Arabic Class Translating Books from English to Arabic for Children in Iraq
Students in the Washington High School Arabic Language Class have spent the past few weeks collecting children’s books and translating them from English into Arabic. The books are now being shipped to Iraq for distribution to students there.
The project started as a way to help students develop their language usage skills, according to Ikram Easton, teacher. When the Arabic 1 class finished learning the alphabet in the first trimester, Easton wanted her students to type in Arabic on the computer.
The book drive idea surfaced as both a learning tool and a service project. Students were immediately enthusiastic. Everyone appreciated the challenge of translating and typing in Arabic after only three months in the class but valued the opportunity to share with young learners from a different country.
More than 145 books were donated by Washington High School students and staff members. More than 75 have already been translated and the class is still working. They hope to ship the packages before the holiday break.