This mission of this wonderful community resource, notes its website, “is to support and empower the Arab Immigrant and Arab American community by providing services to help them adjust to their new home and become active members of society. Our aim is for families to achieve the ultimate goals of independence, productivity, and stability.”

I taught a few English classes at the Arab American Association of New York back in 2009 and found the staff intelligent, committed, sensitive, and passionate. Besides adult education, the association does advocacy work and community organization, offers social services and youth programs, and throws an annual benefit gala with dinner and entertainment that I have never attended but that sounds like fun.

I list the association here not so much because it is useful for people learning Arabic (that is not its purpose), but because it is an institution doing good work. 

At the same time, do keep in mind that volunteering at organizations such as the Arab American Association of New York can be a wonderful way to gain exposure to the culture and language you are studying, while also doing something of benefit for your local community.