Watertown middle and high school students have a rare opportunity to learn the Arabic language, and they will be able to for at least another year.
The grant that brought a teacher from Egypt to Watertown has been renewed for a second year, said Watertown Middle School Principal Kimo Carter. The grant program is sponsored by the U.S. State Department and targets languages believed to be important for the future, including Arabic and Mandarin Chinese.
“We got another grant from the Teachers of Critical Language Program,” Carter said. “Another teacher from Egypt will teach Arabic at the middle school and high school next year. The reason why we got it is because of the success of the program.”
This year the courses at the high school and middle school were taught by Teriza Malak, who came to town from Egypt. She spoke recently at a School Committee meeting.
“Its an honor to work here at the middle school and high school,” Malak said. “Not only am I teaching the students, but I am learning a lot from them, so it is exciting for both of us.”
Watertown High School Principal Shirley Lundberg said there will be Arabic 1 and 2 classes at the high school next year.