A Program of the 
A perspective on CLS Spark Arabic told by CLS Digital Ambassador, Wajiha Mekki
Wajiha Mekki participated in 2024 CLS Spark for Arabic, hosted by the TAFL Center at Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt. Wajiha also served as a 2024 CLS Digital Ambassador sharing her CLS experience through digital storytelling. She is an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, studying Cancer Biology/Oncology and Political Science. Wajiha hopes to use her Arabic language skills in her future career to serve people from Arabic-speaking countries.
Through CLS Spark, I had the unique opportunity to learn Arabic, preparing me for my future career. Prior to becoming a CLS Spark participant, I had a limited understanding of how to approach Arabic and increase my proficiency; starting a new language is inherently intimidating, especially to one that I had limited access to.
Through CLS Spark, I grew exponentially as a student. By immediately beginning an intensive journey, I was able to leverage my creativity to connect with the language. For me, my connection began in the classroom with my teachers and fellow CLS scholars. Learning from them and their experiences allowed me to find my own “why” and identify ways to leverage it into my Arabic learning. After these vital conversations, I began to identify the roles of food and poetry in my Arabic journey.
As my coursework began to pick up, I leveraged my new skills writing poetry in Arabic and discovering new foods I loved from the MENA region. These interests were shared by many of my classmates, motivating me to seek out time to practice with them and develop connections that I remain after my program. These connections with my peers mirror those I had with my instructors as well; their kindness and genuine desire to not only teach us Arabic, but to help us understand the language allowed me to feel excited about each class and assignment, as it all prepared me to further immerse myself in the language.
Though my experience was overall one of the most transformative, it was equally challenging. Facing information overload, I had to change my study habits exponentially to ensure that I could keep up with the content and make progress I could be proud of. Whether it was learning how to use Anki to create flashcards or creating a new method to translate my notes, I developed new skills during my language learning journey, all of which I am excited to build upon in future immersion opportunities. Through the challenges of CLS Spark, I am confident in the progress I have made.
The most rewarding experience was getting the chance to watch my first and last presentation back to back, showcasing my progress over the summer. Seeing myself go from insecurely pronouncing words to confidently answering my peers’ questions, I noticed a change in confidence in my speaking abilities. This growth was rewarding and has motivated me to continue seeking out avenues that will contribute to my Arabic learning journey. As an aspiring development diplomat, I am excited to leverage my Arabic language base to better connect with underserved health populations in the Middle East and North Africa. CLS Spark has ignited a fire in me and solidified my commitment to Arabic and serving Arabic-speaking countries. I am confident that my experience will serve me tremendously during my career, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey.