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Introduction
There are 202 nationalities registered in Dubai speaking an impressive number of different languages. By default English has become the common language denominator to communication within the Dubai society which leaves limited place to the other cultural communities.
Shelter has successfully launched in May 2010 a platform to promote language exchange between Dubai’s residents called “Speak Dating”. As the word tells, this is about matching people that have common interests in teaching/learning a language and a perfect complement to traditional language classes.
Learn more about Speak Dating as explained in:
Time Out Dubai http://www.timeoutdubai.com/community/features/15772-speak-dating-in-dubai
City Wrap on Dubai One TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6THBT5ZQFM
The National http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20100619%2FNATIONAL%2F706189846%2F1139
Gulf News http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/leisure/speak-dating-programme-breaches-language-barrier-1.643033
The Concept
A language exchange such as Speak Dating put in contact two or more people who speak different languages but want to practice each other’s language. For example, a native Arabic speaker who is learning French will do a language exchange with a French speaker who is learning Arabic. There are many ways to practice in a language exchange, but the best one is to ensure that both participants speak the same language for a while and then switch to the other language. This way they become both students and teachers one after the other.
Which Languages?
YOU decide. Your own skills and own curiosity are setting up the list of languages available at Shelter’s Speak Dating sessions.
The languages currently available are: Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Hindi, Urdu, Russian
Why?
Learning a foreign language is worthless if you don’t speak. You need the right kind of practice – and lots of it. In these respects, at the Speak Dating sessions you practice more than you would in a class, talking with native speakers of the language you’re learning, in a relaxed yet supportive environment where there is willingness and patience to understand and to be understood. The Speak Dating language exchange is also a wonderful way to learn the real spoken language and the culture, with all its “incorrect” grammar, informal expressions and slang. Therefore, a language exchange is the best training to bridge the gap between classroom learning and communicating in the real world!
When?
The Welcome and Introduction sessions take place once a month. Once they have found their language match, participants are free to agree on their personal timings and use their Speak Dating loyalty card distributed at the Introduction session.
How much?
A cup of coffee
Next steps?
If you haven’t been introduced to the concept yet, come and join us for the next Welcome and Introduction session.
Registration and to RSVP
You need to register and RSVP at least 48 hours before the date of the Welcome and Introduction session.
1. Please visit http://shelter.ae/survey/SpeakDating_1.aspx to register online, if you have already registered, there is no need to register again.
2. Then 48 hours before the event will then send you an email confirming your registration and ask you to RSVP for the next session
Should you not have found a language match during the Welcome and Introduction session, no worries: Rome wasn’t made in a day neither. Simply email your speaking requirements (which language you offer and which language you want to practice more in return) and the Speak Dating team will try to find the perfect match in its growing database.
For more information email us at speakdating@shelter.ae or become a fan on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=127480710605220#!/pages/Speak-Dating/127480710605220
Dates
Sunday 1st August, 7pm – 9pm
Location
Shelter, Warehouse 209, 318th Road, Al Quoz Industrial 4
Map: http://shelter.ae/images/8_7_2009_12_59_33_.jpg
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