English language in Lebanon

During the French rule over Lebanon from 1918 to 1946, the French language spread significantly in Lebanon and the government often writes in French alongside Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). In 1972, 54% of Lebanese people said they speak French or English, including 75% of Beirut residents. Of Beirut's bilingual population, 48.5% spoke French and 26% spoke English. Many of the Palestinians in Lebanon were also fluent in English. In 2011, 40% of Lebanon's population said that they spoke English non-natively. == Social significance ==

The use of English in daily life of Lebanese people reflects a desire for "modernity, coolness, and hip culture". It is also a reaction to the negativity associated with Arabic since the September 11 attacks. Many businesses advertise in English. == Impact on Lebanese Arabic ==

Borrowed words Lebanese Arabic has borrowed many terms from English. Additionally, some English verbs have been borrowed and altered to follow the syntax of Levantine Arabic. For example, shayyik comes from the English word check, and sayyiv comes from the English word save. and MSA is so common in Lebanon, often being done in both casual situations and formal situations like TV interviews. This prevalence of code-switching has led to phrases that naturally embed multiple linguistic codes being used in everyday language, like the typical greeting "hi, , which combines English, Lebanese, and French. == Education ==

In most schools and universities, MSA is considered secondary and is only taught as a subject. Primary and secondary education Between 1994 and 1997, the Council of Ministers passed a new National Language Curriculum that required schools to teach MSA while also using either English or French in natural sciences and mathematics. In general, school students are exposed to two or three languages. Higher education The American University of Beirut (AUB) was founded in 1866, though English only overtook MSA as the main language of instruction from 1875 onwards. Out of the 28 private universities that mushroomed between 1990 and 2021, 25 use English as a medium of instruction. ==See also==