Testing Arabic

There is a popular perception that a diplomat’s life is one of luxury and relaxation: all Ferrero Rocher and cocktail parties.  If only that were true.  One aspect of our work abroad that is rarely seen is the effort we put into learning languages.  And on top of studies, we have to take exams.  Yes, even the Ambassador has to be tested:  the exam took up over 6 hours of my time last week.

This wasn’t a do-or-die exam, and I won’t be heading back to London if I fail.  But it was a useful test of whether the large amount of money the Foreign Office has invested in my training, and the large amount of time and effort I devoted to it have been well spent.  Studying comes hard after a certain age and, when new words don’t stick, I sometimes think my brain is full.

The exam focused on the skills we need to use in our jobs: speaking, listening and writing.  I have found learning Arabic tough but fun.  It is a complex and difficult language, not just the alphabet and the grammar, but the range of vocabulary.  It is a very logical language, the way every word can be traced back to its root and the way the verb forms follow a standard pattern.  It is also a very beautiful language, exceptionally rhythmic and poetic, not just when spoken but also in written form.

Of course many Jordanians speak English and you can do business in Amman without Arabic.  But I believe strongly that, if you want to understand a country you have to learn to speak the language.  It helps you reach wider and deeper into society.

I don’t know if I passed the exam.  That’s not important.  What I want to do is improve my Arabic and, most importantly, to use it regularly and frequently in getting to know Jordanians.  I hope you will all help me in that ambition.