Georgetown DC Students Deepen Arabic Skills and Cultural Understanding During Debate Exchange in Doha

Al Bawaba

30-05-2025

A group of Arabic heritage learners from Georgetown University's Washington, DC, campus recently completed an immersive academic and cultural visit to Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), culminating in their participation in a university-level Arabic debate competition hosted by Qatar University.The weeklong exchange, aligned with Georgetown's commitment to multilingual and cross-cultural learning, offered the visiting students a chance to deepen their Arabic fluency while engaging with regional peers on critical issues. As part of their preparation, the team took part in five days of intensive debate workshops at GU-Q led by Dr. Seerwan Hariry, Assistant Teaching Professor of Arabic. The sessions focused on the fundamentals of Arabic debating, including mock debates on timely topics such as environmental taxes and university admissions policies. Through these simulations, students practiced speaking formally in Arabic and refined their critical thinking skills.For Shady Makhlouf, an International Politics major (SFS 2025) studying in the United States, the trip was an incredible learning experience. 'The National debate competition we took part in was very special, as we combined teams from both campuses to form four teams. Although our campuses are thousands of miles apart, it felt as though we were competing as one university,' he said. His classmate Adelina Stulen (GU-Q'26), added: 'I could never imagine myself competing in Arabic debates, so it was certainly a new and challenging experience - but the energy and support of our Georgetown team made that day exciting for me!'Beyond the classroom, students had a chance to see how Arabic is used across Qatar. 'We explored some of Qatar's most iconic institutions — from Al Jazeera to the Qatar National Museum, Qatar University, Qatar National Library, QF Headquarters, and many other places,' explained Dr. Hariry. One of the highlights was an exclusive tour of the Al Jazeera Media Network headquarters in Doha, where students observed live news production in both English and Arabic.The behind-the-scenes experience made a lasting impression on the students, who regularly practice their Arabic by watching excerpts from the media network, among other resources. Justin Liu, (SFS '28), who is studying Comparative Regional Studies in DC shared: 'Seeing the actual set and the place that produces the Arabic media I use to learn was a great experience.' For Yinzhe Liu (SFS '28), the experience exposed her to a new career possibility in news: 'Witnessing live newsroom interaction and backstage operations taught me a lot,' she said.According to Dr. Hariry, the exchange and site visits helped students move beyond the classroom and into real-world application of the Arabic language, while engaging with fellow enthusiasts across continents. 'The students were delighted to host their DC peers and support a growing culture of collaboration between campuses,' he said. Shady agreed, saying 'The students we met were so kind and welcoming. I made new friends and reconnected with old friends that had visited the DC campus on past exchanges.'Although the Georgetown team did not place in the final rounds of the debate tournament, the experience of competing in Arabic against native speakers left a lasting impact. Students returned home with improved fluency, stronger debate skills, and greater cultural confidence—an experience that will continue to shape their academic and professional goals.
The initiative underscores Georgetown's dedication to fostering intercultural dialogue and providing platforms for global learning across its campuses. As GU-Q celebrates its 20th anniversary, programs like this highlight the university's vision for producing ethically grounded, globally minded graduates.