the last time someone stopped me in my tracks and spoke to me in rapid-fire arabic, i was totally dumbstruck. i was in makkah. the land of the arabs. and i didn't know enough arabic to save my life. nope, i couldn't even say, "i don't understand arabic" to that lady. i just shook my head and she swept away in frustration. i remember how arab-speaking women in the masjid would initiate a conversation with me. they don't speak a word of english. i don't speak arabic. sometimes they'd show a hint of irritation but most of them would just pat me on the shoulder, hold up their hands and exclaim "Alhamdulillah!". perhaps showing gratitude to Allah for being there, no matter what language we can or cannot speak.

i'll always remember a "conversation" i had with an elderly syrian lady. she had asked me if i spoke any arabic. strangely i understood her so i shook my head. i then said, "english". she shook her head. heh. i wasn't asking her, i was telling her. i think she then asked if i was alone. my mom was in the row behind us. i said "La" (that's no in arabic) and pointed to my mom and said "Ummi" (mother). "Aaahhhhh!" she said, her face lighting up. she then asked a few more questions, out of which i could only understand "where are you from?" cos she was making gestures of airplane flying. when i said "singapore", she smiled, pointed to herself and announced, "suria" (syria). she then pointed to the ring on my finger and asked (i presumed) if i was married. i shook my head and she smiled, put her hands up and recited something in arabic. i really hope she was making a doa that i'll be married soon. amiin! heh. what i didn't realise is, my mom had been watching us all that time and she told me afterwards that we were both gesturing wildly. she knew that we had trouble understanding each other. haha! (macam ayam dengan itik berbual)

when i returned, i enrolled in an arabic course by al-markaz. i believe i posted about it here sometime in june. anyways, it's been a couple of months into the course and i find it very effective. at least now i can understand, write and converse (albeit haltingly) in arabic. hey, i can even understand the mu'alim (teacher) when he rattles off in arabic. but i believe the best part of this course is it's the closest arabic you can get to quranic arabic. insya Allah, as you progress with the course, your understanding of the Quran will improve as well. baby steps, baby steps ...

anyhoos, they will be starting a new round of the course again soon. please see below for details.

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Al-Markaz The Centre for Arabic Language, Culture & Trade is offering a course on Conversational Modern Standard Arabic (Level 1)

About the course
This twelve-week course aims to provide participants with the basic linguistic foundation in Modern Standard Arabic.

This is a highly interactive course that engages students in Arabic conversational activities to enrich their vocabulary and understanding of the use of the language.

At the end of the course, the participants will be equipped with the ability to speak basic conversational Arabic fluently.

Course Facilitator (Zuraimi Bin Naharudin)
Zuraimi received his education in the Arabic language both in Damascus, Syria & Cairo, Egypt. He holds a Diploma in the Arabic language and a Certificate in the teaching of Arabic from Cairo University.

Course Duration / Time
Once a week x 12 weeks
Saturdays, 10.00am to 12.30pm
Beginning 10th Sept 2005

Delivery Mode
Arabic & English
Pre-requisite
Able to read simple Arabic

Course Fees
$65 monthly payment for three months
One-time registration and book fee of $20

Course will be held at:
Al-Markaz LLP
The Centre for Arabic Language, Culture & Trade
58, Bussorah Street
2nd Floor (above Wardah Books)
Near Masjid Sultan

For enquiries / registration
call Zuraimi: 8112 7976 or email zuraimi@al-markaz.biz