In the summer of 2012, Natalie Pope interned with Qatar Foundation International (QFI) in Washington, D.C., focusing on enhancing Arabic language instruction in the U.S. through a multimedia project that involved creating an educational video and compiling data on Arabic programs nationwide. Her experience provided valuable professional insight into the Arabic education landscape, networking opportunities, and a foundation for future academic pursuits in Middle Eastern studies. Pope highlighted the potential for QFI to unite the Arabic instruction community, despite challenges regarding program stability and resource availability.

1. SUMMER 2012: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
NATALIE POPE | CENTRE COLLEGE | CLASS 2013
Guiding Objective: Engage in activities and initiatives geared to Seattle
2012 Summer Options: D.C. Internship or Arabic Study Abroad Portland
make QFI’s Arabic Language and Culture Initiative the unifying
power of the Arabic Instruction Community in the U.S. ALCI’s Arabic Road Trip
While there were many options for my final summer as a Brown Fellow, I
ultimately decided to intern in DC for several reasons. Many of the other options,
such as Arabic study abroad programs, were tempting in the adventure and travel For 2 ½ weeks, ALCI traveled from
they offered; however I felt I would be better served professionally by an Currently, the Arabic language instruction community in the D.C. to Seattle, Portland, Oakland,
internship. After my previous summer experience at Middlebury, I already had an U.S. is not only young but disconnected. Arabic programs Los Angeles and Chicago collecting
Arabic immersion experience on my résumé; the gaping hole was now and teachers have limited resources for professional interview footage for the creation of
professional development. development or access to the resources that others are
innovating. There is a need for a central voice to cultivate
a video testifying to the benefits of
An Internship at the Qatar Foundation International self-awareness and a sense of unified community in the learning Arabic. We crossed the Chicago
country; this is the role QFI intends to fulfill in the coming country interviewing students,
After a participating in the Washington Semester Program at American University years. The majority of my project centered around exploring parents, professors, teachers,
in the fall of 2012, I had experience interning part-time (2 days a week) at a not- ways to develop this in the U.S. business/religious community
for-profit organization where I worked to promote commercial diplomacy. I knew leaders and principals. By Los Angeles
the limits accompanying a part-time internship, and I needed a full-time, in-depth collecting a diverse array of
experience where I could truly participate and make a substantial contribution. QFI Summer Interns
“Arabic narratives,” ALCI is
Such an experience would provide guidance in a future career path as well as an
shaping the story of Arabic
ideal networking opportunity. Interning in D.C. would provide me first-hand Key Initiatives:
experience with a career in my field of study, Middle Eastern Studies. In fact, instruction in the U.S.
many of my colleagues this summer had pursued similar tracks, such as degrees in
Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, which included travel/study in the Middle Analyze Asia Society Promotional/Informational Video
East. • The Asia Society promotional/informational video impressed upon the viewer the immediacy of Planning Everything from Logistics to B-
learning the beautiful Chinese language due to its great character building and career enhancing Roll
potential. I was responsible for brainstorming how QFI could create a video akin to this in function
and message, only improved for our particular stakeholders. This project would turn into a two-and- After ALCI was given approval to pursue filming the
one-half week trip across the U.S. collecting footage for this film. (refer to ‘The Documentary’ movie, I was tasked with all logistical preparation for
section) and execution of our trip across the U.S. This included
planning when we would travel to cities, our duration
Arabic Program Survey in each city, and developing a daily itinerary of
• ALCI hopes to create the first database and holistic understanding of the exact nature of Arabic interviews as well as any other professional meetings
instruction in the U.S. – such self awareness is entirely absent in the Arabic community except for a we needed to attend.
Updated Resume few of its leading figures. This information not only helps us to tailor our offerings to best address
the needs of the schools, but also to develop a service to connect schools. In serving as a national
clearing house, ALCI could facilitate the sharing of teaching techniques/materials, help place Interviewing students of Arabic language
teachers in under-advantaged school districts, in addition to providing funding for all of these in Portland , OR
endeavors. It is this leading role that ALCI is positioned to fill and is currently making confident
strides towards fulfilling. I was in charge of compiling a list of all public and charter schools in the Telling the American Arabic Narrative
US that offer Arabic programs; from this list, we singled out the 33 schools currently affiliated with
QFI to call for a more directed survey. I spoke with principals and lead professors from Portland, In crossing the country telling America’s Arabic Narrative, I learned that Arabic is Collecting B-Roll: A replica
OR; New Orleans, LA and schools in New England in order to find create a holistic, representative not a language one learns to connect to the Middle East better, but that it is truly an of the Dome of the Rock in the
sample of what an Arabic instruction community looks like in the U.S. Availability of teachers, American language. From creating cultural empathy in ethnic-conflict ridden suburbs of Chicago
effective and culturally relevant curriculum and funding emerged as the key issues facing the Lebanese/Latino communities in California, to opening new possibilities to south
Qatar Foundation International: Connecting Cultures Through Education programs to date. Chicagoan youth, Arabic is more than simply an academic study. It’s truly a part of A key part of producing this film was the collection of
the American story. “B-roll.” This essentially is background footage; rather
Qatar Foundation International (QFI), a D.C.- based branch of the larger Qatar Coding Survey Data than only showing the face of the person being
Foundation, strives to “connect culture and advance global citizenship through • After recording responses for nearly all of the QFI affiliated Arabic programs, I was responsible for Additionally, I forged valuable connections with professors and admissions interviewed, the video cuts away to images relating to
education.” In actualizing this mission, QFI has traditionally operated active youth coding the data to be used for future analysis. This process involved sifting through all the responses personnel at the University of Chicago’s Middle Eastern Studies Center and the subject being addressed by the speaker, whether a
exchange programs for students in affiliated schools in the U.S., Brazil and Qatar. Such to find patterns. Each pattern was assigned a number, thereby turning every answer into a number. DePaul University. It was at the University of Chicago that I realized I intend to shot of a classroom, students in class, an office name
programs typically have a theme, such as photography (arts), the environment, and other While my internship period came to an end before I was then able to analyze this data, the progress I pursue a Master’s/PhD track in Islamic Art History after graduation. badge on a desk, a city skyline, or a speakers hands.
social issues. Recent cultural exchanges included using the latest technology to map the made makes this projected poised for the next person to finalize with ease.
mangroves of the students’ countries, leadership camps in Costa Rica and attending the
Rio +20 Earth Summit. Orchestration of ALIC Informational Documentary
• Refer to ‘The Documentary’ Section
I, however, was hired to intern in the newest division of QFI, the Arabic Language and
Culture Initiative (ALCI). ALCI offers grants to schools and institutions seeking to
create, develop and enhance Arabic courses as well as providing scholarships to students
seeking to attain a Master’s degree in Arabic Instruction. Even though ALCI is less
developed and currently less emphasized within the organization, this branch is exciting
Turkey 2010 A Life After Brown and Centre
in its growth potential, as already seen in the past year in which grants awarded more
than tripled those of the previous years.
After three years with the Brown
Foundation, my academic career has
Washington D.C. is a transitional city, filled with history, energy and
Middlebury 2011
progressed in a way I never imaged; when
opportunities. I made the most of the city by networking and attending Panama 2009
lectures series, including a bi-monthly discussion group for young entering school, hardly did I think I would
professionals. Additionally, I was able to network with Centre alumni, who now be poised to graduate Centre with dual
are now friends, mentors and valuable future connections. degrees in Middle Eastern Studies and
Coming out of this summer experience, I have gained not Religion, accompanied by a deep passion
only insight into the nature of a DC career relating to
for the Arabic language. Since Middle
An Instable Foundation Middle Eastern Studies – a path that includes office-wide
“Arabic Music Fridays” – but also potential career Eastern Studies is not offered at Centre, this
Working at such a foundation was an enlightening opportunity, as this sort of work is a viable instability relating to regional political issues. Knowledge academic pursuit was both ignited and
possibility for my future, especially given the similarity of the academic paths of my coworkers and of the overall lifestyle and work environment of a Middle made possible by the Brown Foundation –
my own trajectory. Learning how to operate within a foundation - who to contact for different Eastern focused organization in D.C. will enable me to through both study abroad in Turkey and
project ideas and how to pitch an initiative - increased my understanding of work-place hierarchies make future career decisions with a clear understanding of
and power dynamics. What was especially interesting to learn from QFI was that, despite its flashy I participated in an Arabic course at then language study the following
the Middle East Institute. Grade: A what this would entail. For now, my summer in D.C. has summers. I enter the world as a more
message and highly motivated staff, the core foundation of the organization was highly unstable. As
given me great recommendation connections – several of
a branch of the larger Qatar Foundation, QFI is ever at the whim of the Qatari queen, Sheikha Moza
whom I am utilizing for post-grad academic and
competent, well-traveled, self-aware
bint Nasser – and others in the Qatari royal family. For this reason, the upper figures in the
scholarship applications as I prepare for grad school in individual than I ever imagined, with a
organization are constantly traveling to the Middle East to network and advocate for the The ReThink Institute: Washington D.C. 2012
continuation of QFI. While QFI/ALCI has real potential to unite the Arabic community in U.S., attending a lecture on Islamic Art History. network of personal and professional
there is the ever present danger that tomorrow all the services provided to underprivileged youth the status of the Syrian Preparing to attend national connections spanning the globe and dreams
and schools across the country will be “restructured”, causing Arabic programs across the U.S. to Revolution autism awareness rally
and goals no less limited.
fall through. Having learned this lesson, I will be a more savvy employee when I face similar
employment opportunities.