Multimedia Reporting (Kuhr-Musser)

Three Saudi men sit in the back of an alcove on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union speaking Arabic and pass around a laptop computer with an Arabic music video flashing across the screen.

A few minutes later, Sonja Combest, Baldwin City sophomore, walks into the alcove and surveys the group already sitting on couches and around small tables. Some of the students stand up and shuffle seats to make room for her.

Combest greets the men in Arabic, and the conversation begins.

The three students are among 96 Arabic students at the University of Kansas this semester. All international students who study at the Applied English Center at the University of Kansas can practice their English by meeting with other KU students in organized conversation groups. But this semester, the number of Arabic-speaking students has increased, so one lecturer at the Applied English Center organized conversation partner exchanges for these students.

Judy Bonifield, a lecturer for the Applied English Center, started the new groups this semester for Arabic-speaking students who begin English classes at the Applied English Center, and for students studying Arabic. The groups meet at five times throughout the week on a volunteer basis, but students can attend as many or as little of the one-hour exchanges as they wish.

“My hope was to offer a time for language and cultural exchange,” Bonifield said.

Combest got involved after learning about the new groups in her Arabic 220 class. It was only the fourth semester she had studied Arabic, so she was a little hesitant of taking on such a responsibility.

“The Arabic language is a very sacred thing in Muslim culture. Arabic is the language of the Qur'an, the revelation of Allah's will to all Muslims, and so it is inextricably linked to their faith. I was afraid to make a horrible faux pas and offend one of them, but they have been very encouraging,” she said. Combest began attending three conversation exchange groups each week. In addition to the Arabic-speaking students, two other American students joined her to lead in a quiet area of the Kansas Union.

There are typically five or more Saudi students at the discussions, but the conversation starts slowly, switching between English and Arabic.

“I have realized it's better to jump right in and not be afraid of making mistakes. Otherwise, everyone just sits around and stares at each other -- it's very boring and no one learns anything about Arabic, English, or otherwise,” Combest said.

The students in Combest’s groups are from Saudi Arabia, have only been studying at the University for four months. The students talk about their families and share photos of their relatives taken on their last day in Saudi Arabia. They also laugh about popular music idols from the Middle East and find pictures of their soccer-playing idols as Combest and the other American students retrieve their homework and books from their backpack to seek help on their Arabic homework.

According to Chuck Seibel, director of the Applied English Center, the number of students from Arabic-speaking countries increased slightly in the fall after several semesters of decline, but this semester the number of Arabic-speaking students studying at the Applied English Center rose from 18 to 96 students.

Most of the Saudi students enrolled in the Applied English Center have been granted scholarships from the Saudi Arabian government or private companies. The scholarships allow them to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an American university, and then return to Saudi Arabia to work. The increase in scholarships granted in the foreign countries has lead to the increase in the students studying at KU.

“My country needs engineers, computer and electrical,” said Mohammad Al Hadab, Saudi Arabia freshman.

Matt Alsalmy, Saudi Arabia business law student, sat on a sofa with a computer on his lap and laughed at the discussions happening around him. Combest explained that he brings the computer to help him translate pieces of the discussion so he can understand the conversation better.

“I think I've gained a lot of patience and a lot of humility being involved. I've learned how to take the time to slow down and make the effort to be understood, or to understand someone else,” she said.

The conversation continues around the alcove as the American students finish their homework and everyone talks about their days.

Muhammud Alshahab, another Saudi Arabia freshman, said he likes to exercise at the Student Recreation Center, cook, which he admits he does not do well, and play PlayStation in his apartment.

Combest reminded Alshahab to pronounce his summer plans carefully; he hopes to enjoy Florida’s beaches over break.

The hardest part about the conversation exchange groups for Combest is balancing this additional activity with her other studies.

“I know a lot of people have counted discussion groups out, because they think there's no time for them. I'm so glad I didn't allow myself to make that excuse, because this is a great opportunity to become comfortable speaking Arabic and getting to know people from another culture,” she said.

For Al Hadab, the hardest part about adjusting to KU buying clothes.

“The weather changes all the time!” he said.

It seems he is adjusting to the frustration of being a KU student just fine.

The quiet conversation is interrupted by a reel of laughter from Alsalmy, who found a picture of Homer Simpson on his computer.

Combest laughed and said, “They love to try and teach me dirty words, but I think it's in good spirits, hopefully. They'll say ‘When your professor asks for the homework, tell her this. She will like it very much.’”

Useful links:

Applied English Center

Facts about Saudi Arabia

Arabic Studies at KU

Conversation Group information