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Mariyam Mukhtar
Use It or Lose It
Description:
Have you ever experienced the evaporation of a concept from your head or a sudden inability to do something you used to be good at?
Well, this is quite normal to happen when you stop using a skill you possess. Studies have shown that, . If a brain cell is not used, or does not communicate with the cell next door, that brain cell loses its function. In order to build connections between brain cells, and increase the connections between existing brain cells, you need to use the cells to establish the connection, and then keep using the cells, to maintain that connection.
Let us examine of how this can apply to a language. A child can learn 2 or 3 languages in school apart from their mother tongue. However, failing to use the additional languages a student learns as a part of his Academics can gradually decline his ability to communicate in it, and he can also lose his proficiency in it if left unattended over time.
A vast majority of students in the Muslim community learn the Arabic language in schools and attain a good proficiency in it by the end of their schooling. However, surprisingly, only a very little of portion of these people, truly hone, preserve, nurture and use this knowledge.
Well, if you feel like you’re one of those who neglected the Arabic language after learning it from a teacher, we’ve got you five ways to get back on track. These are proven methods of improving oneself in the language and not losing on what one has learnt.
1. Revise what you know and teach it
A famous Arabic proverb goes like,
علم علمك من يجهل وتعلم ممن يعلم فانك اذا فعلت ذالك علمت ما جهلت وحفظت ما علمت
Teach your knowledge to those who are ignorant and learn from those who know and if you do that, you learn what you are ignorant of and preserve what you know.
The greatest learning is in teaching, many a times, teaching a topic gives us more clarity and better understanding that what learning it gives.
2. Watch videos of native Arabic speakers (talking in the Fusha dialect)
Do this activity atleast thrice a week, keeping in mind the following points:
- You will not be able to understand the content fully in the beginning, but keep doing it.
- Listen to it three times. Following the 1,2,1 rule. 1- with subtitles 2 – without subtitles.
- Make a list of new words and observe the context in which it is used. Make sentences using these words and practise
3. Have an Arabic partner
Stay in touch with a classmate from school/ college to whom you can communicate in Arabic. Dedicate 10 minutes a day to converse with each other in the language.
4. Be a part of a team
Bring together like minded people who have the same interest in preserving your language skills as you. Regularly share value based content with each other and actively discuss about the subject.
5. Sincerity
Finally, be sincere in whatever you and strive to attain perfection in it. The Prophet () said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ
“Allah has decreed that everything should be done in a good way…” (Sunan Abi Dawud -Sahih)
By doing the above, you will not only retain your language skills but with adequate practise and determination, you can excel in the subject.