As freshmen students, you might feel torn between using English in your studies and Arabic at home. It’s common to feel confused or even ashamed at times because of these different expectations. You’re not alone in this; many students in CMU-Q experience the same struggles. The key is to understand that this duality is a part of your unique journey. It’s okay to switch between languages depending on the situation. To deal with it, try to embrace both languages as strengths. Don’t be afraid to talk about how you feel with others, whether in class or with family. By finding a balance and getting support, you’ll feel more confident in your identity and build a strong connection to both your academic and cultural worlds.
Don't worry—it's a common experience among many students. Take a look at the graph below to understand it better.
(Data about Gulf students from Hopkyns S., Zoghbor, W., & Hassall, P. J. (2021))
Linguistic Shame - Feelings of embarrassment from mixing languages.
Pressure for Language Purity - Societal expectations to keep languages distinct.
Switching for Belonging - Adjusting language use to fit into different settings.
Challenges in Identity - Difficulties in balancing cultural and academic identities.
Coping Mechanisms - Strategies like embracing multilingualism to overcome these challenges.