Speak-dating has become the method of choice for learning a foreign language in Dubai.
The concept was invented by Belgian national Benedicte Hennebo, whose desire to learn Arabic inspired her to forge a new, fun way to get to grips with a new language.
Like speed-dating, speak-dating takes the form of a social event that matches strangers with their ideal partner – but in this case, one who can help them master a new tongue, rather than a potential romantic conquest.
Participants in a speak-dating evening choose the table that represents the language they would like to learn. After having a conversation with a speaker of that language, they change places, thus exchanging languages.
Hennebo, who already speaks English, French, Italian and Dutch, moved to Dubai two years ago, but found Arabic difficult.
"Everything is made easy for you here," she told Gulf News (UAE), "and it's easier to speak English."
She described speak-dating as "facilitation so that people can find their language match or pair."
"We try to make the matches so that after the event they will continue to see each other, perhaps for coffee, and have conversations," she added.
Languages on offer at events include English, Spanish, Urdu and Russian.
Speaking of his experience at a speak-dating evening, British languages teacher Alan Bradley told The National (UAE), "Talking past our normal barriers makes us realize we have common ways of thinking. Ultimately, we are united by far more things than divide us."
Ms. Hennebo said that familiarity with other people's languages was "[The] key to sharing values and to understanding one another."
28 June 2010
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