Hi, I am majoring in Applied Psychology with a double minor in Communication and Arabic. I graduated from Moraine Valley Community College and transferred to UIC and I am currently in my third year. I live in the south suburbs of Chicago and live with my family. My commute to UIC is about an hour depending on how nice the traffic is to me that day. I am the only one in my family who has a degree higher than high school and hopefully will be the first one to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. I also was able to take advantage of the Writing Center and I hope I can give a little back by helping other students enjoy Arabic classes.

Iman  |  Arabic LLA

Hello everyone! I am a second year English major with an Arabic minor so I can better understand the vast discussions on Islamic thought and ongoing research in the language. I am currently a 103 student with Dr. Babiker so I am very involved with the content from recent semesters. As a non-native speaker, I know the challenges that can come with choosing to study a language as variable as Arabic. I have had many positive experiences with peer tutors in my other classes, so I look forward to helping however I can in your Arabic classes. Let’s improve our understanding of this incredible language together!

Salmah  |  Arabic LLA

Marhaba! My name is Tesneem, and I’m a senior on the pre-health track majoring in Criminology, Law, and Justice while attaining a minor in Psychology. Currently, I am working part-time as a medical assistant while being a full-time student here at UIC. I was born and raised in America however, Arabic is my first language and is the language mainly spoken at home. Growing up, I would visit my homeland Syria during the summer and attend school there while also attending Arabic school full-time in America. Arabic is a beautifully vast language and no doubt a challenging language to learn, so I understand the struggles that come with attempting to learn the Arabic language. However, once you get the basics down, you will slowly get the hang of it, and we are here to help you with that!

Tesneem  |  Arabic LLA

Marhaba! I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience, minoring in Public Health, and on the pre-medical track. UIC’s Arabic curriculum was my first true academic introduction to the language since I am neither a native speaker nor did I learn at a school prior to UIC, so I know what it feels like to be a completely beginner speaker. However, with the help of my professor and my peers, I was able to successfully complete the Arabic courses here and now hope to share some of my journey and my experiences as a non-native speaker in the UIC Arabic-speaking community.

Zahra  |  Arabic LLA

Marhaba! I am a sophomore majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Arabic. I am a first-generation college student and commuter to UIC. I grew up in an Arabic-speaking household and learnt English more formally when I started school. From a young age, I have been studying Standard Arabic and since middle school I have been learning French. Now, I’m studying Arabic at UIC to better understand Arabic media and knowledge; and it has helped me with my own dialect as well! I also have been learning programming languages over the past few years, so I have lots of experience learning all kinds of different grammars, alphabets, and ways of thinking! I remember how it is to begin studying a language, and staying motivated to stick to it, so I hope my study habits and experiences can help you as well and make learning Arabic easier and clearer!

Fatima  |  Arabic LLA

Ahlan! I am a junior majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Arabic. I live in the Northwest suburbs so I understand the struggle of trying to get help while being a commuter. My parents are immigrants from Jordan, and Arabic has been the main language spoken in my home for as long as I can remember. I love the beauty and complexity of the Arabic language and I can’t wait to share it with you! 

Haneen  |  Arabic LLA

Hello everyone! I am a senior majoring in Biochemistry and my main interests are natural drug discovery and research.  I work in a microbiology lab on the west campus. I am an only child and a first-generation student. I was born in America but was raised in Palestine for 10 years, so Arabic is my second language. I understand how hard the Arabic language is, especially when it comes to grammar. I also took Arabic 104, so I know the professor and her technique in teaching. I look forward to being able to assist you and help with any challenges you might have.

Maggie  |  Arabic LLA