AJMI - Doha

Al Jazeera Media Institute launched the first edition of its Arabic Language and Media for Young People programme last Sunday evening, with fourteen students from various nationalities taking part. The initiative aims to develop Arabic language skills among young people and enable them to use the language in producing media content that reflects their linguistic and cultural identity.

The programme runs for one and a half months at the Institute’s premises, in an interactive learning environment that combines linguistic foundations with practical application, under the supervision of a group of experts and specialists. Participants were placed into three levels after individual interviews with each student, in order to assess their language proficiency and determine the most suitable training pathway for them.

In this context, Hessa Budhaish, Manager of the Planning and Projects Department at Al Jazeera Media Institute, said the programme seeks to enable participants to express their ideas in correct and confident Arabic, through a learning experience that combines language learning with its practical applications across different media formats. She stressed that the Institute is keen to provide an interactive environment that helps young people discover their own voices and refine their abilities, in a way that strengthens the presence of Arabic in their daily lives.

Dr. Hossam Wahbeh, Manager of the Media Initiatives Department at Al Jazeera Media Institute, said the launch of the programme has been met with strong engagement and interest from parents who are keen to strengthen their children’s command of Arabic. He noted that this high level of interest reflects families’ awareness of the importance of mastering the language and linking it to contemporary skills.

For his part, Programme Supervisor Ahmad Tahseen explained that the programme is built around two integrated tracks: the first focuses on developing participants’ Arabic language skills, while the second is dedicated to practical applications through a range of media arts, including television presenting, podcast production, news writing and theatre, in addition to other training activities that enhance participants’ ability to use Arabic in diverse media contexts.

The Arabic Language and Media for Young People programme reinforces Al Jazeera Media Institute’s position as an educational platform that supports the Arabic language, through targeted initiatives that respond to families’ aspirations and open up broader horizons for younger generations to express themselves and be creative in the media field.