QFI Celebrates Ikram, Winner of the Arabic Short Story Contest

The Difficulty: Engaging Students with the Arabic Language in New Ways

How does an Arabic language educator engage their students in new, exciting ways that keep the language relevant and enticing to learn? For Khadija Abughannam, an Arabic language educator in Cambridgeshire, UK, the answer came through the growth and creativity of one of her students, Ikram, an Advanced Learner–level student in her class. Having her students take part in the 2025 Arabic Short Story Contest this past spring became the opportunity that connected both educator and student in a powerful learning journey.

A New Opportunity: The Contest Sparks Creativity

Khadija jumped at the opportunity to engage with the Qatar Foundation International (QFI) Arabic Short Story Contest. This contest, held from April to May 2025, is a cornerstone of QFI's mission to advance the value of teaching and learning Arabic as a global language. By inviting students to respond to an open-ended prompt, the contest provides a powerful, inclusive platform for all learners—heritage/native and world language—to celebrate their connection to Arabic through the act of creation.

The Transformation: Students Growing and Excelling in Arabic

Over the course of the contest, Khadija noticed many of her students improved their critical thinking, creative writing, and storytelling skills. Watching students progress from small words to full stories was deeply rewarding for both them and their educator, showing just how transformative the creative process can be. It was inspiring to witness the evolution of their creativity and language skills as they developed their stories.

She explains: “It was a privilege for us to take part in the Arabic Short Story Contest and important for us to show our appreciation for our language.”

Seeing her students embrace Arabic with renewed passion and treat the language with such respect was incredibly rewarding for Khadija.

Ikram’s Language Evolution

This transformative process culminated in the work of one of this year's winners, Ikram, a dedicated student in Khadija’s classroom.

Ikram’s winning story, “The Two Orphans and the Book of Mirage,” is a powerful example of how students can flourish when given the freedom and opportunity to express themselves in Arabic.

Reflecting on his progress, Khadija shared: “Looking at Ikram, starting from scratch—just building from small words to reach a full sentence and then to a full story—it was a rewarding journey for our language and our creativity with our students.”

Ikram is not only mastering the Arabic language but is also using it to create meaningful, imaginative literature.

Experience the Achievement Firsthand

Ready to be inspired by the power of creative expression in Arabic?

This is a powerful result of turning academic study into artistic achievement.

A Critical Investment

The stories born from this contest are proof that with the right platform, students transform Arabic from an academic subject into a medium for personal expression.

The success of Ikram and his peers demonstrates that the QFI Short Story Contest is a critical investment in the Arabic education ecosystem. QFI is proud to celebrate these young writers—and the educators, like Khadija, who guide them—who are not only mastering the Arabic language but actively shaping its future as a dynamic, global language.

Stay tuned for more opportunities and future contests!