Fall Launch Ceremony for the Chaldean Language Workshop

Update from Stephen: Since our conversation on Epiphany, the program has continued to grow significantly. As of today, 112 students have registered for the Fall 2026 program before classes have even begun.The Fall Launch Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Ambassador Rooms of the Oakland Center at Oakland University.This fall, we are expanding the free Chaldean language instruction and introducing Chaldean Medical Terminology and Healthcare Conversation, with Arabic included as additional support. The healthcare component is intended to help address communication barriers and misunderstandings that can arise in hospitals and clinics and to help future healthcare professionals communicate more effectively with Chaldean- and Arabic-speaking patients and families.The program has also experienced a tremendous response online. Throughout the summer, I have been publishing short Chaldean language lessons on TikTok and Instagram, and several are now reaching tens of thousands of views. For example, the Colors in Chaldean lesson has reached approximately 87,000 views and continues to grow.It has been especially encouraging to see younger Chaldeans, families, and people from different places engaging with the lessons and expressing an interest in learning the language.The Chaldean Language Workshop, founded by OU Graduate Student Stephen Hannawi, currently meets twice a week on campus and invites participants to come learn about the Chaldean alphabet, grammar, and pronunciation in an engaging and academic setting.“I founded the CLW to preserve and revive one of the world’s oldest and most influential languages — the Chaldean language — which once served as the language of Babylonian science and later became the language of the Word of God in early Christianity,” said Hannawi, who is pursuing a master’s degree in artificial intelligence at OU.Stephen Hannawi is the Founder & President of the Chaldean Language Program at Oakland University. His interests include law, technology and linguistics. He began reading and writing Chaldean at 8 years old, a foundation that deeply influenced his lifelong commitment to cultural and linguistic preservation. Oakland University News: OU graduate student establishes Chaldean Language Workshop Get full access to Epiphany at epiphanyradio.substack.com/subscribe