Learn a language in Abu Dhabi

It’s estimated there are around 200 different nationalities living and working in the UAE – that’s an awful lot of languages to get your tongue around. Arabic classes are the obvious choice for expats wanting to add to their linguistic repertoire, but there are dozens more courses available. European Day of Languages on Wednesday September 26 is a good place to start if you’re in need of some focus or suggestion.

Held every year since 2001, it is celebrated throughout the continent, where 800 million Europeans are encouraged to learn more languages, regardless of their age, or whether they’re in school. In Abu Dhabi, The Eton Institute are seizing this as an opportunity to hold a free open day, and there’s more than just talking going on. As well as learning to speak a variety of beautiful languages, there will also be the opportunity to taste authentic dishes from different countries, listen to traditional music and see traditional cultural dress and artefacts. So before buying into a whole course, visitors will get a taste of the culture that’s attached to the tongue they might like to learn.

Eton doesn’t just offer European languages – in fact, it offers over 100, and according to the school’s marketing officer, Mahina Bukhari Shah, one of the most unusual is Luo, pronounced ‘dholuo’, which is a language spoken in Kenya and Tanzania. Their most heavily subscribed courses are extremely varied, a fact attributed to Abu Dhabi’s multi-cultural society.

‘The ten most popular languages we teach are English, Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Turkish,’ she explains, noting that as the UAE is also a meeting ground for European and Asian business, a lot of their students are executives looking to advance both professionally and socially. Asked whether she thinks it would be as useful to learn languages such as Urdu and Filipino, given how large a portion of the population speaks these as a mother tongue, Mahina earnestly agrees. ‘It would be a huge advantage! Even though the majority of people in this community can speak some English, it’s always more comfortable and easier to explain your point in their native language. In fact, due to demand, we’re just finishing putting together phrasebooks for both languages.’

Of course, with so many nationalities present in Abu Dhabi, there are more ways than one to learn a language. In the past, we’ve seen ‘speak dating’, where attendees with an interest in each others’ languages would meet to exchange conversational tips (whether this will return is not yet known), and currently there is a similar group registered with Meetup.com, the website dedicated to community social groups, called Abu Dhabi Speaks for Free Language Exchange. With over 235 members, it describes itself as a free social forum to exchange languages, cultures, make new friends and a place to have a good laugh in the process. The same website is also the organisational hub for the Language and Culture Exchange in Abu Dhabi, a group that regularly meets to practise foreign tongues.

Your own reasons for learning a language may not be for business, or even to interact with other residents – the fact we live in a very multi-cultural society means people often find themselves marrying someone of another nationality. ‘The adults I teach are men and women from all over the world,’ explains Maria Shapiro Higton, a Danish language teacher. ‘But the one thing they all have in common is they want to learn Danish because their partner is from Denmark, and they might one day move there’.

Some people in the city are fortunate enough to find themselves with a lot of free time day-to-day, Maria suggests. In the case of expat families who arrive to employment packages with household help and sometimes only one parent working it gives the other parent time to take up lessons, and what better way to spend your time than working towards better integrating with the local, yet very international community?

Still, if it’s inspiration you’re after (over 100 languages is a lot to choose from), the Eton Institute’s celebration of European Day of Languages is not a bad place to start.
European Day of Languages open day takes place today September 26 from 8.30am-6pm. Entry is free. Eton Institute, near Khalifa Park (02 449 9649 / 02 449 6947).