Bolles alumnus Awse Ma’aya ’11 visited upper school faculty member Sara Phillips-Bourass’ Arabic class on February 6, engaging students in a full-period conversation via videoconference conducted entirely in Arabic. The visit provided students across multiple language levels with an authentic opportunity to practice speaking while hearing firsthand experiences from a native Jordanian.

Ma’aya, born and raised in Amman, Jordan, left home at age 15 to pursue his dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer at The Bolles School. After graduating in 2011, he studied biomedical engineering and materials engineering at the University of Cincinnati, where he competed in Division 1 swimming and represented Jordan in international competitions. He later began his career as a process engineer with Applied Materials in Silicon Valley and now lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and their two golden retrievers.

During his visit, Ma’aya spoke about his childhood in Jordan, his travels and his experience building a life in the United States as a Jordanian. Students in the combined-level class warmed up with basic questions before transitioning into more advanced conversation.

Several students reflected on how the discussion reshaped their view of the Arab World. Level 1 student Zara Touheed ’28 noted that “people often ask the wrong kind of questions and sometimes stereotyping,” adding that younger generations are becoming more aware and that Jacksonville’s Arab American community is diverse.

Level 4 student Charlotte Joseph ’26 said she gained confidence in her language skills, sharing that “even someone who isn’t fluent can understand a lot about a native speaker with practice.” #BollesGlobal