Throughout the year, Center Sidi Bou Said for Languages arranges extracurricular activities during which they have the opportunity to practice the language while learning more about the various facets of Arabic culture. Some of these activities include cooking classes, music nights, cultural excursions, calligraphy classes, conversation clubs, movie nights and guest lectures on current political topics.
MUSIC NIGHT: Arabic Music Night offers students the chance to listen to a wide range of old Arabic songs which have become part of the collective memory of Arabic culture. Students will gain a general idea about the characteristics of Arabic music; its various roots and development. Students will also have the chance to learn some of the basics of playing some Arabic music instruments and explore the relationship between the Arabic musical compositions and poetry.
ARABIC WRITING: During the Arabic calligraphy and writing workshop, students will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the characteristics of Arabic writing and learn how it developed throughout time. The aim of this workshop is to train students in the art of Arabic writing, provide an overview of the history of Arabic writing, instill a greater appreciation and understanding for Arabic writing and explore the relationship between the Quran and Arabic script.
COOKING: In the cooking classes students will have the chance to explore the Middle East and North Africa through its food and learn the special characteristics of each region. Students will prepare and enjoy the most famous and delicious specialties of Tunisian, Egyptian, Syrian, and Lebanese cuisine while utilizing useful expressions and vocabulary to communicate with others and follow directions from recipes in Arabic.
ARABIC FASHION NIGHT: Students will have the opportunity to try on clothes from all regions of the Arabic world from Morocco to Saudi Arabic. Through activities such as learning how to properly put on a kiffeyeh, distinguish between the different variations of veils, or strutting their stuff while donning a striking kifteh students can gain a further appreciation of the cultural significance of clothing throughout the Arabic world and how it may have changed over time.
ARABIC MEDIA AND MOCK-INTERVIEW SESSION: Students will gain an in-depth understanding about Arabic media and communicating messages to Arab audiences by preparing for and conducting filmed interviews exclusively in Arabic. Students will learn critical communication techniques for successful media appearances in Arabic such as body language, opening and concluding an interview, self-correcting grammatical mistakes, using connective phrases to move the dialogue along and maintaining good posture which will help with both building a rapport with the interviewer and effectively conveying messages to Arab audiences. After the interviews are complete, students will have a chance to watch and critique their sessions in order to gain further mastery over their spoken Arabic skills.
