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Arabic

أهلا وسهلا بكم في جامعة واشنطن آند لي

Welcome to Arabic at Ƶ! We are excited to offer five continuous semesters of Arabic coursework that reflect the rich social, linguistic, and cultural diversity of the Middle East and North Africa. Our innovative curriculum introduces students to Modern Standard Arabic (the written language) and prioritizes the cultivation of students’ communicative abilities in the Levantine vernacular (the spoken language). We strive to create global citizens and support student learning through the development of language-learning strategies and critical thinking skills. Students at W&L can earn a minor in Arabic (6 courses; 20 credits), beginning in Fall Term 2025.

Arabic is the fourth most spoken language in the world. It is the mother tongue of over 300 million people in nations such as Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. Proficient Arabic speakers can pursue thrilling careers in business, diplomacy, intelligence, education, law, interpretation/translation, journalism, and more.

Feature Stories


The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.

Anthony Edwards, professor of Arabic

Anthony Edwards, professor of Arabic, brings his boundless energy to his teaching, research and mentorship of students.

Washington and Lee’s Center for International Education awarded deBuchananne funding to study Arabic at the University of Jordan this summer.

Anthony Edwards’ article focuses on the 19th-century Orientalist Gregory M. Wortabet.

Anthony Edwards illustrates his case study that focuses on Khalīl al-Khūrī, a central figure of the Nahḍa.

Arabic professor Anthony Edwards recently published a paper titled “Becoming the Muʿallim: how tradition and innovation made a Nahḍa icon.”

Brandon Bishop and Aliya Gibbons '26

Washington and Lee’s Center for International Education awarded two students funding to study Arabic at the University of Jordan this summer.

Beautiful fall day on campus

Anthony Edwards, Theodore Van Loan and Kameliya Atanasova were featured at the annual event.

Timothy Lubin and Anthony Edwards

Timothy Lubin and Anthony Edwards both presented at the event held in Berlin earlier this month.

Anne Riter '22

Riter will spend the next academic year volunteering with a community organization, working as an English teaching assistant and taking courses at the University of Graz.

Six undergraduate students received Critical Language Scholarships, which will provide them the opportunity to study language intensively during summer 2022.

Approximately 70% of students participate in an abroad program during their time at W&L.