The Arabic Book Club

In the very back of the Chalhoub Group Library of the new elementary school, a group of students are sitting around a table in deep discussion.

“Life is hard when we take decisions,” said one student.

“Life is a story and we are the writers,” said another.

“Life is a test and we have to pass it,” quipped yet another student.

Each comment was uttered in formal Arabic. One would think high school students are at work. Not so. A closer look would reveal a group of nine and ten-year-olds discussing the latest book in their Arabic Book Club. The group was headed by the school’s in-house author and Arabic teacher, Sana Harakeh. The book under discussion was one of hers.

In an effort to encourage young students to read Arabic, the International College Parents Committee (ICPC) launched a book club for the upper elementary school students earlier this year. It so happens that IC boasts several preschool and elementary level teachers who are also published Arabic authors.

With the administration on board, everything seemed to fall into place. The first meeting was called. About 20 students were expected to show up. Certainly not more. But to everyone’s shock, 74 fourth and fifth grade students – from both English and French sections - walked into the library.

A new plan was quickly concocted: half of the group would meet in the first recess and the other half in the second

Since then, the club – which now meets every three or four weeks – has increased to 82 members ( and still growing).

As the Chairperson of the Arabic Department and assistant to the director, Mahitab Faytrouni, was pleasantly surprised. “The students are beginning to see that Arabic books are just as nice as the French or English ones,” she said. “They can’t wait for us to distribute the next one.”

The success of the book Club has spurred the administration into adopting it in its extracurricular activities program next year.

As for the students, a new world has opened up. “I like reading in Arabic now,” said Lynn Chanouha, 10. “I like listening to other people’s point of view.”

Her friend, Mariam JabaKhanji, 11, is eagerly waiting for the next assigned book. “I like to read it in bed at night,” she said. “It’s fun.”