Do Not, I repeat, DO NOT Study the Emirati Arabic...

...you have to SPEAK IT! 

When it comes to acquiring a new language, you have to USE it on a regular basis otherwise you will forget it. 

I am trying to relearn spoken Emirati dialect and re-familiarize with its culture (after three years) because I know that I am losing it. Yes, I am bringing my Emirati dialect back to life, I still have my old notes and keep on revisiting them. 

Recently I got a copy of this "Teach Yourself Gulf Arabic" book which I will tell you more later because I haven't gone through yet... though I aready have this feeling that my old notes are more helpful than this book. So judgmental, LOL. Worry not, I am still going to read and use/make it as a supplementary/resource book. 

And as I was browsing about learning Emirati language online, I have come across Emirati Arabic project (SERENDIPITY!), with a tag line of 'Making the Emirati culture and dialect of the Arabic language more accessible, fun and easy to learn." This project is really a great help for people like me who wants to speak the dialect and understand its culture and its people better. The best thing about this project is you'll be able to learn how you actually say the words and phrases because they have a YouTube channel where they just recently started their animated series. You can find them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler and Google+ too. 

So happy learning speaking Emirati/Gulf Arabic everyone! 

Culture Blunder: Meeting Gone Wrong

Three years ago, a friend and I had a chance to meet up with a young Emirati lady for a certain project along with her friend (also an Emirati ). They were very nice and accommodating. And tried they very best to speak in English for our sake.

During the meeting, another young Arabic lady joined us and later two more elderly (an Arabic man and woman) from a local TV station. They started discussing in Arabic, they excused themselves though. The young Emirati lady was kind enough to explain what was going on and being discussed. 

Then the TV peeps said their byes to all of us. When they stood up from the table [non-Arabs, please take note!], everybody else rose for them, well, except me and my friend. See what we did there?

I only realized it later, when my friend mentioned it. When I asked her why she didn't rise for them she said she looked at me but I remain seated so she didn't bother, LOL. But seriously I cringed when I realized what we've done there. It was a total embarrassment. Felt guilty for being ignorante and insensitive. We weren't aware of this gesture. 

In the Philippines or at least from what I know, only the gents get up whenever a lady leaves the table. In which they seldom do it nowadays. LOL.

And that, my friends, was our first and sadly the last meeting.

Lesson learned: 1 of Emirati etiquettes or prolly in the Arab world — At a meeting or social gathering, everyone stands when an elderly or high-ranking person arrives or leaves the room / table.

Speak Like an Emarati with Great Praise

Ana far7aana. 5l9t el class kaif armis emirati. (I'm happy. I completed the how to speak Emarati class) I graduated "magna cum laude" from Level 1, wallah (I swear) because only 2 out of 10 students have attended the exam-graduation Sunday night. LOL

I feel like I know a lot. I guess it's the Shaima-factor. She is good and effective teacher and has a sense of humor (she is a comedienne). I vouch that her teaching method (language + culture + humor) really does work. She also shares techniques that will make learning easier. I really enjoyed the whole thing to the hilt. I finished level 1, being able to compose, speak and understand simple Emirati Arabic sentences and feeling hopeful about being able to speak the accent with confidence soon. Can't wait to take it to the next level..