A need for practice!
I find that many people who cannot speak Arabic and come over to the Gulf for jobs, end up being able to converse fluently in Arabic in just a few months’ time if they have Arabic-speaking co-workers (‘Abu Dhabi schools struggle to teach Arabic,’ Gulf News, October 22). It is sad but true that even after studying Arabic as a subject for over 10 years, students are unable to speak fluently. The same thing happens with Hindi for non-Hindi speaking students, which is mandatory in Indian schools. But every student studying in all Indian schools is fluent in English as much as their mother tongue. We also notice that some children who have friends of other languages master that language very well. The difference lies in conversational practice - or in other words, practical usage of the language.
From Ms Yousufa Mohammad
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Give additional classes
I think in schools there should be a separate conversational class for Arabic twice a week so that each and every child can learn to speak Arabic fluently. As someone who has studied in the UAE and has been teaching here in one of the Indian schools, I have noticed faults in the learning process - being given a thick book of Arabic, for one. It’s better to converse with peers.
From Ms Nazia Ilyas
UAE
Facebook comment
I want to speak Arabic!
I can read Arabic, but I don’t understand a word. I have a few sentences up my sleeve, as I worked with Arabic students. It was a good experience, but I think Arabic can be learnt if spoken with friends and co-workers. I would love to speak fluent Arabic!
From Ms Rida Rashid
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Can’t be too trusting
When it comes to the internet these days, people need to be very careful and Craigslist has been known for killers (‘Saudi student ‘killed for his car’ in California,’ Gulf News, October 22). There was a case a few years ago where a medical student went on Craigslist looking for a date and when he met a girl, he would kill her. He did this three times before being caught.
From Ms Sumirah Aisha
Boston, US
Facebook comment
Needs a religious understanding
I don’t feel angry about this, I feel pity that this woman could be thrown out of the opera house in Paris because she was veiled (‘Woman in face veil told to leave Paris opera house,’ Gulf News, October 22). We protect our treasures, which are our mothers and sisters in the hijab. Unlike those who allow women to dress inappropriately in public - this is what I have learnt from the teachings of Islam. Reading the Quran is important in order to improve people’s knowledge about Islam and the hijab.
From Mr Toshif Xec
Dubai
Facebook comment
Discussing modesty
I’m not disagreeing with you, Toshif Xec about the objective, but a small correction should be made, as these posts appear in public. When you emphasise on the word ‘hijab’, people also know that the Quran talks about modesty by both men and women and in fact, it addresses men first.
Modesty is simply about one’s behaviour, manners and appearance with the intention to avoid impropriety or indecency. When we use the word ‘hijab’, which is a common word with followers of Islam, meaning how it covers indecency or behaviour. One may have a hijab to cover, but lacks decency of behaviour. So let’s stick to the original version in the Quran, which emphasises modesty in general.
The full face veil is not a universally accepted practice yet, and it is still debated whether those who follow this tradition are doing so because it is a real compulsion or not. My simple question is, why do we need to be there in first place, where one’s thoughts are not matched with those of others? It would make a big difference to know whether that woman did this as a show of protest towards France’s new law or if this is something people in the media have made into news?
From Ms Mujtaba M. Siddiqui
UAE
Facebook comment
Compulsory in Islam?
Please correct me if I am wrong but I thought that the veil covering the face was a personal choice rather than a need of Islam. I am in Saudi Arabia, and I see Arab women all the time who aren’t covering their faces.
From Mr Chris Pittman
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Facebook comment
One country’s laws
If the veil was banned to be used in public, why did she wear it in a public place? As long as they are not forbidden to wear it, I think people should follow France’s law in the same way others are expected to follow rules and regulations in other countries as well.
From Ms Amanda Sumoondur
UAE
Facebook comment
When will it end?
I’ve seen the video of the girl being stoned by her father - it is barbaric and inhumane (‘Man stones daughter to death in Daesh video,’ Gulf News, October 22). No woman deserves to go through this, and no man has the right to treat a woman like that. For adultery and similar cases there is the law, there are courts and there is a police force. It is shameful and it is hard to accept that we still have to tolerate such people in our society. It is shameful that all the powers in the world are not able to wipe out extremism. When will this end?
From Mr M. A. S.
Sharjah
Website comment
It’s not right
The girl was stoned to death by her father for alleged adultery, but what happened to the boy? If the girl is killed so brutally, what was their reasoning for sparing the boy’s life? What about the Daesh soldiers who have allegedly raped Yazidis? Didn’t this father ever commit a sinful act? What was his penalty? In my opinion this is a man who just wanted to justify his own delusional feelings and was trying to cover it with religion.
From Mr Haseeb Ahmadi
UAE
Facebook comment
This is murder
It doesn’t matter what religion one comes from, it is a 100 per cent murder as he even says that even if God forgives her, he will not. Everyone on the video should be identified and should face punishment for their action!
From Mr Thomas
Dubai
Website comment
Grateful for improvements
Finally after 14 years of living abroad, Filipinos can get exit clearance while in the UAE (‘No more lines: Filipinos go online for UAE exit clearance,’ Gulf News, October 22). It has happened, it is good news and it’s a starting point to make it easier for us to pay for this certification. But still, it needs a lot of work because there are still so many restrictions. Ages ago, there was a system implemented in collaboration with visas, but they stopped it. Now in this digital age and with the amount of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) paying a large sum, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) should be able to improve the system.
There are a lot of Filipinos who are experts in Information Technology (IT), why doesn’t the government ask for their help to implement better systems for our benefit? Good job in making this happen. This will make our vacation times easier without the hassle of the long hours wasted queuing in POEA.
From Mr Ian Paul
Dubai
Website comment
Wiping out Ebola
We all have been plagued with unhappy news of the well-known Ebola virus, which has resulted in an epidemic and has wiped out around 4,600 people (‘Nigeria declared Ebola-free after containing virus,’ Gulf News, October 21). I feel a mixture of great pity and sadness when I hear a person falling into the death trap of Ebola, with a slim chance of escaping. Hence, it gave me great pleasure to know that Nigeria has been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO). I highly appreciate the efforts undertaken by the government to quell such a widespread disease.
A ray of hope shines over the Ebola plagued countries as they continue to fight against it. The countries ought to follow Nigeria’s example and proceed with swiftness and caution. We all have survived several major epidemics like Polio and H1N1.
My prayers go out to the victims of Ebola, and I look forward to an Ebola-free world.
From Mr Navami Vipith
Dubai
Editors’ note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@ gulfnews.com. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet us @GNReaders.
