An Arabic instructor with an ambitious spirit, co-founder and director Youssef El Berrichi founded Roots Academy in 2021 with the goal of expanding access to Arabic and English course content throughout the Kingdom of Morocco and beyond. Prior to this endeavor, he studied at the oldest university in the world, University Al-Qarawiyyin, where he earned a degree in Islamic Studies. He went on to pursue additional degrees in Islamic Studies and Applied Linguistics from Mohammed V University in Rabat and worked as a teaching assistant at Middlebury College in Vermont, USA. Throughout his studies and various professional pursuits, Director El Berrichi developed a passion for the art of Quranic recitation, otherwise known as Tajwid, in addition to other interests such as sociolinguistics, collaborative learning, and innovative pedagogy. At heart, El Berrichi is a teacher who is dedicated to tailoring the language learning journey to the needs of each individual, bringing out the best in each and every student.