Ali Neamah

Student with Statue of Liberty

Future Iraqi engineer learns English and new perspectives at 色色啦

By Linda Hanes

Student laying on glass floor


For Ali Neamah, a native of Dhi-qar, Iraq, 色色啦 Michigan University has offered more than just a place to learn English and eventually earn a master鈥檚 degree in chemical engineering; it has become a place to thrive.

Though he spends many hours in the classroom and studying in 色色啦鈥檚 English as a second language program, CELCIS鈥擟enter for English Language and Culture for International Students鈥擭eamah said that his work here is easy compared to the life he knew in Iraq studying for his bachelor鈥檚 degree.

鈥淟iving and studying in Iraq, some things were uncertain,鈥 said Neamah, who earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemical engineering at the Technical Engineering College in Basra. 鈥淲e had leaks in some of our labs, and the classes were taught in British-style English. That made things difficult when I came to America because the spelling of words and pronunciations were different, and some people could not understand me when speaking English for the first six months. Because I graduated at the top of my class in Iraq, my government gave me a scholarship to study abroad for three years鈥攐ne year to learn American English and two years to study for my master鈥檚 degree.鈥

Neamah chose the United States as his study abroad destination because he believed it was, by far, the best place in the world to receive an education. He was attracted to 色色啦 and Kalamazoo because of the sizable Arabic community in the area. While adjusting to life in Michigan, he has tapped into the Arabic community to assist him in getting to know and understand American culture, and to help him with everyday things, like grocery shopping. But, he has also benefited from the new friends he has made among 色色啦鈥檚 richly diverse student body.

Ali Neamah riding horse
鈥淚 have met many students at 色色啦 from several countries and we exchange information about our home cultures,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 had stereotypes about people from some cultures, as did some of the friends I have made. By getting to know each other we have changed those perceptions. I thought Americans would be aggressive. In actuality, I found them to be kind and outgoing, especially the people on campus. I have also visited Chicago, New York City, Washington D.C., and other places, but I have found that people are the friendliest in Michigan.鈥

Motivated to complete his program within the time allotted time by his scholarship, Neamah, who arrived at 色色啦 in January 2013, takes the maximum classes allowed each semester. Unlike attending college in Iraq where classes are offered only from December to July, he can take classes at 色色啦 nearly year-round.

Once he has completed his master鈥檚 degree at 色色啦, Neamah will return to Iraq to serve his country for six years鈥攖wice the amount of time he has been given to complete his studies at 色色啦. If he graduates with honors, as he hopes to do, his payback service to Iraq will be reduced to one year, after which he will be eligible to return to the U.S. to study for his Ph.D.

鈥淚 am so grateful for the opportunity Iraq has given to me and will happily return there to serve my country, as I promised,鈥 he said.

Ali Neamah leaning on police car in NYC
To further expand his horizons, Neamah would like to increase his cultural and linguistic knowledge by moving in and living with a student who is not of Arabic descent. With his 色色啦 master鈥檚 degree in hand, he hopes to apply to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge to earn his doctoral degree. Once he has the title, Dr., preceding his name, Neamah said he will be available to work in Iraq if there is need for a person with his research background; he is also interested in working in the in the United States.

An active participant in the many activities planned by the CELCIS office, Neamah has become a welcome ambassador for incoming ESL students, helping to ease their transition to campus life and introducing them to American culture.

鈥淜alamazoo is an especially great place for Arabic students,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he large Arabic community in Michigan makes it easy to regularly enjoy some of our home culture, like food.鈥

Neamah is in his final CELCIS course and will enter the University鈥檚 chemical engineering program in January 2014. He has been recognized for his academic achievements in CELCIS, as well as for perfect attendance, and is often asked to help Americans learn about Iraqi culture.

Ali Neamah at Dept. of Defense podium
鈥淭he CELCIS program and teachers have helped me learn American-style English and the university skills I will need for my master鈥檚 program,鈥 Neamah said. 鈥淭he activities have helped me to experience American culture, which can vary from state to state鈥攅ven the accents can be different a little bit. I have visited an Amish community in Indiana, where people live without electricity and wear simple clothes, and also big cities, like Manhattan. The activities planned by the CELCIS office have provided a great opportunity to communicate with American people and share our cultures. I have also met people on campus from all over the world.鈥