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For the love of the language (voskouc@gmail.com) / 24 July 2013 SPOKEN IN 22 countries by over 200 million people, Arabic is the fifth most spoken language in the world. In the Middle-East and North Africa it is the common shared language but in each of the countries it is used in, there is a local element attached to it. For instance, the Arabic spoken here is very different to the Arabic spoken in Egypt. That can seem a little frustrating to those who thought they can easily pick up the language while living here. It takes a lot of dedication, effort and time to be able to speak correctly. Interactive game to help expand Arabic knowledge Four Khalifa University students have developed an interactive computer game to encourage school kids to learn about their national identity and expand their knowledge of Arabic. Fatima Al Muhariy, Maitha Barrak, Halema Al Naqbi and Eman Khalifa, who are all Computer Engineering students at Khalifa University, developed the game that won the third place in the recent Innovative Cultural Project Competition 2013 held by the Ministry of Culture and Youth. The competition aims to develop the talents, energies and competencies of creative young people, students and university clubs in the UAE in order to strengthen national identity and to sponsor creative students currently enrolled in the UAE universities. The game, designed for kids aged nine to 12, follows the adventures of two characters, Rashed and Aisha, and requires students to identify the UAE wildlife, solve problems presented in Arabic and answer questions about the history of the UAE. “We aimed our project to involve all of the seven Emirates, and each game shows each emirate and what it is known for. This just shows how rich our culture is,” Barrak said. “We are very pleased with our students’ achievement in the Innovative Cultural Project Competition, as well as, their dedication to enhancing knowledge of the UAE and its culture among school children,” commended Khalifa University’s executive vice president Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi. Staff Reporter news@khaleejtimes.com The popular columnist and media personality Ali Al Saloom, is known for his efforts to share cultural, linguistic and general knowledge about the UAE. He thinks that learning Arabic while living in the region can help people get a better understanding of the local culture. He often says that if he had the capacity to do so, he would offer free Arabic lessons to those willing to commit to learning the language. “I appreciate it when expats choose to learn Arabic because it shows that they are hungry for our culture and our language. In fact I encourage my Emirati friends and family to promote our language by practising with those who are learning it,” he commented. Paola Zagni, an Italian living in Dubai, admits that Arabic is hard both in writing and in speaking. “The grammar is not difficult compared to my native language but the alphabet and the spelling make writing extremely difficult but charming at the same time. It is like a challenge and a personal satisfaction when you start writing full sentences and read paragraphs,” she says. A passion for languages and for the Arabic culture appears to be a common theme amongst students in the UAE. Alessandro Mirabella, another Italian expatriate was first exposed to the Arabic language at university in his home country and relocating to the UAE provided him with an opportunity to continue learning. He says, “I want to have a better understanding of this language that’s so different than mine. I like the letters and it pleases me so much to write in Arabic. But I am still in a beginner level and have a lot to learn.” Interestingly, Alessandro also points out to the fact that the Sicilian dialect, which he speaks, contains Arabic influences.  For Ioanna Oikonomidou, a Greek architect, who has only recently moved to the UAE, learning Arabic has provided her the chance to discover a language she has always found interesting and could, potentially, benefit her career prospects in the region. However, she admits that “it is quite hard. I thought the most difficult thing would be the letters, but the letters are just the beginning.” Interactive game to help expand Arabic knowledge Four Khalifa University students have developed an interactive computer game to encourage school kids to learn about their national identity and expand their knowledge of Arabic. Fatima Al Muhariy, Maitha Barrak, Halema Al Naqbi and Eman Khalifa, who are all Computer Engineering students at Khalifa University, developed the game that won the third place in the recent Innovative Cultural Project Competition 2013 held by the Ministry of Culture and Youth. The competition aims to develop the talents, energies and competencies of creative young people, students and university clubs in the UAE in order to strengthen national identity and to sponsor creative students currently enrolled in the UAE universities. The game, designed for kids aged nine to 12, follows the adventures of two characters, Rashed and Aisha, and requires students to identify the UAE wildlife, solve problems presented in Arabic and answer questions about the history of the UAE. “We aimed our project to involve all of the seven Emirates, and each game shows each emirate and what it is known for. This just shows how rich our culture is,” Barrak said. “We are very pleased with our students’ achievement in the Innovative Cultural Project Competition, as well as, their dedication to enhancing knowledge of the UAE and its culture among school children,” commended Khalifa University’s executive vice president Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi. Staff Reporter news@khaleejtimes.com Similarly, Ali Ayhan Fidanci, a Turkish expat also admits that while he enjoys learning the language, “the biggest challenge is pronunciation. The language depends on the correct pronunciation of the words very much.” For Rachel Dunn, a British expat and Public Relations professional, the decision to learn Arabic was purely personal: “I am married to an Egyptian, so for me it was important to try and learn the language — we have just had a baby and we’d like him to speak both English and Arabic so I wouldn’t want to feel left out.” Dunn says that the differences between Arabic and English while many, make it all the more interesting and challenging to learn. She loves how rich and descriptive a language it is and the fact that “there are so many words which could be used to describe the same thing in different situations. Plus it’s incredibly satisfying to be able to read even the headline in a newspaper.” Although these students live in an Arabic speaking country, it isn’t easy to make conversation and practice the language. As Oikonomidou points out, “recently in an exhibition I took part in, there were many Arabic-speaking people. They were very pleased I knew some things but they were speaking to me in English. Overall though, I think all people are flattered when you appreciate and respect their culture and language. ” However, Mirabella who is part of a conversation team at his school feels that he still cannot hold a conversation in Arabic. He thinks it’s hard because “native Arabic-speakers perhaps don’t have the patience to speak to you, as they are fluent in English, and they simply switch to that with non-Arab speakers. But they are happy to listen.” Continue reading →