Arabic: Students use language skills to connect with resettled Syrian families

Students studying Arabic had the opportunity to connect with local Syrian families through a collaboration between the Hiatt Center and Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Metrowest. Over the course of several weeks, students communicated with the families through a shared language of Arabic, sharpening their language skills in a real-world context. The collaboration culminated in a joyous meetup between the families and students on Beaver’s campus.

For the last four years, the Hiatt Center has partnered with JFS to expand learning outside of the classroom walls. When studying the book Refugee by Alan Gratz, Middle School teachers Kristin FitzGerald and Jon Greenberg collaborated with Hiatt to bring the voices of resettled families into the classroom. Students engaged directly with JFS staff and individuals from Syria and Afghanistan to hear about their resettlement stories.

The collaboration between Soumaya Ibourk’s Arabic classes and JFS started with a visit from Amira Elamri, Housing Specialist for JFS. Elamri and two other members of the JFS team spoke to Beaver’s Arabic classes about their organization and the potential of  connecting with resettled Syrian families. Following the visit, students were sent more information about the families, including the ages and interests of their children.

With the goal of making the resettled Syrian families feel a sense of connection and community, students quickly got to work leveraging their language skills to create customized games, letters, and videos to share. After hearing of one family member’s love for SpongeBob Squarepants, a group of students designed and laser cut a puzzle featuring some of the show’s characters. Another student created a video featuring a fun easter egg: Lay’s chips (a favorite of one of the kids) hidden in the background. “We gave Amira what the students created,” Ibourk shares. “She let us know that [the families] were thrilled to get our letters, videos, and games.”

Students went from virtual exchanges to meeting in person when the families joined JFS for a visit to Beaver’s campus. Meeting at 245 Woodland, students connected with the children they had been communicating with for weeks. Through games of Jenga, coloring, and delicious Syrian food, students engaged in an exchange of language and culture. “Everyone was so excited to be together, and seeing them eating, talking, and playing games in a shared place was a truly beautiful  moment to witness,” says Geeta Jain, Associate Director of the Hiatt Center. “This experience fostered language practice, empathy, and a shared sense of purpose.

Through the collaboration between Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, the Hiatt Center, and Ibourk’s Arabic classes, students gained a deeper understanding of the Arabic language and its ability to foster community. Students relied on their empathy, creativity, and understanding of Arabic to connect with native speakers in a meaningful way. “Our role was to help these families find a sense of community in the Boston area,” Leili Singer ’26 states. “I’ve learned that language is something that’s very important.”