Dubai: Can the education system, be it public or private, prepare pupils to be fluent in both Arabic and English without losing out on one or the other?
For Samia Majan, Arabic Language Supervisor at the Dubai Education Zone, the Ministry of Education (MOE) is working to achieve that balance in public schools with the recent initiatives such as Common English Proficiency Assessment (CEPA) and the developments in Madares Al Ghad - or 'schools of the future.'
"Our students are fluent in Arabic and achieving a balance between the two languages is quite challenging at the moment, but we are on the way to achieving it," she said.
Culture
The challenge is to keep up with English to survive in the job market, but at the same time, "we have to preserve our language, culture, and religion," she said.
The Arabic supervisor, who monitors Arabic studies in public and some private schools, said that few fail to meet the proper standards set by the MOE for Arabic education. In general, the balance is not yet met, she said.
Her words were echoed by Majid Fahd, Head of the Arabic Unit at Dubai National School, who believes that the study of Arabic is declining in private schools.
"It is shameful, the effect of English, or rather its dominance has taken its toll on Arabic. Students cannot maintain the fluency they have in English," he said, adding that his school puts a lot of effort to strengthen the language. However, as most subjects are taught in English it remains a challenge.
According to Fahd, another problem lies in the fact that some students hardly practice Arabic even at home.
"I speak with my students in Arabic, but get a reply in English or they have to add English words to the conversation.
Their handwriting is also affected; individual words in Arabic are connected, unlike English. However, if you closely examine the students' handwriting in Arabic you will find small spaces in between letters for every single word," he said.
Initially senior students in Fahd's school had eight Arabic classes per week - similar to the public school system. However, the number has now been reduced to five classes per week, with 40 per cent of the original curriculum cut down, he said.
Amjad Ezat, Principal of Dubai National School, Al Twar branch, said that both English and Arabic should be taught at a very young age. The real balance right now is not between English and Arabic, he said, but between having students fluent enough in English to enable their success at universities and in future careers, and fluent enough in Arabic to help preserve the language and culture.
Case study: Why Eman wants to drop her major
University student Eman Al Shamsi feels she is wasting her time on foundational courses as she believes what she learnt in school did not prepare her for college as the language of instruction in school was Arabic.
"I passed the CEPA and the English entry exam but failed in the Maths test as I am not used to solving equations in English," she said.
The UAE national at the Sharjah Higher College of Technology intends to drop out of her major and go to Media studies.
Although she spends a lot of time reading in English and watching English movies, she says government schools should develop the language and also teach science and Maths in English.
"Whether we like it or not English is the dominant language in universities and in the workplace. We can't survive without it! I also don't mean by that that schools should only focus on English. Arabic is my mother language and it is very important. It makes me feel proud to be fluent in Arabic but there should be a balance of fluency in both," she said.
Maths and science subjects in English
Many public schools in the UAE will gradually start teaching maths and science in English as part of a comprehensive national project to revamp public education in the country.
Fifty selected public schools across the UAE underwent drastic changes as part of a project designed by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and along with public academic institutions.
The project ‘Madares Al Ghad', or Schools of the Future, was implemented gradually beginning last August, and includes 20 schools in grades 1 to 5, 10 schools in grades 6 to 9, and 20 schools in grades 10 to 12. Maths and science will be taught in English from grade I in these selected schools. The project aims to finish by 2011 and the rest of the schools will be a part of the ministry's agenda to be included in the project. “We aim to eliminate foundational courses that enable students to enter their first year at university. There should be a direct transition from high school to university,'' said Minister of Education Dr Hanif Hassan.
Developing methods of instruction
Public schools in the UAE are open to UAE and GCC nationals. Recently other Arab expatriates are accepted under strict conditions. All subjects in these schools are taught in Arabic, except for English classes, which recently saw development in the methods of instruction, with additional materials included to accommodate the Common Educational Proficiency Assessment (CEPA).
The newly set assessment requires teachers to develop the standards of the current English curriculum. CEPA was introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which enables higher education institutions to place students at the appropriate level in their preparatory courses. English is also being introduced in two government-run kindergartens. Dr Fawzia Badri, Director of the Kindergarten department, said the programme is still in the initial stage, and described it as an “experimental project''.
Public and private curriculums
All private schools must be licensed by the Ministry of Education and government policy stipulates that private schools must offer Islamic education as a core subject for Muslim students, and social studies and Arabic language as a core subject for Arab students, which is considered an additional subject for non-Arab students. Non-Muslim students should also have the option of Islamic studies.
Some Arab private schools teach the Ministry of Education curriculum and are allowed to add materials or subjects upon approval of the ministry. In these schools, the language of instruction is Arabic, with the exception of English language.
However, some schools are now incorporating English for science subjects. Some other private Arab schools follow the American or British curriculums, but the medium of instruction for geography, history and national studies is Arabic to grade 9. Arabic and Islamic studies in these schools are also taught in advanced Arabic until grade 12 but other subjects are taught entirely in English at the upper secondary level.
PEOPLE SAY
Sana'a Al Marzouki
Ameenah Bint Wahb Public School, UAE national, 16
"I don't think English should replace the importance of Arabic. I still want to study Arabic to an advanced level and I advocate having the social sciences in Arabic as the topic relates to my culture. But I think science subjects should be taught in English as all equipment and terminologies will be used only in English."
Noura Obaid Allah
Dubai National School, based on an American curriculum, UAE national, 16
"From the beginning our parents chose to enrol us into private schools mainly to strengthen our English language along with Arabic of course. Some of my cousins, who study in public schools, wasted a year or two on foundational courses. There are many talented students in public schools but unfortunately they are not getting the opportunity they deserve because of the language barrier."
Ala'a Khalil Al Bari
Ameenah Bint Wahb Public School, science section, Syrian, 16
"Generally English in public schools is weak and does not prepare us for the real world. I am actually feeling the importance of English as I must do my Toefl before going to university and I am sure I will fail the test with my current grasp of English. I think it will take me a year of preparation before going to my first year at university, a thought which is scaring me. I'm not sure how my fluency in Arabic will help me."
Fayza Waleed Herafi
Al Andalus Private Arabic School, science stream, Syrian, 16
"We need to practically apply the lessons by extensively building our writing and reading skills. I am intending to take English courses after graduation to prepare for my Toefl and first year at university. I can't merely depend on the level of English I get from school. It still needs much improvement."
Majida Al Safadi
Dubai National School (Private school), Syrian, 17
"I am content being more fluent in English than Arabic as it will serve my higher education purposes and hopefully get me better career opportunities. I am also proud to know Arabic and will always preserve it but realistically speaking English is our weapon in the future."
Have your say
Do you think it is vital to learn Arabic? Does it open up opportunities? Or does it not matter? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the comments form below.
Your comments
I started to learn Arabic almost a year ago (it is hard work, believe me) to understand more of the ancient history of the region and the culture. I can only encourage local students to keep their language. We face a similar problem in Germany where the English influence is growing rapidly. Even the small and very common German words must be said in English. I personally grew up trilingual and it worked out very well.
Uwe
Frankfurt,Germany
Posted: October 19, 2007, 09:58
It is essential to know Arabic in a country where the official language is Arabic. However, there is also no harm just knowing only English, even when working in government offices, where most of the official correspondence is in English.
Karkain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 19, 2007, 09:54
It is very important to learn Arabic, especially for non-Arabs who live in Arab countries. Being bilingual does open up opportunities. Where I work, a translator is needed all the time, even for simple conversations.
Fadwa
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: October 19, 2007, 02:27
