I recently came across an article in the Baltimore Banner, and even without reading every word, the headline and data reminded me exactly why ICLS created a self-paced Amharic Greetings Course: community.
It’s no secret that Montgomery County—and the broader DMV (DC, MD, VA) region—is diverse. But the numbers tell a deeper story. Nearly half of households in Montgomery County speak a language other than English at home. And over the past 15 years, the Ethiopian community has grown by nearly 150%. That kind of growth isn’t abstract. It shows up in grocery stores, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Amharic is spoken mainly in Ethiopia, where it is the official working language of the federal government. It is widely used in cities like Addis Ababa, and throughout the Amhara Region, as well as by many people across the country as a second language. Amharic letters, called ፊደል Fidel, came from the ancient Ge'ez script (Ethiopian old Script). It is also spoken throughout the diaspora in countries such as Sweden, Canada, Israel, and the United States.
Community growth creates opportunities for all to build intentional connections. At ICLS, we think a lot about what it actually means to meet people where they are. Choosing to speak outside of your language comfort zone—even briefly—is a way of showing recognition and warmth.
Often, that starts with something very small: a greeting.
Learning how to say “hello,” “thank you,” or “how are you?” in Amharic won’t make you achieve language fluency. That’s not the point. In communities where people are constantly asked to adapt—linguistically and culturally—making even a modest effort in their language can shift the dynamic. It turns parallel lives into shared space. It builds bridges in everyday moments.
Language lives in real interactions: at the coffee counter, during school pickup, in a first meeting or a passing conversation. When we choose to engage, even imperfectly, we strengthen the social fabric around us, as language and culture are interconnected.
For us, this course is one small response to a much bigger reality—and an invitation to be more present in the communities we already call home.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
- Nelson Mandela