First-ever Arabic Language Course in Orange County Public School!
“We are very excited to announce that this coming fall 2017, Anaheim’s Western High School will become the first public school in Orange County to offer Arabic as a language course, “ says a CAIR-LA announcement. It adds:. This is an important milestone in CAIR-LA’s continued efforts to foster an environment that respects and celebrates our diverse local communities.
The Arabic classes will not only teach language and culture, but will also serve to dispel misconceptions about Arabs, Muslims, and Arabic-speaking people.
CAIR-LA has been working with the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) since 2015 to introduce Arabic language into local high schools.
With the generous support of local Muslim community members, CAIR-LA and AUHSD have been able to raise enough funds to hire the new Arabic language teacher. The newly hired teacher is currently working on developing curriculum and recruiting students for September.
“Language has the power to unite people and strengthen community bonds against bigotry and ignorance,” said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. “By learning Arabic, AUHSD students are building bridges of understanding through education.”
The City of Anaheim has one of the largest Arab and Muslim populations in the United States, and Arabic is the sixth most-spoken language in the school district. By offering Arabic to its students, AUHSD is recognizing and acknowledging the significant contributions of Anaheim’s Arab and Muslim communities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
