'I lost my identity in the halls of academia': Arab students on the use of Arabic in Israeli higher education

Multicultural environments in academic institutions face major challenges in teaching, learning, and social integration. Although the number of Arab students attending institutions of higher education in Israel has increased, the Arabic language has little presence in the Israeli academic world. This article explores the results of teaching Arab students in their language. Can it have a positive influence on their feelings of belonging and can it enable them to integrate more successfully in academic settings? The findings indicate that teaching in Arabic alongside Hebrew in Israeli academia enhanced feelings of belonging in Arab students. They developed a sense of belonging to their institution and their integration grew. These findings can help decision-makers in multicultural academic contexts throughout the world adjust their programs to meet the needs of diverse groups in their respective student populations.