Given that the Arabic language plays an important part in shaping the UAE’s national character and faces many threats in an Anglophonic world, efforts to preserve it are badly needed.
As The National reported yesterday, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and the head of the Arabic Language Advisory Council, told the Federal National Council (FNC) that the ministry was working on a law to preserve Arabic, in line with the recommendations made by the FNC's education, youth and media committee.
Whether or not we need a law to achieve this goal is open to debate. But everyone will agree that preserving the Arabic language is critical. Arabic is our national language and a key component of our identity. Classical Arabic is the language of the Quran and knowledge of it opens up a treasure trove of rich literature redolent of the history and culture of the region.
But the threat to Arabic isn’t necessarily from other languages, especially English. The low quality of Arabic instruction in UAE schools has a big role in the decreasing use of Arabic language. Arabic instruction in both public and private schools suffers from inadequate resources and rather dull methods of teaching, which fail to fire the student’s imagination or instil a desire to continue to study the language. Education authorities ought to work on improving teaching methods in public schools and ensuring that teachers are trained in ways to make classes more interesting and effective. They should also work with private institutions to improve standards of Arabic instruction. This is particularly important as many Emiratis now opt for a private education for their children.
Improving Arabic teaching standards does not mean neglecting the English language. This is the lingua franca of today’s interconnected world, an essential language for the business of commerce and geopolitics. Science is one of the subjects that’s better taught in English.
The UAE will benefit from a solidly bilingual system that offers both languages in schools and universities and leaves parents and students to make their own choice.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
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AIDA%20RETURNS
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Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
