Arabic Language Academy trains 51 Sharjah DED employees

Arabic as a lifelong journey
In the opening session, Dr Al-Mustghanemi affirmed that learning Arabic is a long journey based on daily practice and immersion. Learners, he said, must think in Arabic, speak it, and read its works, noting that passion and love for the language are the foundation of growth and achievement.

Eloquence through brevity and depth
Dr Al-Mustghanemi explained that eloquence rests on clarity of message and its impact on the audience, with brevity being one of its main pillars, where few words express many meanings. He cited the Prophet Muhammad’s saying, “I was given concise speech”. He stressed that memorising the Qur’an and Hadith, along with the poetry and expressions of Arab masters of eloquence, forms the foundation for refining a student’s linguistic ability.

“The eloquent speaker is one who chooses words and sentences suited to the occasion — being brief when brevity is required and expansive when clarity demands detail,” he said. “Even elaboration, when welcomed by the listener and reinforcing the idea, can be a form of eloquence.”

He added that Arabs are known for wit, optimism, and refined expression, often using language that conveys good news. He cited Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, who when asked whether he was older than the Prophet, replied: “He is greater, but I am older,” reflecting the subtlety and precision of Arabic expression.

Cultivating linguistic proficiency
On the subject of “linguistic ability”, Dr Al-Mustghanemi clarified that talent alone accounts for no more than ten percent, with the rest depending on effort, memorisation, reading, and practice. He stressed that linguistic ability is acquired through training and reinforced by repetition. He emphasised the importance of developing the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing, as the best path to fluency, insisting that grammatical rules must be applied in speech rather than memorised only in theory.

Concluding the session, he underlined the importance of reading authentic heritage works by past and present scholars, mastering the core linguistic sciences of grammar, morphology, rhetoric, and orthography. He advised students to begin with simplified books and gradually move to advanced texts, with careful reading using diacritical marks to ensure accuracy in pronunciation and meaning.

Programme structure
The “Arabic Language Skills” programme is divided into two groups: the first includes 24 employees, while the second consists of 27. At the end of the programme, all participants will receive certificates of participation confirming their completion of the theoretical and practical training stages.

The Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah has launched a two-week intensive training programme to strengthen Arabic language skills among 51 employees from the Department of Economic Development in Sharjah. Led by Dr Amhamed Safi Al-Mustghanemi, Secretary-General of the Academy, the sessions cover grammar fundamentals, common writing errors, and practical training in administrative correspondence and official document drafting.

Dr Al-Mustghanemi highlighted that mastering Arabic is a lifelong journey requiring daily practice, passion, and immersion, stressing that eloquence is achieved through clarity, brevity, and meaningful expression. He underscored the role of memorising the Qur’an, Hadith, and classical Arabic literature in refining linguistic ability. He also noted that while talent plays a role, proficiency largely depends on consistent practice and the development of reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills.

The programme is delivered in two groups, and participants will receive certificates upon completion.