Member Article

North East Arabic Academy launches in £6.5 million Beacon enterprise centre

The £6.5 million Beacon enterprise centre in Westgate Road, Newcastle is now home to the North East Arabic Language Academy (NEALA), the North East’s first professional academy that exclusively specialises in Arabic services - and general manager and head of academies, Abed Al-Zuweiri claims: “When you learn another language, you become a person of two souls.”

NEALA offers a wide range of services including specialised Arabic teaching, proof reading, translation and support for academic research and Abed emphasises “Our intention is not to please or satisfy our students and customers, our intention is to amaze them”

Today, NEALA stands on the shoulders of a team of experts, linguists, translators, and specialised Arabic teachers, to fulfil an ambitious mission of teaching Arabic to people from all walks of life and various motivations, in the hope of adding to multicultural harmony.

The courses offered by NEALA can be tailored to meet individual need depending on which national variant of the language is required and will benefit people from a range of backgrounds, including those with business interests in the Middle East and diplomats.

Modern standard Arabic and its variations will be taught in two-hour sessions over 10 weeks, with the first course starting on Monday, September 22.

Abed has built a six-strong teaching team made up of Middle East-born academics supported by an expert advisory panel. Abed, who has more than seven years’ experience of teaching Arabic and developing it in education programmes, said: “It’s taken two years of planning to get to this stage and we are confident there is demand.

“For example, there are lots of people who have established business connections with the Middle East and want to learn the language.

“The problem can be that people come to evening classes and study at Level 1 but then find there is not enough opportunity to carry the course forward.

“There are people around who are native Arabic speakers and who will teach those who ask, but being a native speaker doesn’t qualify them to teach it – just as speaking English doesn’t make you qualified to teach that language.

“You need a native speaker combined with someone who is qualified, and our NEALA team have all the necessary skills, experience and qualifications.

“By setting up the academy we are also contributing to the multicultural society – learning a language helps you to understand not just the people but their culture and beliefs, and so promotes understanding as well as enhancing interaction.”

And he added; “We chose to move into The Beacon due to its location in the heart of the multi-cultural part of Newcastle, its affordable rents and its flexible conference rooms and suites, where classes will be held.”

“After 20 hours of teaching Arabic on Intensive Courses, Arabic is no longer a code. By that time, people will have about 500 words and around 100 expressions.

“Be it Algeria, Jordan, Syria or Egypt, each country has its own type of spoken Arabic, though each will be understood by all. Modern standard Arabic is the language of education and the media. The written language is exactly the same everywhere.

“To learn Arabic is no different to learning any language, success depends on how keen each person is, as well as their motivation and attitude. With the opening of NEALA, there is nothing to stop them.

“The Beacon offers good support and backing for NEALA, and the facilities are excellent. It’s a great venue and I’m delighted to be hosting the first Arabic Academy here.”

Rhianne Dixon, Business Manager, of The Beacon which is owned and managed by two charities – ‘changing places, changing lives’ charity Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle and Centre West who work in the heart of the West End community, said: “The North East Arabic Language Academy is a great addition to the North East.

“By choosing to be based at The Beacon, Abed is placing his business in the heart of the region and within a very culturally diverse area.

“His is one of the many businesses and organisations that are benefitting from the expert help, facilities and support available at The Beacon. I wish him every success.”

Classes are expected to run daytime, evenings and weekends, with places limited to a maximum of 10 students. Courses cost £160. For more information contact 0191 242 5405 or visit www.neala.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The Beacon .