Why study ARABIC? I'm doing arabic this year in 2011 List...

[MrIraq]

No-one other than me? ha


Why learn Arabic?

1. Arabic is the 5th most commonly spoken native language in the world.

Arabic is the official language of over 20 countries and there are well over 300 million native speakers of the language. These speakers are largely concentrated in the Middle East, but there are minority groups of native speakers throughout the world. It is also an official language of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and the African Union.
2. Arabic is the liturgical language of Islam.

In addition to the millions of native speakers, many more millions know Arabic as a foreign language, since as the language of the Qu'ran, it is understood by Muslims throughout the world.
3. There is a high demand and low supply of Arabic-speakers in the Western world.

Relatively few Westerners ever venture to learn Arabic. With the growing importance of the Middle East in international affairs, there is thus an extreme shortage of workers in the West who are versed in Arabic language and culture. Those who study Arabic can find careers in a variety of fields: journalism, business and industry, education, finance and banking, translation and interpretation, consulting, foreign service and intelligence, and many others. Only 1 % of the United States 12,000 FBI agents have any knowledge of Arabic at all, and this includes those who know only a few words.
4. There are financial incentives for learning Arabic.

The US government has designated Arabic as a language of strategic importance. The National Strategic Language Initiative instituted in 2006 promotes the learning of Arabic (and other languages deemed critical) among Americans through numerous scholarships and supported learning opportunities. These include support for language courses from beginning to advanced levels, study abroad programs, intensive instruction opportunities, teacher exchanges, and professional development.

5. Arabic-speaking nations are a fast growing market for trade.

Initiatives to integrate the Arab world into the global economy are opening up numerous potential nw business opportunities. The Arab region with its rapidly growing population provides a huge export market for goods and services. With a GDP of over 600 billion dollars annually, the region also has much to offer the world market. In order to do business effectively, one must understand the language and culture of the people with whom one hopes to negotiate and conduct trade.

6. Also the language of the relijion of Islam. the fastest growing relijion in the world, and also the second largest by population after Christianity...


7. Because I'm doing it

8. If your school doesnt provide it, u can do it on saturday at VSL (vic school of languages)

9. Imagine working in Dubai, the best city in the world... without knowing ARABIc?!

10. so do arabic

Hasanen -MrIraq  :smitten:

[iNerd]

Isn't point 7 a turn-off rather then a turn-on?

[riv]

Correction: religion not relijion 

If you are referring to VCE Arabic then you forgot to mention that it scales down, it's hard to do well in and is very competitive since less than 200 students do it yearly; most of whom are fluent and were brought up in Arabic speaking nations. The ones brought up in Australia are those who usually get the lower range marks.

Although Arabic may be the fifth most spoken native language, not a single nation speaks the formal Arabic. And by that I mean the Arabic used in written texts. Each of the Arab League's 22 nations has its own 'dialects'; yepp much more than one. Not only do those dialects differ, but communication between members who speak different dialects could be difficult and often results in misunderstandings due to the intervened slang, and sometimes foreign words. Try speaking to a Moroccan and I doubt you'd understand half of what he/she would be saying, similarly, I doubt he/she would understand your Iraqi dialect. This is because Moroccans use many French words in their speech. Another example would be saying 'what's up?' Some Iraqis say 'shako mako', Lebos would say 'sho fi ma fi?' When asked 'how are you?' An Iraqi replies 'zein', a Lebo replies 'mneeh', the pure Arabic reply should be 'innani bikhayr', all meaning 'I'm good'. Eventually the Arabic you learn in VCE won't enable you to communicate with people who speak different slang dialects. Hence, it's not the best solution to your ninth point. There are many non-Arabic speaking foreigners living in Dubai anyways! The Arabs there try speaking English actually...  :crazy2:

I'm sorry to say that your sixth point won't appeal to many of the VN-ers since the majority have shown no interest in religion. Actually I think there was an old thread on VN showing that a high propotion of Australian kids don't regard religion as a major aspect of their life.

Anyways, good luck to you in Arabic. 

[tarek]

Arabic is the best Riv! ... Although I'm not doing it.

[riv]

Arabic is the best Riv! ... Although I'm not doing it.

Yeah not VCE Arabic, proves why you're not doing it...

[tarek]

haha I wouldv'e done it if it doesn't scale down! How could hebrew scale up by 13 while arabic scales down, injust! Ayri bi kil al yahud. Btw Mriraq got banned for being arab.

[chuck_norris]

Dude, why would anyone be banned for being arab? lol

btw you know scaling is based on competition, yes? I would be asking myself how there could be such a large discrepancy in performance..

[tarek]

I've got a joke:

Chuck Norris is so... oh nevermind haha

[chuck_norris]

Arab? I know right

[tarek]

Yeh cuzz like fully arab! That's why you never seee him on this site

[chuck_norris]

^her

[tarek]

prove it