OU grad student leading a new generation through an ancient culture

An Oakland College graduate pupil is protecting an historical language and heritage alive within the twenty first century.

The Chaldean Language Workshop, a category based by Stephen Hannawi, met twice per week originally of the college yr and practically 100 college students took the chance to be taught in regards to the language and tradition.

The official description of the workshop is “to assist and acknowledge scientific and educational achievements, group involvement and the event of a bond of friendship between its (Chaldean) members”, however it’s rather more than that.

Earlier than incomes a grasp’s diploma in synthetic intelligence from OU, Hannawi found at Cooley Legislation College that historical languages ​​are nonetheless utilized in trendy instances.

“After I went to legislation faculty, I noticed that Latin was nonetheless alive within the American authorized system and that Outdated French was nonetheless alive in property legislation,” says Hannawi. “We predict these languages ​​are outdated, however they’re nonetheless there. Preserving the Chaldean language means preserving a chunk of humanity’s shared civilization.”

Chaldean, estimated to be greater than 3,000 years previous, has been categorized as an endangered language by the United Nations Academic, Scientific and Cultural Group.

Chaldeans are the descendants of historical Mesopotamians, with roots in southern Iraq. They’re distinguished by their Catholic religion and are sometimes recognized as ethnically separate from the encircling Arab inhabitants

As of 2023, greater than 160,000 Chaldeans name Michigan dwelling.

“It’s a very influential language in historical past,” he mentioned. “Jesus spoke it, the Bible remains to be written on this language and it’s nonetheless the language spoken within the Chaldean church buildings.”

Hannawi defined how the workshop in Oakland began.

“I gave it to at least one pupil and thought why not flip it right into a workshop and educate it to anybody who’s ,” he mentioned. “Why solely educate one individual? 91 college students got here to the courses and this semester I’ve an introductory and intermediate class as a result of I need to proceed with my college students from the autumn in order that they proceed to be taught grammar, conjugation and translation.”

Based on college students who attended the workshops, it’s about rather more than writing and translating an historical language.

“I discovered a lot about my tradition,” mentioned sophomore Maryam Jaoo. “It is an awesome alternative for college kids who need to join with their heritage and even for individuals who do not learn about it to be taught extra about its historical past.”

Sophomore Sarah Kenetha discovered the workshops by means of social media.

“He needs to maintain our language alive and cross it on… as a result of there shall be individuals who migrate right here and people folks could have youngsters and their youngsters will need to know what language their mother and father converse and the place they arrive from,” she mentioned. “That is completely different as a result of (Hannawi) allows you to hook up with one thing deeper.”

Sophomore Selenah Saka, who together with Kenetha and Jaoo are Chaldean, has discovered consolation within the conferences.

She mentioned the Chaldeans fled Iraq and unfold world wide so they’re disconnected from one another.

“This workshop gave me the chance to satisfy different Chaldeans and join with our tradition,” she mentioned. “It is extra of a group. We be taught, however we additionally share our tradition and turn into our circle of relatives.”

Though it’s an extracurricular exercise, like dozens of different actions supplied on campus, college students view it as a classroom topic with out a strict curriculum.

All workshops can be found on Instagram and YouTube.

“If it have been structured as a classroom, I in all probability would not like going there as a result of I am already taking six different courses,” Saka says. “We now have enjoyable and likewise find out about our tradition and our id and that is what motivated me to return again.”

“The best way he teaches could be very easy,” says Kenetha. “It wasn’t overwhelming and he is aware of how you can hold us engaged and that is what retains us invested.”

“He teaches very effectively and that is why I hold going to courses,” Jaoo mentioned. “He brings a coherence to it that could be very good for the scholars.”

Hannawi comes up with concepts for classes on his personal time and offers college students with as many assets as potential as a result of they understand how essential his message is.

“It is value it as a result of it is a language that has contributed a lot to humanity that I feel we’ve got an obligation to do one thing for it,” he mentioned.

Saka agreed together with his motivation.

“Our historical past and our language have been round for thus lengthy and I need to do my half to verify it lasts even longer,” she mentioned. “What he does is nice for the group and he has a ardour for it and needs to assist others and that is what I really like about it.”

Participation within the workshops is open to all OU college students, and the conferences are at the moment held twice per week on campus: an introductory-level workshop on Wednesdays and an intermediate-level workshop on Thursdays within the Lake Huron Room on the Oakland Heart. Each are at 6 p.m. and no registration is required.

For extra data, observe Instagram (@ou_chaldean_lingual_workshop) or be taught extra on OU’s MySail platform.