are vilification campaigns that portray Arabs and Muslims negatively abroad which enhances misconception within Western communities.

I assert that these reasons are enough to sever the cultural ties with the Arab World that considered a strong receiver to foreign cultures. But doesn’t mean to stay idle doing nothing, Arab foreign channels must take it considerably.

As Prof. Abdullah Muhareb said, “The situation of Arabic is an issue of great concern for us,” and continued, “Promoting Arabic and developing and upgrading education in Arabic is very important but this needs huge investments. We have good ideas, initiatives, and proposals but we don’t have the money. The Arab States have it and they have to play their role to protect and expand Arabic.”

Yes, indeed, Arab countries have a huge amount of money to set up such a project.

In conclusion, I have no doubt that my readers will criticize that my article has many unanswered questions that supposedly this article refers to. I reply, this article comes to lamentably express my feeling toward our valuable language that represents our civilization and identity, but sadly it’s marginalized doesn’t have a strong attention in order to keep our heritage off negligence and lose. Thus, I used this random way to show the nature of reckless eagerness of exploring other cultures but addressing the issue of Arabic puts me into a position to be responsibility for doing something, though I admittedly don’t have that power to do something. I only own my pen and this paper to express my modest words. It’s therefore, a mixed feeling of happiness toward a third language I’m learning nowadays at an institute represents an insurmountable cultural platform was built by patriots who realize its value for them to be as such for their posterity as well.

Watching what’s going on inside Goethe Institute and reading whatever refers to, made me somewhat jealous to end up wondering about the aforementioned questions. Because I totally know what does the old history of Arabic language and literary production was made by those who spent their life to transfer it to the next generations.

I finally recommend that whoever interested to keep working hardly by any available means in order to keep this heritage viable which I humbly express my appeal to Arab countries also putting this important matter into considerations in their diplomatic relations abroad.