ALC Fosters Love For Arabic Among Youth With Innovative Competition

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2024 is currently spotlighting a unique initiative titled 'Arabic Pals Competition', aimed at fostering a deeper connection between school students and the Arabic language. This competition, open to youths of all nationalities, seeks to elevate Arabic content on social media platforms and encourage students to explore their interests beyond traditional educational frameworks.

Dr. Khaled Dalky, the Head of Arabic Language Proficiency Testing at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), shared insights into the competition's structure and objectives. Launched as an extracurricular activity by ALC, the 'Arabic Pals Competition' made its debut in 2021, celebrating three winners in its first year. The competition awards AED 10,000 to each winner, with the number of recipients growing each year. The initiative has seen a notable increase in participation, drawing around 5,000 entries from both local and international students in recent editions.

Submissions for the competition open on 2nd September and conclude at the end of October annually, with results announced after a thorough evaluation process. Dalky highlighted the diverse background of participants and winners, including remarkable entries from students in India and China, showcasing the competition's global appeal and its success in attracting non-native speakers.

The ALC's commitment to expanding the reach of the Arabic Pals Competition is evident in their efforts to engage students across the UAE through educational sessions and workshops held at various cultural venues, including libraries and the Cultural Foundation. This approach not only enhances language proficiency among young learners but also integrates cultural appreciation into their learning journey.

With its growing popularity and success in bridging cultural gaps, the Arabic Pals Competition stands as a testament to the universal appeal of the Arabic language and its significance in fostering global communication and understanding.

With inputs from WAM