The MSOLA in TUNISIA

The meaning that the sisters give to this teaching of Arabic

The direction that Cardinal Lavigerie gave us to study the language of the country that welcomes us is the foundation of our activity today.

The "House of Studies" was begun in 1937 for the MSOLA young sisters who were to work in North Africa. After her formation in Algiers, the sister spent one or two years at the Language Centre in Tunis studying Arabic. Besides the theoretical study of the language, she also learned about the country, its history, its religious aspects, Islam. Through visits to friends, nieghbours and schools she was able to have a concrete experience with the population.

It is important for us to offer an efficient and competent service; but what we really desire is to be a living "bridge" between different civilizations, religions and cultures. We strive to avoid "divisions" and to "tear down the walls" that separate. Our aim is to communicate to our visitors the love and compassion that we have for this country that has welcomed us. Such an attitude can be a help to those who have difficulties in adjusting to their new situation, be it a religious or a person who has recently become a member of a Tunisian family through marriage.

All our teaching is done together with a young Tunisian woman. We are always two when giving a course: a Tunisian and a sister. While we, the sisters, stress the pedagogical aspect, the Tunisian teacher provides the pronunciation, the exact meaning of words and use of expressions. In this way the students see us working at the same level, as equals. It is the Tunisian who accompanies us and communicates the real meaning of the language.

The house of studies is a turntable of people. Every year about 100 to 150 people of different nationalities and confessions pass through. Last year there were 18 nationalities among the students. The ecumenical aspect of our activity also has much meaning for us, and among our friends there are many believers coming from other Churches.

The teaching of language and the MSOLA charism

The study of the language of the country that welcomes us is a constitutive element of our charism, a precious heritage that we received from the beginning… then I am faithful to myself and to our roots.

In the present context, the most significant dimension for us is to build a world of peace, through our work. It is a question, of dispelling misunderstandings, of eliminating facile identifications, of discarding certain barriers, and of building relations of understanding and respect for differences. Our role is to facilitate encounters and to be elements of union between different civilizations, cultures and religions in order to build, in this way a better world. I have seen the need for this ever more clearly this last time with all the events going around the world.

If actually, the study of Arabic becomes more and more necessary, and is a condition "sine qua non" to remain in the country - since, even in the city of Tunis, the new generations are speaking Arabic, more and more --, it is true also that a smile and cordiality are languages that are known by all, and there are persons who, without knowing the language, succeed in expressing themselves from the heart. Saint Paul was not wrong when he said: " If I speak the languages of the world, but do not have love… "

Inmaculada Estremera, Tunis Études

From time to time we receive young women coming from other countries, to spend some time in another country, with another culture and another religion. When they stay long enough, they become part of our team. Those who come from Francophone countries, often help the children who have a lot of difficulty with French. Others go to the library to help, while others go to Essalem Center to work with the children.

We try to live day by day, taking what comes. There is our neighbour who comes to share his joy of having found a job, Alima who comes to invite us to the naming of her child, Fatma who needs to have someone to listen to her; our neighbour Kathoum, who left her husband and her three children… There is also that poor Belgian woman who's suffering depression, a sick Mexican woman, …we are a lifeline for them. Then there is an Italian couple who feels isolated. These and others count on us to help them reconnect… But there are also all the friends, the sharing of experiences both happy and sad which impinge on the life of each one. Our friends are pleased to come to our home and we also visit them.

We are very aware that we aren't doing anything extraordinary, but we think that by our presence in this neighbourhood we contribute in a small way to the coming of God's reign, a reign where there are no distinctions among persons, a reign where all will be sisters and brothers, children of the same Father. This is enough to make us happy.

Simone Dislaire