The Role of Language Proficiency in Shaping Social Status in Morocco
When I spoke with Dr. Anderson before applying for this study abroad program, I was intrigued by the diversity of languages spoken in Morocco. Yet, even with this knowledge, the reality of Morocco's linguistic landscape still caught me by surprise. Morocco's linguistic diversity stems from its rich history, with Arabic and Berber spoken for centuries, and French introduced during the colonial era. Recently, English has gained prominence as Morocco integrates into the global economy. Education is a key area where language proficiency impacts social status. Modern Standard Arabic is the main language of instruction in public schools, with Moroccan Darija used colloquially, while French dominates higher education and specialized fields, often correlating with better academic and career opportunities. Morocco now expects students to be quadrilingual, causing friction among conservative and Islamist-leaning politicians. A recent bill mandates secondary school students gain profic