Arabic Saved My Brain

Written by Tia Chawla

I started learning Arabic in the fall of 2020. 

Four classes  (and five years) later I thank god that a TV show inspired me to learn Arabic. (there are other reasons for choosing to learn Arabic too, but I'll save that for an interview).

I am the first to admit that ChatGPT and the accessibility of laziness are paths I have taken more than I need to…  does anyone actually need to? Probably not. I could write a bajillion unoriginal complaints about AI and how its broad usage is damaging our generation in so many social and emotional ways. But… I shall save that for another time.

WHAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS!!!

How Arabic has saved my brain in so many ways. In conceptualizing feelings and ideas beyond my own words and beyond the English toolkit. In forcing myself to practice.

repeat.

correct.

repeat.

practice.

rewrite.

“MEMORIZE!!” 

I can still hear my Arabic teacher lovingly exclaim this!

After three semesters of irritation, frustration, and the occasional grammar crash out, I finally found a place where language and the practice of it felt meditative, even restorative to my attention span and brain.

It’s been just over five months since I finished college, spammed Quizlet on the stair master & took my Arabic 204 final. 

And… I miss it? 

If you had told me that in the Spring of 2022 when I was in the peak of my grammar frustration, I would’ve laughed in your face. Conceptually I get what idaafa is but the variations and rules??????? WHY DO THE mansuub marfu3 & mjzuum ALL EXIST???

I digress.

Arabic taught me immense discipline. In an era where AI is right there, even when you don’t want it, Arabic gave me no shortcuts. There’s no cheating a language. And when I had to present in front of the class on a famous couple of my choosing (shoutout Amal & George) there for-stinking-sure there was no cheating!

Arabic showed me the fruits of delayed gratification. Everything in our world and social media feels so instantaneous that I’ll be the first to admit my patience and attention span have been completely shattered. But in practice, repetition, rewriting, refining and retrying, I found patience and eventually joy in the process. There’s something just so satisfying about all the information clicking and finally picking up on the patterns.

As I navigate life apart from classrooms, I welcome your thoughts on how to practice language, patience, and delayed gratification.

Ma Salama