This content is a personal narrative detailing the challenging yet ultimately rewarding journey of a young Chechen man learning Arabic in a foreign country, highlighting the difficulties of cultural and linguistic adaptation and the strategies employed for language mastery.
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The other benefited me a lot, it made me very different. I had knowledge and a general picture, meaning in general
, how we study Islamic science, whether it is Sharia or other,
and in this country, I mean, as far as I know, I was the only Chechen, right?
Yes, this was a big surprise for me, and I was young, actually, I had never gone to
any foreign country before going to this country, I mean, I was very, very confused.
How old were you, Ahmed? Well, look, I was 19. If my sister weren't
19 now
, I wouldn't understand. The first time, I mean, I went to Moscow with my mom. My mom
was always with me, holding my hand and taking me everywhere. You know, a spoiled kid, you and
she were with me. When we entered the airport,
she couldn't get in with me, of course, she didn't have a ticket.
You understand? And I had a layover in Italy, Rome
from Moscow to Italy. Yes, Moscow, Italy
, and then this country—I don't like to mention the name, it's better to talk about it another time, God willing.
Also, the most Arab country—this
country, anyway, an Arab country—they're all similar, it's not important.
And then
, in Italy,
I said goodbye to my mom, I went to her. And it was my first time entering an airport, my
first time holding a ticket, my first time boarding a plane. I was so confused. You saw, it was like you entered Mars,
Mars, and you saw Mars again. Everything was new to you, and you were so confused,
and it was your first time going to a foreign country and hearing different languages there, French.
Italian, I don't know any other language. I was
very, very nervous. I was so nervous. When we arrived at Rome airport, Rome is a huge,
massive airport. I mean, I didn't know what to do. I got off the plane.
What was I going to do now? Where was I going? I couldn't find a way. I didn't know where to go. It's easy.
There are signs, and you have a ticket with everything written on it. You just rely on these signs
and go where you need to go. Anyway, I don't know this, but I went out. I mean,
I looked right, left, or behind me. Then I found a priest. I mean, this
priest, I understand. Yes,
the Italian priest, right? Yes, maybe. And he was also... I don't know where he
was going. Anyway, I went to him. Of course, everyone was speaking a foreign language. I didn't know any of them. I didn't
hear Russian. I didn't hear Chechen. I went to this priest and
told him what I told him. I showed him my ticket, and he understood that I needed help. Where
should I go? Where should I turn? What did he say? He said, "Walk like this
and like this and like this." He pointed to a fool, and I relied on him with
his signs. I went to him and misled him. I got lost. I swear to God
, I got lost. It was as if he deliberately did this to me because, I mean, maybe I had a beard. I don't claim this. I
understand, I had a beard and I had a hat.
I mean, I've worn a hat almost my whole life. I understand. And maybe he wanted to make fun of me. Maybe, God
knows. I don't claim that. Anyway, I got lost, but thank God I had enough time to find a gate.
Then I saw people cursing towards the gate, and I walked behind them. I understand, and thank God, I found that I had
arrived. I mean, I saw the Arab faces there. I mean, I understand, the dark-skinned people.
Thank God, this was the right gate. I boarded it.
I boarded a plane, and so on. I arrived at this course.
Did they receive you there? Yes, they met me there from the university. They
sent a car and a driver, I mean, and with him
was a student from Kazakhstan, may God bless him.
Yes, he helped me a lot. He—or rather, he—took me to the university and explained everything to me:
how, what, and when. Of course, I was very confused, nervous, and anxious,
like a little child entering kindergarten for the first time.
And how long did it take to adapt there? About
three months. I needed three months to adapt. Look, I learned Arabic before
I enrolled in university, but by a large margin, it was as if I didn't know this language. I'd never heard of it
before. Because I know—how are you? Where are you from?
This might be relevant. Look, Arabic requires you to learn it better than me—application, practice
, and conversation, like what's happening between us now. I understand.
But Ahmed, oh, go ahead, continue the idea. I mean, no, it's not enough to just read.
Ah, but I think it's clear to any viewer that your level is higher than someone who just graduated from university.
I mean, I know how a graduate speaks. What did it benefit you? So, Ahmed, to reach this level of
fluency in Arabic, let's say, is quite good.
I'll answer this important question for you. As you mentioned at the beginning, I was the only Chechen,
and even the only one from the Russian Federation, at this university.
There wasn't a single Chechen, Dagestani, Ingush, or anyone I could speak to in my native language,
Chechen. The problem for students at any university is that they're always looking for a friend from
their country to talk to and spend time with. Do you understand? This actually harms them more than it helps. Do you understand? I was
alone, and I had no choice but to speak Arabic, even though I was in the same room as you.
There were three guys in each room, and they all had to be from
different countries. Yes, I had a Kosovar with me, and he was...
The second one is from Uzbekistan, and by the way, he doesn't want Russian,
you understand? Now, how will you communicate with them? This Kosovi was
at the university and was one of the older students. He was fluent in Arabic, a kind, open, and cheerful young man, God bless him.
And the Uzbek, of course, was new, like me. So, you have to ask questions
in Arabic. Now, you want to talk to him, but in what language? You need to rely on
a dictionary, rely on a translator, and so on. You started, and within three months, I found myself able
to understand at least 70% of ordinary conversation,
normal speech. I found myself, and after perhaps a year,
I started to speak and understand. And so, my story began. Of course, you're
saying I'm proficient and speak the language well? No, it's not enough to just speak or make
sounds like a bird, you understand? I like to
read and talk with my friends. I'm always in touch with my Arab friends, the students who studied with me. I'm
always in touch. Almost not a day goes by without me talking to them. Maybe for a day,
a month, even for verses, an hour, two hours, that's how I have a program,
God bless you. And you, since When were you in Chechnya? How long has it been since you left this
Arab country? I left it. Look, I used to
go to this country to study, then come back for vacation, and then stay. That's about five years.
I studied there, and finally, I returned to Chechnya in 2016. If I hadn't been
four years ago... No, Ahmed, I think it was five years ago. The first time I saw you
was in 2014.
Yes,
14. And then after that, I also went back to this
country. I studied there, finished my studies, and returned. I understand. You weren't there. I think at the same time you
were either in Egypt or I don't know. I mean, no, I was in... Yes, yes, I was in... Waiting...
There... Ah, go ahead.
Peace be upon you, Saleh Sultan.
And I'm sorry, sorry, I apologize to the viewers for this interruption.
And now we can communicate.
Beautiful, beautiful, good. Yes, tell me, Ahmed. For example, I'm listening
to you and I see your language, God willing, it's rich with phrases and words. We students here don't
usually use them. For example, you said "a cheerful man." We say "a smiling man who laughs a lot," but these phrases
... I mean, you learned them intentionally, or... Because of listening so much, it's become ingrained in your language.
Yes, this of course comes with time and practice. You read, you listen, you
watch, and without realizing it, you acquire these words and phrases.
It's not intentional, right? It's not intentional. You deliberately memorize some
beautiful phrases and expressions that you liked. For example, today I saw a phrase,
a saying, "Improvisation." You said "Improvisation." This was the first time I heard this word, the first time I knew
its meaning. I knew it from the dictionary. And I've even
spoken with Arabs a lot, but I don't know, I missed
this word. I didn't hear it, even though it's a very important word. I said to myself, how did I live without it
? Without a word like this? Improvisation.
Yes, it's a very important word. You need it in the language,
yes, but I didn't hear it, not in programs, not in
conversations with Arabs. I don't know. I even remember who I first heard this
word from and memorized it from. It was at university. I heard it from one of his friends from Croatia
named Alamuddin. He was the first to He used this word, and I'm speaking from him.
I remember these beautiful words that I like. I'm motivated, meaning, who I heard, where I heard, and how I heard.
And now, this improvisation, we will never forget. I mean, I will use it every day. I mean, improvisation. You are an
improvisational man. Yes, that's right
. And of course, it helps you a lot. The news, for example, the Arabic news. I like to follow
the news on the Al Jazeera website, Al Jazeera Net. I mean, what, Qatar, Doha
, and follow the news, Arabic, and RT Arabic. All these Brotherhood websites.
I mean, we can say that watching the news is part of your day.
Yes, very much so. It is very useful because, you see, you are used to the news. The news is
different: political news, economic news, religious news. All topics
are covered in the news. Now, when you sit and watch just one news bulletin, in
20 minutes, you benefit from political, economic, religious, everyday life terms
, or other things. So, you are absorbing all of this. But if, for example, you sit and read a book
about history, you only benefit from historical reconciliations.
Do you understand? Yes, yes.
If you read jurisprudence, you benefit from jurisprudential reconciliations, and so on. Do you understand
? But the news helps you a lot in developing your language. If you're advising students, meaning anyone who
wants to improve their language skills, then you must follow the news.
Yes, yes, I advise them to follow the news. I don't know, even in Sar, their websites
and pages are available. Even in Chechnya, there's the
Al-Tareeq channel. We should watch it. Yes, they're good, God bless them.
Of course, compared to other major news outlets, they're a bit behind, but their level is
excellent. And as far as I know, they have translators
and skilled people working there. I saw the report with you today, Ahmed
, about Quran memorization schools.
It was directly in Arabic, meaning you were speaking, yes. And language, in terms of language, if we go back to language,
what does it help us with? Everything helps us. All the tools available help us: reading books,
news, movies, TV series, good TV series. And what else helps you? Continuous practice always helps you.
Continuous practice in the language means writing. For example, do you write
in Arabic? I don't like it when I read any Arabic book.
For example, I'm starting now with the books about the four imams:
Abu Hanifa, Malik, Shafi'i, and Ahmad, may God have mercy on them all and be pleased with them.
For each book, I have a small notebook, this one is 12 pages long.
I understand that any notes I find in these books, or any phrases that I like, any information
that I like, I immediately write in this notebook. And so on.
Glory be to God, Ahmad, so your learning of Arabic is continuous. It's not like you graduated and said
you learned Arabic and that's it. You've been
learning for five years now, that's very true. I learn daily, and I see my level as very,
very, very weak. When they ask me to translate for someone,
and when they ask me to give a statement on television, I give the statement to journalists.
Some things you saw, like this video clip,
you understand? I get very nervous. I don't know what I'm going to say. Will I remember
the words ? The appropriate Arabic means I should be very nervous and anxious,
understand? But thank God, sometimes it turns out well, and sometimes it's somewhere in between.
No, it's not always good. Ahmed, I follow everything you do, whether it's on Arabic or
Chechen channels. I mean, you could give me a model, or I mean, I
always like to watch how
non-Arabs speak. I mean, I go online and search for "non-Arab" or "foreigner speaking Arabic" and I watch and compare. I
measure, and every time I find that there is no end to perfection. I
always see who speaks better, and this makes me
want to tell you to keep going. For example, I see many people who have learned
a certain amount or reached a certain level and then stop, saying, "I know Arabic, that's it,"
and are satisfied with what they have learned. But when I listen to you or to
other people who have learned Arabic, I understand that I can do better. There is a
way to continue. This is very useful.
For example, what do you advise me to do? I mean, I don't need advice.
No, no, no, Ahmed, thank God, I have a quality that allows me to measure myself and see
what I lack and what I am somewhat good at. I see the language My language skills are weak. I mean, I see that
the words I use—I understand a word, for example, what you're saying—but in my language,
these words don't exist. I don't know if I'm deliberately using them, or if I'm forcing myself
to use these words, or what I'm doing to improve my language skills. I'll tell you something, and this isn't
flattery, it's not flattery. I follow all
your pages, whether on Facebook, Instagram, or anywhere
else. When I listen to you, I have the same opinion: look, God bless him, this young man speaks beautifully. I mean, where did
he get this skill from? And how can I be like him? I'm not flattering you, I mean,
God bless him, he's good. I'm very pleased with you because... May God reward
you. Yes, what can I say? I don't know what to do. Look, when I used to see some people
older than me translating for important figures, for example, I thought, "
God bless him, I can translate the same thing. It's very easy." But he made a mistake. If he had used
another phrase, it would have been better. And I used to
criticize their translations, but The thing is, when you find yourself in the same situation, or when you're in the same situation,
the world changes drastically before your eyes. You understand? You become more tense, more anxious,
thinking about other things. And this man is challenging an event. You understand? There are many things involved. You just measure it.
I've now placed some personalities in front of me. These are the ones who are very fluent in Arabic,
and I like to listen to them and try to reach
their level, at least. Are they non-Arabs or Arabs?
Of course, they are non-Arabs. After I surpass their level, perhaps I will move on to the Arabs.
I mean, look, I'd like to mention a funny story that happened to me. I studied, I visited
Egypt. It was my first time in Egypt, and I had been accepted. I was in this country where I studied,
and I found myself, God willing, having studied for one year,
proficient and specialized in Arabic, and I had a large amount of knowledge. Then, with one of my friends—not with me, I was
alone—I got into a taxi in Egypt. I wanted to reach a certain point and speak in colloquial Arabic,
and he was speaking in colloquial Arabic. I was speaking in colloquial Arabic, and he was speaking in colloquial Arabic. He understands me, but I don't understand him. I understood,
and that's roughly how we spent maybe five minutes. I said, "Please, Sheikh, speak in classical Arabic.
I don't understand you. Your Egyptian dialect sounds different, and I don't understand it." I said, "Man, you're the first
person to speak to me in classical Arabic. How can I speak to you in classical Arabic?" I mean,
you understand, and so on. Thank God , we understood each other, and he got me to the point.
That's how it happens. This is how it happens among ordinary people. We don't judge Arabs based on ordinary people. Do you understand? We judge based on students of knowledge
and sheikhs. By God, I meant students of knowledge as well.
Goodness, Arabic is truly unfortunate. I see that
foreigners sometimes prioritize other languages over their own,
but some people deliberately learn these dialects—Lebanese, Egyptian,
for example . What do you think of that? Look, if
you have a job, a business, trade, for instance in Egypt, and you have a lot of dealings with Egyptians, it's
better for you to learn the dialect. You see, academics often
speak Modern Standard Arabic. Journalism, books, publishing, printing, radio—it's all in Modern Standard Arabic. But
ordinary people, ordinary merchants, speak their dialects. So, some young people, even in the country
I studied in, deliberately spoke the dialect. They would go out and meet locals,
spend time with them, and speak their dialect. At the same time,
they were essentially learning two languages: Modern Standard Arabic and the dialect. They already had Modern Standard Arabic,
but the colloquial dialect would eventually prevail. Is
n't that right? Yes, it is. But look, I think you didn't do this,
didn't you? I avoided it. I always used to insist that they speak to me in the formal dialect. I
don't like anyone speaking to me in the formal dialect, but if I were to return to the same country or any
other, I would try to master the dialect as well because it's very important. It's not
that academic, as I said, is the formal language, but in dealing with ordinary people, the dialect
is very useful. Not just anyone can speak to you at the same level
in formal Arabic.
For example, I, Ahmed, found some students who were fluent in the colloquial dialect but did
n't read or understand it. I found that even with foreigners,
like a Chechen man speaking to an African man in their local dialect,
I was surprised. At first, I wanted to learn the colloquial dialect intentionally. I even
created a group with my Jordanian friends and called it the Jordanian Dialect group. I would ask them questions and try to
speak like them. In the end, I understood something: if I learned the colloquial dialect, I would speak it. I would definitely
speak it because it would be easier. Even now, when I go to the shop, I say "How much is this?" instead of "How much is
this?" And I say, why? Where did these words enter my language
against my will, as they say? I mean, I don't want them, but sometimes they get in.
And I said in the end, if I learn colloquial Arabic, I'll speak it. I mean,
yes, I don't want this. The important thing is to understand,
to understand what they're saying. And if I need to, of course, I might speak it. For example,
if I want to attack someone, or if I want to speak, I want to understand, and I want to be
able to speak. I'll speak it, but I don't want to speak it. I mean, I don't know, it's like a betrayal
to me. I mean, we learned grammar. Why did we learn these books if we don't care about
the nominative or accusative cases? I mean, why do we even read correctly?
Or if you're a novelist or a writer, you write correctly. I mean, because you write correctly most of the time.
No, no, no, yes, I agree with you. I agree with you. You need
the dialect and colloquial language in the street, mostly with young people. It's the language of the youth. I understand.
Schools, universities, academic men, scholars, you need formal Arabic with them, and they respect you with
your formal Arabic. Yes, because formal Arabic is the origin. I mean, it is
the Arabic language. And the blindness is a beautiful branch, God bless you, Ahmed. May God reward you.
I truly enjoyed speaking with you and listening to you, and I benefited greatly. This word is impromptu, meaning
a special thank you to her. Thank you, thank you. I am honored, honored. I
have been waiting for a while for you to invite us to talk about this. I found the courage within myself to ask you, and frankly,
I mean, Saturday, may God bless you. God willing, this is beautiful and will continue like this, God willing. God willing,
may God reward you. May God protect you and your family, Ahmed. Amen
, amen, amen, all of us, O Lord, all of us. Thank you for communicating. If I would like to greet our viewers
and followers
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