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Arabic lessons would bridge culture gap
The UAE would not be the success story it is today without the valuable input of foreign labour and expertise. Our young country has invited people from around the world to share in its vision and to prosper from the diverse opportunities it offers. The process of nation-building has created a multicultural society, but it has also created something of an imbalance. Half of the respondents to a YouGov survey commissioned by The National believe that there is a danger of our country’s Arabic culture being eroded by outside influences. And a third of Emirati respondents believe that expatriates should have at least some understanding of local culture.
It is clearly the responsibility of people who intend to work in another country to learn as much as they can about its heritage and traditions before they get on the plane. As Emirati Khalifa Al Mansoori told the paper: “I think people should do their homework and understand the culture, Islam and what the UAE is all about.” However, Dr Jane Bristol-Rhys, an associate professor of anthropology at Zayed University, noted that sometimes even people who have lived in the UAE for many years know nothing of its history.
Expatriate workers must acknowledge that they are guests in a country with a rich and unique heritage, and proud traditions. Individuals should not only educate themselves before committing to come here, they should be encouraged to engage with Arab culture after they arrive. And that can start in the workplace. Employers – many of whom greatly benefit from the low cost of doing business in the UAE – could help give back to the country by ensuring that all new workers are equipped with information packs and opportunities to engage with the local culture.
A good place to start would be with Arabic-language lessons. Many expatriates socialise only with people from their own country, speaking almost exclusively in their own language. Free, or subsidised, Arabic lessons could open up a whole new world to them. Speaking, or attempting to speak, Arabic indicates a seriousness of intent and a genuine desire to be a part of the community that is likely to be rewarded in terms of nurturing friendships and business networks.
And, of course, learning a language and immersing yourself in a different culture has its own great rewards in terms of personal development and emotional fulfilment.
Source: www.thenational.ae