Khaled is waiting outside the office of the Director of the National Theatre of Lebanon to be called in for a job interview. He applied a few weeks ago for the Communications Manager position at the organization. He is a communications professional and loves theatre. It is his dream job. As he waits, he is a jumble of nerves and excitement. Now it is his turn to go in.
Lebanese Arabic Transcript and English Contextual Translation
خالد: صباح الخير حضرة المديرة.
Khaled: Good morning Director.
المديرة: صباح الخير خالد. تفضل إذا بتريد. كيفك؟
Director: Good morning Khaled. Please come in. How are you?
خالد: أنا كتير منيح شكراً وحضرتك؟
Khaled: I am very well, thank you, and yourself?
المديرة: شكراً خالد أنا منيحة كمان. على فكرة، مهضومة الكرافات، شكلك بتحب الألوان.
Director: Thank you Khaled, I am fine too. By the way, it is a nice tie. It seems you like colors.
خالد: إيه حتى لو لابس رسمي، بحب يكون في شي ملون بتيابي.
Khaled: Yes. Even if I am dressed formally, I like to add something colorful to my attire.
المديرة: مش غلط أبداّ. خبرني عنك، شو درست ووين اشتغلت قبل؟
Director: It is not wrong at all. Tell me about yourself. What did you study, and where did you work before?
خالد: درست اتصالات بالجامعة اللبنانية، وبس خلصت اشتغلت سنتين بمسرح صغير براس بيروت. بعدين سافرت عفرنسا كفيت ماجستير بالاتصالات. ومن حظي اشتغلت 4 سنين بمسرح بباريس. كنت مساعد مدير الاتصالات بالمسرح.
Khaled: I studied Communications at the Lebanese University. When I finished, I worked for 2 years in a small theatre in Ras Beirut, then I traveled to France to continue my Masters in Communications. I was lucky to work for 4 years at a theatre in Paris. I was the assistant of the communications manager.
المديرة: بدراسة الاتصالات كان فيك تشتغل بأي مجال تاني، بس ليش نقيت المسرح؟
Director: By studying communications, you could have worked in any other field, so why did you choose theatre?
خالد: صح، أنا درست إتصالات بس عبر السنين حبيت المسرح، وبلشت استعمل مهاراتي لوصل رسالة المسرح للناس. وحابب إلعب دور لنعزز دور الثقافة والمسرح بلبنان.
Khaled: True, I studied communications, but over the years I have come to love theatre. I started to use my skills to deliver the message of theatre to people. I would love to play a role in enhancing the role of culture and theatre in Lebanon.
المديرة: واضح إنك شغوف بمجال المسرح، بس بهمني أعرف كيف رح تقوم بهيدي المهمة؟ لأنو بالفعل، ناقصنا شغل كتير بهالمجال. وكيف رح تشتغل على تعزيز الثقافة والمسرح ؟
Director: It is obvious that you are passionate about theatre, but I am interested to know, how will you execute this mission? Because indeed, we need a lot of work in this field. And how are you going to boost culture and theatre?
خالد: صراحة كلو ببين بخطة العمل يللي بتنوضع كفريق عمل. لازم تنكشف الثغرات ونقاط الضعف تبع المسرح ونشتغل على أساسا. يعني مثلاً، فينا نعزز وجود المسرح على منصات التواصل الاجتماعي وبالإعلام. ضروري التعاون مع مؤسسات عامة متل وزارة الثقافة والسياحة وجمعيات محلية ودولية. وكمان فينا نتعاون مع مسارح عالمية.
Khaled: Frankly speaking, it will all appear in the work plan to be developed as a team. The theater’s gaps and weaknesses have to be revealed to work accordingly. For instance, we can enhance the theater’s presence on social media platforms and in the press. It is necessary to collaborate with public institutions such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as with local and International organizations. Also, we can collaborate with international theaters.
المديرة: ورح تفيدك الخبرة يللي اكتسبتا بفرنسا؟
Director: Is the experience you gained in France going benefit you?
خالد: المسرح بفرنسا مجال كتير فيو منافسة واحترافية، واستعمال التكنولوجيا بالاتصالات أساسي. فالخبرة يللي اكتسبتا بفرنسا بحب طبقا بلبنان.
Khaled: Theater in France is an industry where there is a lot of competition and professionalism, and the use of technology in communications is fundamental. Thus, I would love to apply the experience I have acquired in France over here in Lebanon.
المديرة: وقريت بسيرتك الذاتية إنو تطوعت بعدة جمعيات بلبنان. خبرني عن تجربتك.
Director: I also read in your resume that you have volunteered in several organizations in Lebanon. Tell me about your experience.
خالد: خلال دراستي الجامعية، تطوعت بجمعية تعنى بالأطفال ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة. كنت قضي معن يومياً ساعة بعد الظهر أو ساعتين، حسب وقتي بالجامعة. بقرالن قصص وبساعد بالتعليم. والسنتين يللي اشتغلتن بلبنان قبل ما سافر، تطوعت مع جمعية بتنشر الوعي بين الشباب عن مفهوم المواطنة وحقوق وواجبات المواطن.
Khaled: During my university studies, I volunteered in an organization for children with special needs. I used to spend with them an hour or two daily in the afternoon, depending on my time at the university. I would read them stories and help with their education. During my two years working in Lebanon before I traveled, I volunteered in an organization that spreads awareness among youth about the concept of citizenship and the rights and duties of citizens.
المديرة: استفدت من هالتجربتين؟
Director: Did you benefit from these two experiences?
خالد: استفدت كتير، المحلين كانو مدرسة لإلي. زاد وعيي وصرت ملم أكتر بالمجتمع. صرت أقرب للناس وإفهمن أكثر. مثلاً فينا نصير نقدم فكرة المسرح لشريحة أكبر بالمجتمع، متل للولاد ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة. والموظفين كمان بينبسطو، ومنكون عم نلعب دور أوسع وإيجابي بالمجتمع.
Khaled: I benefited a lot. Both places were like a school to me. My awareness increased, and I became more knowledgeable about the society. I became closer to people, and I can now understand them better. For example, we can start presenting the idea of theater to a wider section of society, like children with special needs. The employees would be happy too, and we would be playing a wider and a positive role in society.
المديرة: شو يللي خلاك تحب تكون جزء من هيدا المسرح؟
Director: What made you want to be part of this theatre?
خالد: كنت دايماً أطمح كون من فريق هيدا المسرح العريق يللي كنت إجي عليه من أنا وصغير.
Khaled: I always aspired to be part of this deep-rooted theater to which I used to come since I was young.
المديرة: ممتاز خالد، شكراً إلك. رح إدرس ملفك مع مجلس الإدارة لأنو هيدا المنصب كتير مهم، ومنرجعلك. بهالأسبوع بيحكوك من المكتب وبخبروك إذا انقبلت أو لاء. وإذا انقبلت، رح يبعتولك العقد يللي بيحتوي على المعاش والدوام وغير تفاصيل، لتطلع عليا وتمضي. وإذا عندك أيا إستفسار بتتصل فينا.
Director: Perfect Khaled, thank you. I will be reviewing your file with the board because this position is very important, and we will get back to you. During this week, they will contact you from the office and let you know if you were accepted or not. If you were accepted, they will send you the offer that includes the salary, work hours, and other details for you to look at and sign. And if you have any inquiry, you can call us.
خالد: تمام. شكراً حضرة المديرة، تشرفت بمعرفتك.
Khaled: Great. Thank you director. I am honored to meet you.
المديرة: شكراً إلك خالد. أنا كمان تشرفت بمعرفتك. مع السلامة.
Director: Thank you Khaled. Likewise. Goodbye.
Comprehension Questions (try to answer the questions while speaking out loud to yourself and using full sentences in Lebanese Arabic)
- How would you summarize this episode?
- What role is Khaled being interviewed for?
- What are Khaled’s qualifications?
- What ideas did Khaled suggest to implement if he was accepted for the role?
- Would you hire Khaled for this position? Why or why not?