Recently, I took my post program proficiency interview to see how my Arabic skills have progressed since going on my study abroad trip to Morocco.  It was such a surreal feeling given how nervous and unsure I was of myself and my Arabic skills during my pre-program OPI and as I discovered, in sharp contrast to my post-program OPI.  

The purpose of the OPI was to guage the effectiveness of the summer immersion experience in Arabic.  I have to say that I had no idea what to expect or how much could change in two short months.    Even though I particpated in Virtual NSLI-Y for Arabic in the Fall of 2022, my recall and ability to read and communicate in basic Modern Standard Arabic was not good.  Add to that, I had ZERO confidence in my understanding of the script, etc.   

I am happy to share that I was able to communicate with the proctor of the test on a basic level and understand the fundamentals of the questions she was asking me. In the end, my test lasted much longer than the first and I improved my knowledge of the Arabic language substantially. I was even able to understand a little bit of the Egyptian Arabic that she was speaking on the side, which is good considering I never actually learned any Egyptian Arabic.  I went from an OPI score of Novice-Low to Novice-High in just 6 weeks. 

I also learned to relax with the language and grant myself grace.  There are differing dialects of Arabic, just like many other languages.  As a linguistic and life-long learner, it is not so much about my ability to execute perfectly on the test, but to adapt, converse and enjoy the experience.  

I LOVED my time in Morocco, and I loved the people.  I am already signed up for a private Arabic tutor to continue my studies.  My hope is to major in Arabic studies and continue to uncover the mysteries of the Arabic language and the ancient cultures that inform it.