KNOWING ARAMAIC can come in handy:

Language barrier broken
Visitors to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit usually depend on translations to understand the ancient Aramaic writing in many of the scrolls. So it was a refreshing change when a Syrian Orthodox Church group visited from Burbank.

Its congregation recites Aramaic in church, and many can read the ancient script.

The visitors were amazed, however, when a San Diego State student on the Natural History Museum Visitor Services staff spoke to them in Aramaic.

Alex Henein likewise was surprised to find that the ancient language he had studied in school turned out to be a modern asset beyond research. He answered questions, especially from the older generation, and explained how to use audio wands.