Done By Native LLC

12/17/2023

A glimpse of one of our November field trips where students enjoyed food and games at a popular cafe in Amman, Omar Zorba Cafe. Students practiced ordering food and drinks in Arabic, and we ended with several rounds of “Hands,” a common card game in Jordan similar to Rummy. Students were introduced to a host of relevant vocabulary, though more than any other expression, they couldn’t stop joyfully exclaiming “ما تغش/تغشي” (“don’t cheat!”).

12/11/2023

Last but not least on our cooking class menu was galayet bandora, a dish made with sauteed tomatoes, peppers, onions, olive oil, pepper, and salt. “Galayet” refers to something cooked in a frying pan and “bandura” is the Arabic word for tomatoes in Ammiyah (Levantine Arabic dialect). It is a popular dish across the Levant region given that the ingredients are regional, affordable, and very accessible, though many point to the Jordan Valley as the place it originated, as much of the region’s produce is grown in this area.

12/07/2023

Next on the menu is kibbeh! Kibbeh is a very popular family of dishes whose core ingredients are spiced ground meat, onions, and grain. Popular in the Levantine region, and considered the national dish of Lebanon and Syria, kibbeh is made by mixing bulgur cracked wheat and ground meat into a paste and forming it into balls with added spices. This dish is a staple at many special occasions and celebrations throughout the Middle East.

12/05/2023

Done by Native is pleased to announce the start of two additional Post Language Programs starting soon!

Keep an eye out for the official start dates of our language programs for Arabic in the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait and for Urdu in the U.S. Consulate in Karachi. We look forward to partnering and starting classes soon!

12/01/2023

Next up on the menu from our October cooking class is mfarakeh (potatoes and eggs). It is a simple Arab dish made with potatoes, eggs, salt, pepper, and olive oil and is an integral part of the traditional mezze in the Arab world, particularly in the Levant region (Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan). It’s a common option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and is eaten with Arabic bread and tea.

11/28/2023

Done by Native is extremely excited to announce our most recent Media Monitoring Project at the Office of Palestinian Affairs in the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. We have greatly enjoyed our partnership since May and look forward to continuing our collaboration!

11/22/2023

Following our wonderful cooking class at the end of October, we wanted to share a bit more about the history and cultural significance of each delicious meal, as well as the ingredients in Arabic. Today, we’re starting with a beloved Middle Eastern salad popular across the Levant region – fattoush!

Fattoush is made with dried khubz (Arabic flatbread) and a combination of vegetables. While recipes may differ, the salad usually contains some variation of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, radishes, and other ingredients in an olive oil-based dressing with lemon, garlic, sumac, and in some recipes, pomegranate molasses.

In Arabic, “fattoush” derives from the word “fatteh” which directly translates to “crumbs.” The dish originated in northern Lebanon where farmers would crush old, stale pita bread into a salad with whatever fresh harvest they had around. It’s why the exact ingredients may differ across recipes, but regardless, the result will be delicious!

11/20/2023

Check out the incredible dishes our Amman students and teachers made during our October cooking event! From chopping vegetables for fattoush, frying kibbeh, scrambling Mfarakeh (eggs and potato), and cooking tomatoes for galayet bandora, our students and their families all contributed to this delicious meal, while practicing their Arabic vocabulary. We also had many young creatives hard at work at the arts station and took a few dabke dance breaks.

Towards the end, our students and teachers took a vote for the best dish. Fattoush came out as the winner! Stay tuned to learn more about the cultural significance of each dish and its ingredients in Arabic.

11/17/2023

11/13/2023

In October, our Amman teachers hosted a field trip to visit to the Martyr's Memorial Museum (صرح الشهيد), a famous tribute to the martyrs who gave their lives in the service of Jordan as early as 1915, starting with the Great Arab Revolution, which was led by King Hussein's grandfather, Hussein bin Ali.

It was a fantastic opportunity for our teachers to help with Arabic reading questions and point out relevant vocabulary as students walked through the exhibits. Afterwards, they enjoyed dinner at a traditional restaurant near Sports City!

11/08/2023

In April, Done by Native was thrilled to establish another Media Monitoring Project at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. We are grateful to the team there for all the work they have done so far and look forward to our continued collaboration.

11/06/2023

One of our Amman students practicing her reading skills aloud. Bravo! Or as you might hear our teachers say in Arabic, “حلو كتير” which closely translates to “very nice!”