NaTakallam

Directions Website Contact the school

NaTakallam To date, NaTakallam has enabled displaced, conflict-affected and individuals from the Global Majority to self-generate more than $4.5 million in income.

Award-winning language learning, cultural storytelling, and translation and interpretation in Arabic, Armenian, English, French, Kurdish, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, and more. NaTakallam (“We Speak” in Arabic) is an award-winning, social enterprise that offers high-quality, curated language services delivered by refugees and conflict-affected communities through the digital economy. These services include translation and interpretation services, online language teaching and tutoring, as well as inspiring storytelling and cultural exchange sessions, both in academic and various organizational settings. NaTakallam provides its tutors and translators with the training and mentorship needed to perform the services, creating a pathway to sustainable income amidst conflict as well as during or after displacement and in the early stages of resettlement. NaTakallam’s 850+ tutors and translators have worked with 37,000+ individual users in 110+ countries, as well as 300+ companies, organizations, and universities. Institutional partners and clients include universities such as Yale, Columbia, and Georgetown, and organizations such as the Save the Children, World Bank Group, Women Deliver, International Rescue Committee and the OECD.

: Baranquilla, ColombiaEver wondered where ’s story began? Welcome to ,the vibrant Caribbean port city where the glob...
10/20/2026

: Baranquilla, Colombia

Ever wondered where ’s story began? Welcome to ,
the vibrant Caribbean port city where the global superstar was born.

But there’s more to Shakira’s story than Spanish-language hits and
world-famous dance moves.

Her father is of descent, and Shakira’s music has famously
blended Latin pop and rock with Middle Eastern influences — including
the Arabic-inspired sounds and dance in Ojos Así.

It’s a reminder that culture rarely fits neatly into one box.
Languages, rhythms and traditions travel with people, cross borders
and find new forms of expression.

From the Spanish sung across Colombia to the Arabic heritage woven
into Shakira’s story, there are so many ways to explore the
connections between language and culture.

🌍 At , you can learn Spanish, Arabic, French, Persian and
more with native-speaking tutors — while connecting with the people,
stories and cultural nuances behind the language.

Because learning a language is about more than speaking words. It’s
about discovering the worlds they carry.

image via ErickSalasA


: The Oud (العود)That unmistakable sound? You might recognize it even if you don't know its name.The oud (العود) is one...
10/19/2026

: The Oud (العود)

That unmistakable sound? You might recognize it even if you don't know its name.

The oud (العود) is one of the most iconic instruments in music. With a history stretching back centuries across the Middle East and North Africa, the oud is a short-necked, pear-shaped string instrument often considered the ancestor of the European lute and, ultimately, many of the stringed instruments we know today.

It has long been a cornerstone of musical traditions across the Arab world, accompanying poetry, storytelling, celebrations, love songs, and expressions of longing.

From the tarab of Egypt and the Levant to the rich musical traditions of Iraq and beyond, the oud's warm, resonant sound continues to captivate listeners across generations.

And like language, music travels.

At NaTakallam, we believe that discovering a culture means going beyond its vocabulary. It means exploring the music, expressions, histories, and everyday experiences that give a language life. Through conversations with our tutors, learners connect not only with new words but also with the cultural traditions that shape them.

Image Credit- Tyler Tran Joyce
#العود 🎶

Autumn or fall? 🍂 Same season. Different words. Different stories.Why do we say autumn in some places and fall in others...
10/18/2026

Autumn or fall? 🍂
Same season. Different words. Different stories.
Why do we say autumn in some places and fall in others? And what can the words we use tell us about the languages and histories behind them?

Across languages, even something as familiar as a season can open up a world of linguistic discoveries — from English autumn and fall to French automne, Spanish otoño, Arabic خريف (khareef) and Persian پاییز (pāyiz).

🌍 Learn a language. Discover a different perspective. Connect with the world.

Learn Arabic, French, Spanish, Persian and more with NaTakallam’s native-speaking tutors from conflict-affected backgrounds.

: When Arabic becomes art.Meet , the French-Tunisian artist transforming public spaces through calligraffiti, a fusion...
10/17/2026

: When Arabic becomes art.

Meet , the French-Tunisian artist transforming public spaces through calligraffiti, a fusion of traditional Arabic calligraphy and contemporary street art.

Born in Paris in 1981 to a Tunisian family, eL Seed draws on both sides of his identity. Even his name tells a story: inspired by the French play 'Le Cid', it connects to 'Al Sayed', an Arabic term meaning “the master” or “the man.”

🖌️ From walls to words, his large-scale artworks bring Arabic script into public spaces, inviting people to engage with a language they may not even be able to read — but can still experience through its movement, rhythm, and beauty.

Source: Donnager, CC-BY-SA-4.0

🌻 : Ukraine's fields in Poltava oblastEvery summer, sunflower fields stretch across Ukraine, turning the landscape in...
10/13/2026

🌻 : Ukraine's fields in Poltava oblast

Every summer, sunflower fields stretch across Ukraine, turning the landscape into a sea of gold beneath the blue sky. These sunflowers are more than a beautiful sight. Long before the war, they were already part of Ukraine’s identity, deeply connected to its agricultural heritage, landscapes, and cultural life. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, sunflowers have taken on renewed international significance as symbols of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, which, in the face of war, destruction, and displacement, have come to evoke hope, endurance, and the possibility of renewal. 🌻

At NaTakallam, we believe that language is a way to travel, even when crossing borders isn’t possible.

Through language learning and conversations with your language partner, discover a country beyond the headlines: its culture, history, everyday life, and the stories of the people who call it home.

💛💙 **And while many people know NaTakallam for Arabic, our language community reaches much further...We connect learners with tutors from countries and communities affected by conflict and displacement worldwide, including Ukraine, and offer languages from across the world — from Spanish and French to less widely taught languages that deserve to be heard. Check us out today, and take advantage of our current 10% World Teacher day Sale too!

Because sometimes, the most meaningful journeys begin with a conversation.

10/12/2026

How a royal wedding in 825 saved the eggplant's reputation.

At NaTakallam, we love stories that reveal how language, culture, and history are deeply connected. From the journey of the word aubergine to the travels of the vegetable itself, every language carries traces of the people and places that shaped it.

Ready to discover the stories hidden in everyday words? Learn with native-speaking tutors and conversation partners from displaced communities around the world. 🌍

Plant the seeds of fluency today. 🌱One of the most fascinating features of is its root system. From just three letters...
10/12/2026

Plant the seeds of fluency today. 🌱

One of the most fascinating features of is its root system. From just three letters, entire families of words can grow, branching into new meanings and revealing the deep connections between language, culture, and history.

At NaTakallam, you can explore Arabic with tutors from across the Arabic-speaking world, learning not only Modern Standard Arabic but also a variety of regional dialects, including Levantine, Palestinian, Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian, Egyptian, and more. Each dialect opens a window into different cultures, communities, and ways of speaking.

And if Arabic isn't on your list (yet!), we also offer , , , (Farsi), English, and many more through personalized online lessons that connect you with people, cultures, and stories from around the globe. 🌍

✨ Our 10% off sale ends this Thursday.

Learn a language, connect with a new culture, and support displaced and conflict-affected communities at the same time.

Which language, or Arabic dialect, will you learn next?

Image via- Qatar Foundation International

📸 For this week’s , we’re traveling back to Bogotá, Colombia, circa 1910, to discover the world of the Cachacos.Known f...
10/10/2026

📸 For this week’s , we’re traveling back to Bogotá, Colombia, circa 1910, to discover the world of the Cachacos.

Known for their sharp style and intellectual spirit, Cachacos were often associated with a distinctive look: camisa (shirt), chaleco (vest), and corbata (tie). Some theories even link these pieces of clothing to the origin of the word Cachaco!

But Cachaco culture went far beyond fashion. Cafés, salons, and public squares became gathering places for conversations about art, philosophy, literature, and politics — helping shape Bogotá’s cultural identity.

Because language has always been about more than words. It’s about sharing ideas, exchanging perspectives, and connecting with the people and cultures around us. 💬

🌎 Ready to discover the cultures behind the language? Learn Spanish with NaTakallam and connect with tutors from displaced and refugee communities.

Celebrate Teachers. Learn with Teachers. 💙Earlier this week, we celebrated — a day recognizing teachers around the wor...
10/08/2026

Celebrate Teachers. Learn with Teachers. 💙

Earlier this week, we celebrated — a day recognizing teachers around the world and the vital role they play in how we learn, grow, and connect.

And in a world where AI is increasingly part of how we learn — including — we think it’s worth celebrating what a real person brings to the conversation.

A teacher can share the culture behind the language, answer the questions a textbook can’t, and laugh with you when you make a mistake.

At NaTakallam, our tutors come from conflict-affected and displaced communities around the world — , , , , , , , , and beyond.

For many, teaching provides not only income, but dignity, agency, purpose, and the opportunity to be recognized for the knowledge and talent they bring to the world.

So this week, celebrate teachers by learning with one.

💙 10% OFF all Language Sessions & Gifts
💙 $75 OFF the Integrated Arabic Curriculum
💙 10% OFF Arabic for Professionals
Offer valid through October 15. Visit: natakallam.com

Real teachers. Real conversations. Language learning that makes a difference.

: GAZA- غَزَّة — GhazzaThe name Ghazza is traditionally connected to the Semitic root غ-ز-ز (gh-z-z), a root associated...
10/07/2026

: GAZA- غَزَّة — Ghazza

The name Ghazza is traditionally connected to the Semitic root غ-ز-ز (gh-z-z), a root associated with , , and . And on this dark 3 year anniversary for humanity, October 7, 2026, webpay tribute to all the innocent lives lost across the .

But we pay an especially strong tribute to the strength, courage and resilience of the people, who for decades have been subjected to the utmost violations of human rights and life under colonialism and occupation, and who for the past three years have endured what has become, in the words of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, a against Palestinians in Gaza, alongside documented war crimes and crimes against humanity across the region, including and the , whose people we are thinking of and honoring today too.

This is not simply a matter of political rhetoric.
Among the major bodies and expert organizations that have explicitly described what is happening in Gaza as genocide are:

*A UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which concluded in September 2025 that Israeli authorities and security forces have
committed and are continuing to commit genocide in Gaza.

* Amnesty International, which concluded in December 2024 that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

*B'Tselem בצלם, Israel’s leading human rights organization, and Physicians for Human Rights–Israel; both concluded in July 2025 that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

*the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GENOCIDE SCHOLARS INC (IAGS), which, in August 2025, formally declared that Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide.

*Human Rights Watch, which has documented acts of genocide and stated that Israeli authorities’ conduct may amount to genocide, while separately finding the crime against humanity of extermination.

Words carry history, and sometimes, they carry more than one history at once.

Interestingly, the English word gauze is traditionally traced through French gaze to Gaza, where a fine, lightweight was historically associated with the city. The exact etymology is debated, with some linguistic sources instead tracing gaze/gauze to Arabic "qazz," meaning raw silk.

So, today's word of the day, Gaza, carries two meanings:

Gaza for strength. Gaza for gauze....a city whose name has come to evoke both strength and something delicate enough to be used to dress a wound, and a people still here.

Address

Columbia University Startup Lab 175 Varick Street
New York, NY
10014

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when NaTakallam posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to NaTakallam:

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category