Interest growing in Arabic language

"As-salaamu Alaykum." In other words, "Konnichi wa." Although it has been long regarded as a minor language that is studied by a limited number of people such as researchers, Arabic is becoming popular with an increasing number of learners. To explain its new popularity, some point to the increased media attention the Arabic-speaking world has been drawing in light of war, political confusion and the other hardships facing the people there.

The Arabic Islamic Institute in Tokyo, which is run by the Saudi Arabian government, has been offering free Arabic classes since April 2001. The classes started with about 100 students in their first year, but have been taken by about 160 students annually since 2003.

The institute offers the free classes in two semesters starting in April and September. Students are divided into four levels, with beginners classes being the most popular. Although each class can accept up to 30 students, the beginners' class attracted about 50 applicants for each of the two most recent semesters.

When The Yomiuri Shimbun recently visited an upper-intermediate Level 3 class, the second highest level, the students were practicing writing.

Egyptian instructor Gamal Zaitoun, 46, asked in Arabic, "What did you do over the weekend?" One of the students, Yoshiyuki Sato, 26, of Sumida Ward, Tokyo, replied, "I enjoyed having zosui [rice stew]." The instructor told Sato to write the sentence down.

Sato walked to a whiteboard at the front of the room and began spelling out his words in Arabic letters that flowed from right to left.

"Mumtaaz [Splendid]," Zaitoun said.

In addition to the institute, an increasing number of other organizations have begun offering Arabic classes. NHK launched a televised Arabic course in 2003, while the University of the Air--which offers correspondence courses via television and radio--also started such a course last year.

More and more universities have been following the move. In 2001, there were 27 Arabic courses offered at the university level nationwide. By 2005, that figure had nearly doubled, to 52.

There is also a small private Arabic school in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. Gallery PoRto LibRE turns itself into an Arabic school every Tuesday night. One of the instructors there is Michiko Suzuki, 60, who runs a bar next door. The school was "launched" when Suzuki's regular customers asked her to teach them Arabic as she once studied in Egypt.

The nation's first Arabic proficiency examination is now under way. Keiko Miyakawa, 35, of Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture, whose husband works at the Japanese Embassy in Cairo, has established a nonprofit organization named the Japanese Organization for Arabic Language Examinations. The first test will be set for the end of October in Tokyo and Osaka.

Arabic is spoken in more than 20 countries in the Middle East. It may be unfamiliar to many in Japan, but there are many words that are familiar to Japanese that are said to have originated from the language--such as coffee, lemon, orange, massage, candy and sherbet.

Nonetheless, many hurdles face Japanese in improving their Arabic skills. For example, the language has a variety of sounds similar to "ka" and "sa" in Japanese, so it is difficult for Japanese students to distinguish them in speaking and listening.

However, students learning at the Arabic Islamic Institute in Tokyo said the language had some attractive aspects that they could not find in others.

"It's an Arabic custom that when they invite guests, they say, 'Please give me an honor," said Sachi Akita, 25, a temp staff worker from Tachikawa, Tokyo. "I've found that the language is filled with hospitality."

On the other hand, Shinichi Sato, a 24-year-old part-time worker from Shinjuku Ward, is attracted by the beauty of Arabic handwriting.

"Arabic also has an art of calligraphy. I've found an indescribable flavor in their winding shapes," he said.
(Jul. 19, 2007)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/language/20070719TDY14001.htm