My start in 26 Letters’ Arabic program
I always have been interested in learning new languages and cultures. I always wanted to learn Levantine Arabic, but had never had the opportunity to do so.
My husband is Lebanese, and I wanted to be able to communicate with him in his native language. One day, while browsing the internet, I came across an amazing NGO called 26 Letters. The organization was dedicated to providing education to vulnerable children in Lebanon, and they offered online Arabic classes to people around the world.
I was immediately intrigued and decided to inquire about classes. Within hours I had a response to all my questions. I filled out the online application form, paid the tuition fee, and eagerly waited for the confirmation email.
The following morning, I received an email from the NGO welcoming me to the program. The email contained all the information I needed to get started, including a schedule of classes, a list of required materials, and the login credentials for the NGO's online learning platform.
Excited to begin my Arabic language journey, I quickly logged in to the platform and started exploring. The google platform was user-friendly and easy to navigate, and I was impressed by the high-quality video lessons and interactive exercises.
I was also introduced to my tutor, Moussa, who was a former student from Syria. After learning English with 26 Letters, he had been trained to be an Arabic teacher, and he was now helping me to learn the language.
As I progressed through the course, I became more and more confident in my Arabic skills. I was able to read and write in Arabic, and could hold simple conversations with native speakers; including ordering at restaurants and chatting with taxi drivers in Beirut.
One day, my husband, Walid, was celebrating his birthday. I wanted to do something special for him, so I decided to plan for a special lesson with Moussa to learn how to sing "Happy Birthday" in Arabic.
Moussa was happy to help, and he worked with me to perfect my pronunciation and intonation. Together, we practiced the song over and over until i felt comfortable singing it on my own.
On the day of Walid's birthday, I surprised him by singing "Happy Birthday" in Arabic. Walid was thrilled and touched. Walid’s family was also extremely encouraging and helpful.
In the end, I realized that my decision to sign up for Arabic classes with 26 Letters had led to so much more than just learning a new language. It had allowed me to connect with my husband and many others. At the same time, it had opened up a whole new world of friendships from my new Arabic teachers, all thanks to the incredible work of 26 Letters.