Canary Islands medical students learn Moroccan Darija to better communicate with patients
Better communication with Moroccans is the aim of a seminar offered in particular to medical and nursing students at the University of La Laguna, in Tenerife. The organizers have chosen to start with Darija, the language spoken in everyday life in Morocco.
The university is offering three sessions on September 29, October 6 and 13, 2026, as part of its fifth Arab and Islamic Studies Days.
Led by the Department of Philology, the initiative is specifically aimed at future healthcare professionals for practical communication reasons. Learning about the Moroccan language is therefore intended to be useful beyond courses devoted to the study of Arabic.
Morocco through its everyday language
The program distinguishes between Standard Arabic, or fosha, and Moroccan Darija. The latter is the seminar’s starting point, and the program also covers the kingdom’s culture and geography.
Morocco was chosen in part because of its proximity to the Canary Islands. The university also highlights the archipelago’s neighbor’s historical, cultural and linguistic richness.
The audience extends beyond healthcare students: students taking Arabic courses, researchers in other disciplines and people interested in Morocco can also take part.
