{"id":3353,"date":"2026-03-11T15:19:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/?p=3353"},"modified":"2026-04-29T11:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T15:44:13","slug":"the-bridge-between-language-and-culture-learning-through-study-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/blog\/the-bridge-between-language-and-culture-learning-through-study-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bridge Between Language and Culture: Learning Through Study Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-date has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-11T15:19:42-04:00\">March 11, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">The Bridge Between Language and Culture: Learning Through Study Abroad<\/h1>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-author has-medium-font-size\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">By<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/author\/rharizi\/\" target=\"_self\">Roa Harizi<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-1024x768.png\" alt=\"BMCC students riding camels in Marrakesh, Morocco\" class=\"wp-image-3360\" style=\"border-width:1px;aspect-ratio:0.9101569678261499;width:237px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>BMCC students in Marrakesh<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Franz Fanon once wrote, <em>\u201cTo speak a language is to take on a world, a culture.\u201d<\/em> This idea captures what I have come to understand as a language instructor: language is never just vocabulary and grammar. It carries history, identity, values, and ways of seeing the world. To truly learn a language is to step into the culture and the values that shape it. My experience leading students taking courses abroad has confirmed that immersion is the essential bridge connecting language to its cultural context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Studying abroad is not simply about improving pronunciation or expanding vocabulary. It is about discovering how people think, how they connect with one another, and how they interpret the world around them. Culture gives emotion to expressions and context to communication. It is there that we begin to understand not only the words, but also the humor, gestures, traditions, and social codes that give those words meaning. Language without culture can feel mechanical and distant. However, with its culture, it becomes human, vibrant, and unforgettable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of leading study-abroad programs in France and Morocco as a professor of French and Arabic at BMCC. These experiences have shown me how deeply language learning is shaped by culture, and how transformative immersion can be for students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In France, students were based in Paris, Nice, and Toulouse, and each city offered a distinct cultural and linguistic experience. In Paris, students practiced French on the metro, in caf\u00e9s, and while visiting museums and historic landmarks, learning how language functions in a fast-paced urban environment. In Nice, they experienced a slower rhythm of life and discovered how regional history and Mediterranean culture influence communication. In Toulouse, they encountered yet another variation in accent and lifestyle, deepening their understanding of how language adapts to place and identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One moment that deeply marked many students in France was their surprise at hearing Arabic dialect woven into French slang, music, and everyday communication. In certain neighborhoods of Paris especially, students noticed how expressions of North African origin are now part of contemporary French speech. They heard it in rap and pop music, in casual conversations among young people, and even in everyday slang. I remember standing in a flea market when one student turned to me and said, \u201cI feel like I am in my country\u201d, while another added, \u201cI did not expect Paris to be so diverse and influenced by many cultures\u201d. For many, this was a powerful realization: language is constantly evolving, shaped by migration, history, and cultural exchange. France revealed itself not only as a European country, but also as a multicultural society enriched by its connections to North Africa and other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Morocco, students experienced another important linguistic discovery. Beginner Arabic students were immersed in daily life through homestays and travel to cities such as Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, and Chefchaouen, as well as the Ourika Mountains. Very quickly, they learned that the Arabic studied in textbooks, Modern Standard Arabic, is different from the Moroccan dialect (Darija) spoken in everyday life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This distinction became one of the most meaningful lessons of the program. In class, students worked with Modern Standard Arabic, the formal language used in media, literature, and official contexts across the Arab world. But in markets, taxis, homes, and caf\u00e9s, they heard Moroccan Darija, spoken at a faster pace, more fluid, and influenced by Amazigh, French, and Spanish. At first, this difference felt overwhelming. Soon, however, students began to appreciate the richness of linguistic diversity. They learned to navigate between formal and informal registers, understanding when each form of language was appropriate and meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These experiences accelerated language learning in ways that often surprised students. Immersion strengthened listening skills, improved pronunciation, and built confidence, even at the beginner level. Mistakes became part of the journey rather than something to fear. Students learned to communicate with curiosity, patience, and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Equally meaningful was their personal growth. Many students traveled abroad for the first time feeling uncertain. However, through daily cultural engagement, they became more confident, independent, and open-minded. Language learning shifted from memorization to connection and from completing assignments to building relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this reason, I strongly believe that every language student should experience study abroad at least once. It is not a luxury; it is an essential extension of language education. Even a short program can transform how students understand communication, identity, and the world around them. Study abroad teaches adaptability, empathy, and cultural awareness, those are skills that extend far beyond the classroom. It also reminds us that language is not only learned but lived. It is shaped by history, migration, and human connection. When students travel, they step into new worlds and discover new dimensions of themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you interested in developing or leading a study abroad program? Learn more about the possibilities by exploring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmcc.cuny.edu\/academics\/success-programs\/study-abroad\/faculty-engagement\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.bmcc.cuny.edu\/academics\/success-programs\/study-abroad\/faculty-engagement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BMCC\u2019s faculty engagement resources<\/a> or email our Office of Global Exchanges and Experiences at <a href=\"mailto:GlobalExchanges@bmcc.cuny.edu\">GlobalExchanges@bmcc.cuny.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-07f9e39b\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns alignfull has-1-columns has-desktop-equal-layout has-tablet-equal-layout has-mobile-collapsedRows-layout has-vertical-center ticss-c00aadba\"><div class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-columns-overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"innerblocks-wrap\">\n<div id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-9bce96d7\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column\"><div class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-column-overlay\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-63134771\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-63134771\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"909\" src=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/RoaHarizi.png\" alt=\"Photo of Roa Harizi\" class=\"wp-image-3357\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.994475138121547;width:183px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/RoaHarizi.png 800w, https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/RoaHarizi-264x300.png 264w, https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/RoaHarizi-768x873.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-bbda2e30\" class=\"wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading wp-block-themeisle-blocks-advanced-heading-bbda2e30\">Roa Harizi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Roa is a Lecturer in French and Arabic in the Modern Languages Department at BMCC. Her background includes law, international business, and studies in languages and translation. This diverse experience allows her to bring a multicultural and multilingual perspective to her classes. She is dedicated to helping students connect language learning with their understanding of different cultures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To truly learn a language is to step into the culture and the values that shape it. My experience leading students taking courses abroad has confirmed that immersion is the essential bridge connecting language to its cultural context.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11026,"featured_media":3360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","portfolio_post_id":0,"portfolio_citation":"","portfolio_annotation":"","neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"[\"content\",\"tags\",\"comments\"]","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"openlab_post_visibility":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"coauthors":[95],"class_list":["post-3353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",2048,1536,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-300x225.png",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-768x576.png",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-1024x768.png",1024,768,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-1536x1152.png",1536,1152,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",2048,1536,false],"neve-blog":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-930x620.png",930,620,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",300,225,false],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",400,300,false],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",600,450,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>To truly learn a language is to step into the culture and the values that shape it. My experience leading students taking courses abroad has confirmed that immersion is the essential bridge connecting language to its cultural context.<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Roa Harizi","url":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/author\/rharizi\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",2048,1536,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-300x225.png",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-768x576.png",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-1024x768.png",1024,768,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-1536x1152.png",1536,1152,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",2048,1536,false],"neve-blog":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco-930x620.png",930,620,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",300,225,false],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",400,300,false],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4182\/2026\/03\/StudentsInMorocco.png",600,450,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Roa Harizi","author_link":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/author\/rharizi\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"To truly learn a language is to step into the culture and the values that shape it. My experience leading students taking courses abroad has confirmed that immersion is the essential bridge connecting language to its cultural context.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11026"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3353"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3731,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3353\/revisions\/3731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3353"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/bmcc-faculty-collaboratory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=3353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}