About

Our emerging Arabic program helps Arabic learners at Loyola find connections between classroom learning experience and multiple investments of Arabic as applied to their own worlds. Students celebrate their ability to own their Arabic learning as it fits their needs and enjoy discovering opportunities in which Arabic helps them in diverse personal contexts.

Learning Arabic @ Loyola: A Non-Arab’s Journey  for Spiritual Growth

Learning Arabic @ Loyola: A Non-Arab’s Journey for Spiritual Growth

September 11th, 2023

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu (May the Peace and Blessings of God be showered onto you)! My name is Nasar Qureshi, and I am a recent graduate from Loyola University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Throughout my time at Loyola, I double-majored in Cognitive-Behavioral Neuroscience and Biology, while minoring in Islamic Studies and Arabic […]


“Detroit: The Middle Eastern Capital of the US!”

“Detroit: The Middle Eastern Capital of the US!”

April 3rd, 2023

People are shocked when I tell them my dad will happily drive 5 hours just to have a good meal. Even my mom and I can’t believe it’s something he’s so willing to do in this age of Uber Eats and instant gratification. But he won’t do this for just any cuisine. On random Saturdays […]


Rebuilding Bridges through Arabic!

Rebuilding Bridges through Arabic!

March 13th, 2023

marhaba! My name is Heden Abdulah, and I am a sophomore studying Global Studies and Environmental Policy with a minor in Arabic Language and Culture. It would be remiss of me to say that studying Arabic is easy. On many frustrating nights, I found myself staying up late, doing my Arabic homework, and trying to […]


A World of Possibilities: My Journey with Loyola’s Arabic Program

A World of Possibilities: My Journey with Loyola’s Arabic Program

February 15th, 2023

marHaba yaa Tulaab! My name is Natalie Burdsall and I am a recent graduate of Loyola’s Arabic program, and former Arabic tutor and American sign Language coach. I graduated summa cum laude in May 2022 with BAs in Global Studies and Communication Studies, and minors in Arabic Language and Culture and Islamic World Studies. Shortly […]


Safe Literacy Framework for Muslim Refugees!

Safe Literacy Framework for Muslim Refugees!

October 3rd, 2022

Hi, My name is Giulianna Larson! I am a sophomore majoring in Journalism with minors in Spanish, Arabic, and political science. For the past year, I have been working with an organization called Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA). Serving refugee families from countries such as Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Eritrea, FORA […]


“Multiculturalism & Human Rights” at LangZone Rabat, Morocco!

“Multiculturalism & Human Rights” at LangZone Rabat, Morocco!

September 16th, 2022

With deepest gratitude to Modern Languages and Literatures and CAS at large, this blog concludes my orientation and exploratory visit to a few long-standing academic centers in Rabat, Morocco with which Loyola had years of partnership and collaboration for students’ experiential learning and growth. The focus this time is on the SIT study abroad program […]


“Pulling Strings” in Women’s Education: Art for Social Change!

“Pulling Strings” in Women’s Education: Art for Social Change!

February 11th, 2022

Hello, my name is Lilly Pireva and I’m currently a sophomore at Loyola. I’m majoring in molecular neuroscience and minoring in Arabic. In the fall 2021 semester, I took an honors English class which focused on the problems in educational systems and the lives of those who were the unknowing victims to it. Our final […]


Arabic for Lifelong Learning

Arabic for Lifelong Learning

February 4th, 2022

My name is Denise Du Vernay, and I have been a staff member at Loyola since fall of 2018, but back in the fall of 2012, I had a very different life: I was starting my 18th year of teaching English after earning a master’s degree in literature at Florida State back in 2002. It […]


Arabic @ Loyola Give Thanks

Arabic @ Loyola Give Thanks

December 6th, 2021

Arabic learners at Loyola University Chicago shared their heartfelt collage of voices and images using a few learned Arabic words to express multi textual deep reflections. We share feelings of gratitude to the blessings of families, friends, professors, schools, nourishment, besides hope, peace, compassion, resilience, and selfless sacrifices to help us grow. Our thanks to […]


Arabic: “It opens one’s heart, and it enriches the mind!”

Arabic: “It opens one’s heart, and it enriches the mind!”

October 20th, 2021

marHaba! My name is Callahan, and I am a sophomore studying political science. While Arabic is not the first, second, or even third world language I have studied, it certainly has been the most unique one I have studied so far! I believe Arabic will open me to a world that is so often misunderstood […]