View of part of the Fujairah Corniche and the Hajar Mountains in the Background

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Why we should learn Arabic

TimeOutDubai.Com asks the question in their 16 June 2008 edition. They ask:

“Why learn Arabic? For many, the notion of doing so faded straight after arriving in the UAE and the discovery that most people speak English, or at least some variation of it.

Movies are in English, road signs are in English, government documents are in English…well, actually, the latter is no longer true, after Arabic became the official language this year.

Throughout 2008, the UAE’s year of National Identity, Arabic’s influence is only set to grow, both in the Emirates and across the globe. Time Out finds out whether speaking Arabic is the secret to a better life – and how to conquer it in a month.

TimeOut Dubai is convinced that people living in the UAE should learn Gulf Arabic and they include these three sections:

Arabic phrases: 20 Arabic phrases you really should know.

Entering the Arabic age: The importance of learning Arabic today.

Lessons made easy: Ten places to learn Arabic.

Types of Arabic: Which type of Arabic should you learn.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: Learning Arabic by computer and native speaker.

Related:
Learning Arabic in the UAE and the Gulf, Experiencing the Emirates
John Kirkbright, Spoken Arabic Step by Step, Reviewing Books and Movies