Studying Arabic but not really learning
HOW CAN NON-ARAB STUDENTS IN UAE MORE FULLY APPRECIATE THE ARABIC LANGUAGE? SCHOOLS AND REGULATORS CALL FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE THE LANGUAGE IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS
Ash is a 23-year-old who has lived all his life in the UAE. Having passed out of a Sharjah school, he went on to complete his engineering in a Dubai college. He now has a sales job with a construction company. His work requires him to travel extensively within the region and he wishes he could converse in Arabic. “I have studied the language in school, but beyond recognising the basic alphabets and numbers, I can’t understand anything in Arabic,” he rues.
Shilpa, a Grade 6 student in Dubai, actually studies Arabic as an additional language in school. But throw her a question in Arabic and she draws a blank. “Sorry, I don’t know what you are asking,” she says.
The linguistic predicament is not unique to Ash and Shilpa. A large number of non-Arabic expat students in the UAE also face a similar challenge. This despite Arabic being the official language which is widely used in public life and students learning it as a compulsory subject in school till
Grade 9.
So where does the problem lie?
Dr Kaltham Kenaid, director of research at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), says opportunities to experience Arabic are insufficient.
“We as Emiratis have opened our hearts to the world and invited people to come and live here. English is widely used by most people as part of their daily conversations. Learning to speak and write Arabic needs practice — both within and outside the school. Students need more opportunities to experience the language.”
She said, “Arabic learning for native speakers is based on a curriculum that includes learning outcomes and assessment guidelines for each grade. For non-native speakers, schools are encouraged to develop their own teaching methods in line with set guidelines which are made available to schools.”
At the Taaleem educational group which runs 10 schools, Arabic as an additional language is mandatory for all non-Arab students from Year 1 up to Year 9. And as Norm Dean, chief education officer, says, “If students wish to continue their university education in the UAE, they must continue studying Arabic as additional language till the end of Year 12. Non-Arab students are expected to follow the curriculum standards set in the framework for Arabic as an additional language.”
According to him, the curriculum focuses on enabling nonArabic speakers who are learning Arabic to communicate in real life situations inside and outside school. “The curriculum is based on international principles and expectations applied in the teaching of foreign languages to non-native speakers. It is also adapted to meet the UAE’s aspirations in the teaching and learning of Arabic in a manner that suits the learners’ capabilities and their learning environment.”
Dr Ashok Kumar, CEO of the Indian High School, which also follows the ministry’s curriculum, says, “When living in the Arab land, knowing the native language is always an advantage. We encourage our students to read, write and converse in Arabic as much as possible.”
But he admits that students don’t meet expectations. “It is true that expat kids find it difficult to converse in Arabic. It is probably because people in the UAE speak English, Hindi and other languages as widely as Arabic. Also, the students’ peers, parents and relatives do not speak Arabic.”
There’s more to it from the students’ point of view
Devarshi Chaube, a Grade 5 student at the Indian High School, says, “The biggest challenge I face as a student is that Arabic teachers use only Arabic language while teaching. There is no explanation in English and I get confused. Most of the time, the teachers also don’t understand what I have to say. The school provides remedial classes where I get extra support and personal attention.” Shazia, a Grade 12 student at another school, says, “I find Arabic hard, maybe because I don’t make enough of an effort. Most people talk in English, so I don’t feel the need to know Arabic.” Jasmine Mansour, head of linguistics at Eton Institute in Dubai, an educational institute for languages, agrees. She says, “The multicultural and diverse population of the UAE has led to English being the main language of communication across the country. As a result, expat students are rarely required to use Arabic for everyday communication.”
Different dialects could also act as a deterrent. “Most students are taught the Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) in school. But it is important to remember and acknowledge the various other dialects of the Arabic language, all deriving from different regions. Comprehending multiple Arabic dialects when conversing with other Arabic speakers may also lead expat students to prefer communicating in English,” notes Mansour.
Under the circumstances, what needs to be done to encourage students to talk in Arabic?
Mansour says besides formal learning at an early age, small steps like listening to Arabic music, playing games in Arabic or enrolling in an Arabic-related activity help.
Taaleem’s Dean says the group has developed speaking monologue plans to increase Arabic-speaking time among students. “We have created plenty of opportunities for them to practise their speaking outside school too, such as teaching their parents and making weekly videos with Arabic speakers. We encourage students to use Arabic as a language of communication with each other and with all Arabic speakers within the school too.”
KHDA says its efforts to improve Arabic learning in private schools is making a difference.
“We are continuing to see gradual improvement. Arabic is a beautiful language and once students begin to enjoy and love the language, they will definitely start experiencing it.
“Giving adequate opportunities to practise Arabic skills is key to encouraging students,” adds Dr Kaltham.
The biggest challenge is that Arabic teachers use only Arabic language while teaching. There is no explanation in English and I get confused. Most of the time.”
Devarshi Chaube | Grade 5 student at the Indian High School