Speak Arabic: Keziah's Journey of Connection and Opportunity

Keziah now plans to minor in Arabic while pursuing her degree: "This award has been instrumental in keeping me on track, allowing me to deeply explore the rich cultural dimensions of the Arab world."

Before we delve deeper into Keziah's inspiring journey, let's hear her own words about the transformative power of learning Arabic:

Keziah (from video, explaining her journey): "[To sum up my Arabic learning journey] it has been a roller coaster. I feel like while learning Arabic, you have your good days and then some days you have your days where you're like, 'what is going on? I don't understand what you're saying'...So it's a roller coaster, but then at the end [is] the thrill of knowing I got this, I know how to listen, I know how to read, I know how to write, [and] I know how to communicate with other people."

Keziah's journey to speak Arabic truly sparked in high school, where students could choose between Mandarin and Arabic. She recognized that since Arabic is less commonly studied, it presented a unique opportunity to learn not only a new language, but also the profound history, vibrant traditions, and diverse perspectives of the Arabic-speaking world.

While in high school, Keziah eagerly seized opportunities to participate in immersive experiences that took her Arabic beyond the classroom. The summer after her freshman year, she participated in an intensive Arabic program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Then, in summer 2023, through the support of the QFI Summer Scholar Award, she traveled to Rabat, Morocco for a month-long immersive study program. Studying abroad made her feel profoundly connected to the language and significantly developed her ability to speak Arabic in both conversation and academic settings.

As a current sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington, Keziah has now been speaking and studying Arabic for over five years. She emphasizes that the QFI First-Year University Award has had a transformative impact on her academic journey. The support has been crucial in allowing her to continue advancing her Arabic studies in college, and she plans to minor in Arabic while pursuing co-majors in accounting and international business.

The true power of her Arabic skills became clear during a study abroad program in Ghana, where Keziah met several Arabic speakers. She found it incredibly rewarding to hold conversations in their language, watching their faces light up when they realized she could understand them. This experience reminded her that learning to speak Arabic has the extraordinary power to build bridges and connect people across continents.

Keziah intends to eventually work and travel in the Middle East. Continuing her Arabic classes in college is directly helping her forge these future professional goals. She recognizes that there are myriad career opportunities in Arabic-speaking countries and that knowing the language will allow her to work while traveling with fewer language barriers.

Begin Your Journey to Speak Arabic

Keziah's journey showcases how learning to speak Arabic can create new academic, personal, and professional opportunities. Now it's your turn to discover the transformative power of Arabic.

Your journey to speak Arabic starts here. Just like Keziah, you can find the right support to help you achieve your language goals. Imagine where Arabic could take you - from meaningful cultural connections to exciting career opportunities across the Arab world.

Take the first step today by exploring these opportunities designed to help you succeed:

• Summer Scholar Awards for high school students: Launch your Arabic journey through intensive language courses
• First-Year University Awards: Continue building your skills in college-level Arabic studies

Your Arabic journey awaits. Start your story today!