Arabic Language A Tough Assignment (washingtonpost.com)
According to a survey by the Modern Language Association, the number of students at U.S. colleges enrolled in Arabic language courses nearly doubled from fall 1998 to fall 2002 -- the largest growth rate of any foreign language during that period. At Georgetown University, enrollment in Arabic courses is up by 300 percent since 2001. At George Washington, twice as many students applied as could be admitted into the new summer-long intensive Arabic program.
It is encouraging to hear of more interest in Arabic as a foreign language, discouraging to be reminded how difficult the language is and how few people study it despite renewed interest.