Post in 50s+ Travellers

Why Arabic?! Because: https://www.importanceoflanguages.com/importance-arabic-language/ https://i.pinimg.com/originals/20/e3/dd/20e3dda554d573ffaa2f7b12a39a1e2d.jpg Halima

Hi Halima, is Arabic your third or fourth language? I take it you speak German fluently, you speak English as well - so it is at least your third foreign language. Why I ask? I came to the conclusion, the more languages we speak already the easier it is to pick up a new one. It is hard work for our memory as well, but for people, who are used to learn it may be different, because the part of the brain, which is responsible for learning languages ist still exercising.

It is a great idea to learn another language, especially, when you have points in your country, which are connected historically with this language - so you have some things to relate to, which works as an amplifier.

Everybody, who learns Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese or Chinese or Tagalog has my deepest respect.

My language studies are stuck at the moment.

By my count, it is Halima's sixth. (Unless Uzbek and Turkish are so similar they only count as one)

"Set a really hard task" - so right!

Marhaban Carav,

Learning arabic here is free unlike English,French,German,Italian etc requiring huge sums of money. Some nowhere to practice even. What they ask is the "purpose" for learning. ex Quran,Islam,Travel,Country, etc.. arabic may also vary from country to country.

Here arabic dominate in some towns but we proudly call it arab shuwa and some other valuable titles(camel,cow ,long haired) Off course adds more value to unlost humans. Others arabics are named 'arabe littéraire' (written/literature). Only those in Chad and Cameroon can understand.Any one outside this area can't understand.Just thesame Other countries can't understand our English.But must understand our français.

We are made to know Sudan has the best arabic in the world,not even Gulf,nor Egyptian,nor Saudia. Don't know how far that is true.

Here we are being taught arabic once a toddler. Past statistics show kids end up being intelligent,brilliant and with retentive memories in school even if in western education.The ability to memories. Also helps us maintain the accents of our local languages. So we get not to miss out some letters like pronouncing hôtel as 'ôtel' ,house= ouse, horse=orse, opital, those who refuse to learn arabic end up missing some letters like H,R because Frenchman hates some English letters. We come to realise some of our local languages are some how related to arabic/hebrew or french (dealing with male/female nouns every now and then and forever). It makes us happy to be part of this beautiful world.The world seemed to be one in the past but not now.

Practice makes perfect. I am into spanish rather.

Well, I take it, the official language in Cameroun is still French? So, did you learn French in elementary school or was it difficult to attend school regularly? From Trevor Noah's book I learnt, there are many African countries, who want their children wearing school uniforms, what may also be quite expensive - do you do that in your country, too?

As I also speak French, I came to think, I may be able to communicate in African countries rather with English (South Africa) or French, when I visit. Am I wrong?

The Éducational system is diversed. In the past it was mixed. Anglo/franco Anglo/arab Franco/Arab Anglophones unique Francophones unique.. American school

Alongside i was taught German /Spanish

Makes it difficult for some who end up abandoning éducation..or failing exams,repeating exams ,2-5years in same class.. I kept switching from one another..

Nowadays i see Franco/Turkish
Something like Russian school and others..Few years chinese language was announced in kindergaten...no idea if it is effective..

Foreign languages are still a great problem without any solution..certificates not recognized..Everytime new strategies but Wars. For Jobs here English and french required.Even for business..Chinese or Indian shops face problems and do recrute atleast locals with one good in english and another in french.It helps their businesses to survive..

I was actually wondering why South Africans keep hustling Trevor not to abandon his native accent.. I do face thesame problem for long..Not abandoning accents.. Am like him , adopting Indian accent when amongst Indians,same goes for Africans or Americans..

Dressing code for schools,also a problem and variés. Some don't wear uniforms.Some don't allow hijabs while others compulsory.. Some girls uncomfortable without hijabs,short skirts,shaving their long hair, so decide not to go to school or would have to look for a school which accepts their wishes..Some mission schools force Others to attend their churches,upsetting parents..

Studies in some African countries is like an American born in Miami. At âge of 3 goes to school start studying in Spanish,read and writes exam in Spanish for years.. Speaking English back at home or in markets..One may only be lucky that classmates speak Spanish to you or tourists if not only listening to a teacher or Reading and writing exams.. Those who Can afford may go to a Spanish country for better éducation,if not you may have a collège dégrée but still can't speak spanish fluently... Some African leaders died in an attempt to change this..East Africans( ex Tanzania )have succeeded in implementing Swahili in elementary school very soon upto university.. Some countries changed their official language from French to English.. Here some parents regret French éducation for their kids.. popular saying goes" speak French only in Cameroon once out only English." Am even afraid to bé saying all this..

@Adam How many languages are spoken in your country? If some, are they understandable to non speakers? Portuguese & Spanish are quite familiar. We perceive the Spaniards better than the Spaniards perceive us. Diphthongs are perhaps the most peculiar in the Portuguese language. Correct me if I am wrong. Most of the Africans living South to Saara speak a Bantu language. How easy for you to understand others Bantu speakers?