It’s been 11 years since Jesse Lynch and Lisa Roman lived in Damascus. As the two reflected on their time in Syria, and the global careers they have built since, they agreed that The Arabic Overseas Language Flagship program was essential to their success.

Danica has been passionate about languages for as long as she can remember. When she enrolled in Arizona State University, she originally intended to study Spanish. However, the Chinese Language Flagship program at ASU, designed to lead toward professional fluency in Mandarin, altered her course.

The demand for Arabic speakers in the United States has continued to soar in the past decade, while knowledge of Arabic language and culture presents unparalleled opportunities to make a difference in the world.

American Councils, in partnership with Ankara University and the Turkish and Foreign Languages Research and Application Center (T MER), hosted its second opening reception ceremony for the Turkish Flagship Center.

Participants in the Arabic Flagship Program in Alexandria, Egypt, recently returned from a weeklong journey to historic sites throughout Egypt. The group of 57 students, teachers, their families and language partners explored the Pharonic sites of the Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Hatchepsut Temple, and Valley of the Kings.