Hannah Dalaidenne
2023 WISLI Arabic Student
Why did you choose to study at WISLI? What motivated you to choose our program?
The WISLI program was recommended to me by my career advisor. UW Madison’s language institute is well-known in my college and highly regarded by students and faculty. It is also less expensive than other universities’ intensive language courses, which was relevant to me.
How has learning a less commonly taught language enriched your personal and professional life?
Learning a less commonly taught language has expanded my linguistic and cultural awareness. In my personal life, I am better able to appreciate the perspective of Arabic-speaking friends and teachers. My awareness of how rich Arabic is and how much I have to learn results in linguistic and cultural humility. My questions are more likely to come from a place of genuine curiosity which in turn enriches my relationships. Studying Arabic is significant to my professional life. I wish to work in counter-terrorism and deradicalisation concerning Islamic extremism and believe that language is an essential component to understanding how it comes about.
What about WISLI/UW-Madison stands out to you?
The quality of education. My tutor was very knowledgeable and really understood what it is to learn Arabic as a non-native speaker. We covered a lot of basic structures and the strong Arabic foundation I have developed makes it possible for me to keep learning Arabic independently which I am very grateful for. My tutor was also able to adapt their teaching to who was in the classroom and work with different learning paces.
How do you plan to apply proficiency in your target language and cultural skills to your personal/professional journey?
I wish to keep learning Arabic to develop my reading and conversational skills. One of my primary goals is to be able to read the Quran and discuss it with Arabic speakers. It is an ambitious goal but MEDLI showed me that being consistent with a language pays off and that through hard work, expectations can be exceeded.
What were some of the highlights of your program? What events did you particularly enjoy?
I really enjoyed the cooking day. Students from all Arabic levels came together to cook Arabic/Middle Eastern food and it was delicious! I appreciate how the program was not only academically rigorous but also focused on introducing the culture of the studied language. For example, my tutor introduced us to famous Arab poets and writers, discussing Arabic literature and the history of the Arabic language. It created an understanding that Arabic is an incredibly rich language with a complicated and fascinating history and that by studying it we can appreciate its impact on our worlds.
What role did the WISLI Tuition Scholarship play when you were making decisions? How would you encourage other students who might be interested in the scholarship to apply?
The WISLI Tuition Scholarship had an extensive role in my decision to attend WISLI 2023. It enabled me to take the high-quality language study courses at UW-Madison, which I would not otherwise have been able to participate in for financial reasons. I would encourage all students who consider applying for the scholarship to spend time working on their applications. Show your passion, desire and dedication to learning your target language. Be explicit about your goals and how knowledge of your target language will help you achieve them. Good luck!
What advice would you give to students who want to study the same language as you?
Have fun with it! Arabic is an incredible language to learn and it will open up a whole new world to you. Spend time on the basic structures and once you’ve wrapped your head around basic grammar and understand how patterns and root work, your progress will only be exponential. Don’t lose sight of your goal and be gentle with yourself. Learning a new language is hard but very much possible. For me, the most important was to enjoy the learning process because I knew that it is the only way I would keep learning Arabic in the long term.
What is your favorite expression in the language you studied this summer?
My favourite expression is شلونك. It is a way to ask “how are you” and comes from “what is your colour” which I find to be a beautiful way to ask about someone’s mood.