The diversity of cultures in the UAE is evident in the mix of children in education in the country. One of the best ways to celebrate the diversity of children’s backgrounds – as well as develop an understanding of the customs, culture and language of the UAE – is through reading.
For children, learning to read fluently is essential for their academic success in school.
American education expert Stephen Krashen suggests that bilingual children learn how to read in their first language in order to further their reading skills in English. Many expatriate families in the UAE recognise the importance of bilingualism for their children and opt to send them to schools where lessons are taught in English.
Other families send their children to bilingual schools where lessons are delivered in both English and a second language.
While many families decide that they want their children to become fluent in English, it is essential that they also promote the development of their child’s reading skills in their native language. Schools and private organisations throughout the UAE often host book fairs that sell children’s books in a variety of languages including Arabic, French and English.
Many Emirati families recognise the value of reading among young children and recently a number of reading initiatives have sprung up throughout the UAE to promote reading among both children and adults. The ZOWD Project is an initiative that works to build active reading communities through events such as book clubs, writing workshops and author talks. Abu Dhabi Reads is a campaign that encourages young children attending Adec schools to read in Arabic and English.
In Dubai, the My Family Reads initiative will disperse internationally known books translated into Arabic throughout 2014.
UAE educators and many government officials alike believe that programmes like these are key to growing an interest in reading for Emirati students.
An avid reader of English and Arabic books, one young Emirati woman is working to promote reading among the children in own her family, “Knowledge, in general, is very important and I would like to see our next generation continue to move forward. I think reading is definitely a step into that direction,” says Ms Al Qubaisi of Al Ain. A long time supporter of childhood reading, Ms Al Qubaisi encourages reading in her family by buying books that appeal to her nieces and nephews.
Indeed, the importance of celebrating and promoting a culture of reading, is backed by research that shows that reading for pleasure has a significant impact on children’s achievement and development in both a first and second language.
It is important for children to have access to high quality culturally relevant literature.
Research has shown that children learn languages more successfully when the language they are learning is relevant to their needs and interests.
When children are presented with information in this way, their learning is contextualised and they are able to make connections to their own experiences.
This makes reading more meaningful and appealing while also encouraging opportunities for children to develop their speaking and listening skills. Ideal texts for second language learners include books with simple and natural language and lots of repetition. The use of puppets, drama and illustrations can also support children in their understanding.
Many children who start to learn a new language go through a “silent period” before they attempt to speak in a second language. This period can last for as little as a few days to a period of a few months. Shared reading activities and storytelling that is engaging and relevant help develop children’s confidence and understanding of a new language. Listening to stories read aloud helps young learners tune into new words and sounds and to develop an understanding of the grammatical patterns of a language.
Teachers in the UAE face the challenge of teaching children from a range of cultural backgrounds and with a range of learning abilities. Promotion of reading is a powerful tool to both engage students and develop their language skills in a meaningful way.
Erin Hayes is an elementary English Language Learner (ELL) specialist. Kate Riddle is the author of the My Gulf World and Me series for primary schoolchildren
Editor’s note: this story was updated on July 5.
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Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20profile
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Emergency
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Rating: 2/5
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
