Students of 7 nationalities learn Arabic at UAE institute
Twelve students from seven countries recently completed a year-long Arabic language intensive in Sharjah, the ultimate step in their cultural and linguistic lives. These people – from India, Armenia, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Pakistan and Russia – were here to explore the beauty of the Arabic language and better know the culture of the Arabs.
One of the graduates was Shahzadi Urooj from Pakistan, who had always wanted to learn Arabic. ‘I was always wanting to learn Arabic; I love hearing people speak Arabic. It’s such a beautiful language and a good talent to have," she told me.
Shahzadi found it fun and had no real problems to discuss: memorable moments include the commencement ceremony and the cultural visits. The trip and the graduation was a memory,’ she said.
Shahzadi also told me she wants to continue her studies at Qasimia University in Sharjah. ‘It’s an excellent choice and a good chance to study Arabic,’ she also said to future students interested in studying Arabic: ‘It’s going to be so useful.
Marine, who is an Armenian student, told us why she enrolled: ‘The Arabic music and the country inspired me. She was a terrible first-time learner of the alphabet but liked the course.
"It was interesting to do the tasks during the courses, I liked every day and after the course I earned a certificate", she said. Marine also spoke of how happy she was with connecting with other students and the cultural experience of living in the UAE: music, food and festivals.
Najjah, in India, was moved by her religious affinities with the Quran. "I learn Arabic because I can now read the Quran and also I can teach my children because they have Arabic in school," she said. And though Najjah struggled with spelling, he stuck with practice and repetition. Her ‘confidence to share and relate with them better’ has increased in the presence of Arabic speakers, she said.
She told me how this has given her the skills to teach her own children, and has opened her eyes to a new culture — Arabic music and Arabic cartoons are things she listens to now.
The US student Ryan Yates was aiming for two things – to read and say the Quran and master business conversation. ‘I want to read the Quran and I want to speak Arabic really well for work,’ he said.
He still has issues reading, grammar and punctuation, but he liked the intimate nature of his classes. ‘It was not really a class but family supporting you,’ he said. Ryan thinks as people become more aware of Islam, their curiosity will be aroused towards Arabic and he will be able to personal connect with the language in a more meaningful way.
The October graduation concluded a four-month intensive language programme at the Arabic Language Centre, a division of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah.
This centre, set up in 2018, aims to provide non-native speakers with a systematic academic Arabic-learning programme. It offers an international student space to enjoy the splendour of Arabic and deepen cultural exchange with Modern Standard Arabic.
In the short time since it opened, the Arabic Language Centre has trained more than 100 students from the Philippines, India, Pakistan, UK, China and Russia in reading, writing, speaking and listening Arabic.
It also facilitates an Emirati citizenship and contributes to cultural exchange through excellent courses that emphasise the beauty of Arabic. These are the classes where students practice their communication and pronunciation and thus promote more culture exchange.
And with dreams to excel in Arabic, many graduates want to keep going. "I really want to go to Level 2. I’m actually waiting for the call so I can come and join as soon as possible," Shahzadi confirmed.
Comments