Bilingual education crucial for the UAE

Our globalised world has one overriding rule of communication: speak in English. In the cosmopolitan society of the UAE, English is often used in many aspects of daily life, and particularly in education and business. That could give young people who are educated in this county a competitive edge, fluent in the language of globalisation. The cost, however, must be considered. Arabic – and indeed the Emirati dialect – are integral to the culture and tradition of the country. Many students are more comfortable speaking and writing English than Arabic. The loss of the mother tongue threatens an irreparable rupture with the national character and history. Read more...