Arabic
Millfield is one of few public schools in the United Kingdom that enables beginners* to take Arabic to GCSE. This gives you a unique opportunity to get ahead in business or diplomacy as Arabic is the fifth most widely spoken language in the world and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Learning the language will boost your opportunities to work in more than 20 countries and with more than 300 million native speakers. The Arab-speaking world is rapidly growing so trading opportunities are strong and it also holds two-thirds of the world's known oil reserves.
Learning the beautiful Arabic language gives you a valuable insight into one of the world's oldest surviving cultures and an understanding of the Muslim religion that enables you to avoid negative stereo-typing of Arabic speakers. Arabic is strongly associated with the Muslim religion because it is the language of its holy book, the Qu'ran. So, as well as the millions who speak the language, there are many more millions who learn the language to read the Qu'ran in its original form. By studying Arabic, you will learn about its impact on the world's heritage; from the 8th to the 15th centuries, Arabic writers produced more books of poetry, on science and philosophy than had ever been the case previously and this period also boasted the highest level of literacy that the world had ever seen.
We see the influence of Arabic in many ways today. Algebra was invented by Arabic mathematicians in medieval times and irrigation was also an Arabic invention. Arabic architecture can be found across Europe, with particularly fine examples in Spain - the last Arab stronghold in Europe. Arabs brought products such as coffee and cotton to the wider world. The long-term influence of Arabic is felt in many languages today; in English, in words such as henna, mattress and safari.
Opt for Arabic if you would like the challenge of learning a new script and have a desire to learn more about one of the world's most beautiful and influential cultures.
*Pupils joining us in year nine may take Arabic as a beginner in bands A and B and as continuers in bands C and D. Arabic is not normally offered as an A level course.