complementary activity, May 25, 2023
For the first time at the Centre d'Idiomes UV, in relation to Arabic courses for our students, the opportunity has been presented to immerse oneself in the particular aspects that characterize Arab culture. A complementary activity that aims to understand that studying a language also means understanding the context in which it is applied.
Arabic is one of the oldest and most widely spoken languages in the world. It is the official language in more than 20 countries and is the mother tongue of more than 400 million people worldwide. Arabic has also influenced many other languages throughout history and has contributed significantly to the world's cultural heritage.
However, it is also true that the Arabic language and culture have been the subject of controversy in some places due to prejudice and misunderstandings. Therefore, this activity has been presented in the form of a round table that has served as the point of exchange in different perspectives on what constitutes Arab culture, reflected in the language and experienced in the values, traditions and customs.
It is important to remember that no culture is homogeneous and that every society has its own unique dynamics and values. In this regard, time has been devoted to discussing diversity, as well as the rich history and contribution of the Arabic language and culture to the world throughout the ages.
The objective of the meeting was to promote the knowledge of the students of the center about what the culture of the language they study represents, thanks to the guests of the CEPAIM Foundation, an organization to which our professor Mahbub Brahim belongs, and whose mission is the inclusion of migrants and intercultural dialogue.
The beginning of the activity was initiated by a collective task that has been to think of the words that, according to the guests, best represent the meaning of the word “Arabic”. Destination, origin, root (الوجهة ، الأصل ، الجذر), were some of the proposals. During the talk, specific aspects of culture were touched upon in a dialogue shared by all. Values such as tolerance, mutual respect and the identity of Arab culture were at the center of the discussion.
In short, among everybody, a collective imaginary was built on the theme raised on providing spaces for expression and collective reflection, encouraging dialogue between cultures. From the Language Centre of the University of Valencia we are committed to a spirit of openness, understanding and respect towards all languages and cultures that complement the teaching of the languages that populate our world.
