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Book: The Reality of Arabic in Israel

Chapter: Arabic Education in Jewish Schools: Challenges and Sociopolitical Dynamics

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.46245

Blurb:

Chapter six discusses the evolving role of Arabic language education within Israeli society, highlighting its challenges and complexities. It notes a decreasing Arabic knowledge among Jewish families from Arabic-speaking countries, leading to increased reliance on the educational system for Arabic diffusion. While Israeli policy officially supports Arabic education, its implementation faces hurdles. Sephardi Jews, who historically spoke Arabic, distance themselves from it to align with the dominant Jewish identity. Negative societal perceptions devalue Arabic, impacting its status in schools and discouraging students from learning it. Parental attitudes, societal biases, and educational policies further hinder Arabic education. Despite efforts to promote cultural understanding, Arabic remains marginalized. The analysis emphasizes the need to consider broader sociopolitical contexts and societal attitudes in evaluating language education programs.

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