Oriental Studies - Student Profile

Wll, 1st year

'I chose Oxford because apart from just learning the language, the Arabic and Islamic Studies course gives the solid base of an introduction to many different areas relating to the Middle East, before moving on to focus on particular areas in more depth and becoming really flexible, allowing me to explore my interests.

I am looking forward to being able to read literature in Arabic rather than having to study it in translation. Spending the second year in Cairo or Beirut, rather than the third year as in most other language courses, will help me do this as I will have reached a very high level of proficiency in Arabic very quickly.'

Lason, who graduated in 2001 with a BA (OS) Arabic, is a photojournalist, film-maker and lecturer currently working for the UN in Libya. He says:  

‘I have lived in Cairo, Damascus, Sanaa and Tehran, and covered events like the 2011 Arab revolts and the Greek economic crisis. After studying for a Masters in Persian and Contemporary Iranian Studies, I was a Nieman fellow at Harvard.’