Josh Phillips

Josh Phillips participated in the 2023 CLS Spark for Arabic hosted by the TAFL Center in Alexandria, Egypt and the 2024 CLS Arabic Program hosted by the Jordan Language Academy in Amman, Jordan. He is a recent graduate from Mississippi State University (MSU) where he studied Political Science, Economics, and Foreign Languages. He is also an intern with the U.S. Mission to Yemen at the Department of State and works as a research assistant with MSU’s Department of Political Science and Public Affairs. Josh hopes to pursue a Master’s in International Affairs and a career as a Foreign Service Officer within the Department of State, specializing in political dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Getting to Know Josh

I was born in the United States, but I spent the majority of my childhood living in Brisbane, Australia after my family moved there for my dad’s work. My family moved back to America in 2018, and since then, it’s been my primary residence. One of my strengths (which is sometimes one of my detriments) is that I like to fill my schedule as much as possible. When I’m not studying or researching, I enjoy reading novels, playing the saxophone or piano, and participating in sports as often as possible. My busy schedule sometimes makes finding the time to develop my Arabic skills a challenge, but one of the cool parts about engaging in an immersive experience like CLS is that the language becomes a part of your life forever. I still find that my internal dialogue is full of random Arabic words. Not only has my perception and understanding of the world shifted as a result of my language learning experience, but also the way that I think. It's a pretty cool realization! 

Why Study Arabic? 

Growing up, both my parents worked for nonprofits, and I saw firsthand what service and leadership look like. This significantly shaped my perceptions of the world. As my idea of my future career has taken form, I've found that my thoughts have never been, "What am I going to do?" but rather, "Who am I going to serve?" While my international background fostered my understanding of and interest in the globalized world, I was still unsure exactly how my passion to serve would play out. This search led to my deep interest in and passion for the Middle East / North Africa (MENA) region. I began my Arabic language learning journey as a result of my desire to engage with the people of the MENA region, and my passions have only deepened as my understanding of the language and culture of the region has grown. 

A Favorite Phrase in Arabic 

My favorite idiom in Arabic is from the Jordanian/Palestinian dialect and is pronounced “yaetiik alaefiya” (يعطيك العافية). Directly translated, it means “God give you strength,” but in Jordan, we use it more as a thank you for any service given, like when a waiter brings you food or after a taxi drops you off. It’s a fun phrase to use! 

Why Should Others Learn Arabic? 

The language of Arabic is positively beautiful. It is intricate and complex in the most fascinating ways, and its syntax is unlike any other language I have studied. Even though the formal and colloquial dialects are quite different, the similarities between them mean that I’m able to learn both at the same time. It feels amazing every time I am able to communicate with a native Arabic speaker in a language so different that my native language of English, and that regular sense of accomplishment keeps me motivated to continue to study and learn more. 

The Value of Making Mistakes 

In the early days of living with my host family in Jordan, I had to use the restroom, but couldn’t find the switch to turn on the light in the bathroom. I went to ask my host mum where the switch was, but couldn’t remember the word for “light” in Arabic, so I ended up asking a question that was something akin to: “How do I make sunshine in the bathroom?” My host mum had a good laugh at that, and I think that this situation is a phenomenal example of how making linguistic mistakes is common and not a big deal. The native speakers around you know you are learning, and they will usually be glad to help you – you just have to give it a shot first!

Sharing the Experience Back on Campus 

As a student living in the US South, the communities that I engage with typically have little to no experience in engaging with the peoples or cultures of the MENA region. From founding the Arab American Cultural Society at Mississippi State to creating Instagram posts for our International Institute, my goal is and has always been to foster a culture of mutual understanding. In this way, I have sought opportunities to share my experiences – such as serving as an English language tutor in a refugee center in Amman, Jordan, or showing videos of me playing the oud, an Arab stringed instrument – and being able to discuss my experiences in this way has been an absolute pleasure. 

Words of Advice 

Apply, apply, apply! There is literally no downside to crafting and submitting an application, and I would even say that the application process itself is beneficial in reflecting on your goals and motivations for learning languages. For those who are selected, please stay connected with the alumni network after your program – there are so many opportunities available for you, from an alumni directory that connects alumni across languages and years to alumni programming such as virtual foreign policy webinars, alumni language tutoring or in-person networking events. Whatever the result, you won’t regret applying!