CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq –“Wa asalama laikum” greeted Ms. Lucy to the students as they entered the classroom on the first day of the first Introduction to Arabic class offered at Contingency Operating Base Basra. A few students returned the greeting, some returned alternate greetings and some returned apprehensive looks and weren’t sure what to say. “Now you say, ‘A laikum as salam,’” she explained.
The students, a mix of Soldiers, Airmen and civilians, attended the two-week class for two hours each day. Ms. Lucy didn’t waste any time exposing students to the written and spoken language.
This was the first time Ms. Lucy, who has masters degrees in theology and architecture, has attempted to teach an Arabic class so she wasn’t sure what to expect.
“I started the first day with the alphabet,” said Ms. Lucy, “and took baby steps each day.”
Ms. Lucy gauged the students’ progress each day then prepared and refined the class for the following day.
To help learn the numbers and pronunciation, Ms. Lucy called chose students to call out numbers for other students to write on the board and perform simple math problems. This was a big hit with some students. “Relearning how to add and subtract using Arabic numbers was my favorite part of the class,” said Spc. Elaine Santiago, an air traffic controller with operations air, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, “I had to decipher the numbers, write it in Arabic numerals and then figure out what I just wrote to solve the problem.”
“Wahit za’ed wahit sowee ashera,” said a jovial Santiago, who is from Chicago, as she explained the difficulty in translating the words to numerals that look completely different, then performing the math problem. It’s a good thing Ms. Lucy didn’t deduct points for math skills, because that translates to, “One plus one equals ten.” Maj. Juan Jose S. Perez knew no Arabic before starting the class.
“I wanted to be able to understand the alphabet and the sounds of the language,” explained Perez, Deputy Director for MND-S safety. “We had an excellent instructor who made very difficult material very easy to learn.”
Many students hoped to be able to communicate with the local Iraqi workers and grasp a better understanding of their culture.
“We have many local nationals working here on base and I will be able to interact with them more now,” said Perez, who is from Indianapolis.
The second Introduction to Arabic class is scheduled to begin Aug. 17 at the Basra Education Center. Students may now receive one hour of college credit for the free two-week course. The class is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sign up at the Education Center or contact 1st Lt. Lisa Cullen at
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or call DSN 858-4526
