MANAMA – English is widely spoken in the Gulf country of Bahrain. Government forms and signs of governmental buildings are in English in addition to Arabic. Even curricula of many schools and university institutes and faculties are in English only, rather than Arabic. According to the principal of one Bahrain-based centre for teaching English, the proevalence of this Western language is because "the Bahrainis have so many people working in their country of other nationalities”. Foreign communities account for as much as two thirds of the population of the United Arab Emirates, and from half to a third of population of other Gulf countries, according to official figures. “Obviously not all expats in Bahrain know Arabic, but a lot of people who come from abroad know English. So it is easier to communicate using English, which has become a common language,” added Elgin Vande Wiele in an interview with the Egyptian Mail. Noting the growing interest in learning English not only in Bahrain, but throughout the oil-rich Gulf countries, she said “Our centre was set up about ten years ago. We had about 50 students then and now we have over 500.” In addition to Bahrainis, other Gulf nationals, particularly from Saudi Arabia, who are very close and come across the border using King Fahd Causeway, account for a high percentage as the other Gulf countries have a lot of expats too, According to Wiete. “We get also expats who live and work here and want to improve their English,” she added. “Some Bahrainis also comes to learn specialised English regarding report writing and business, as they want it for their work,” Wiele said. “I have clients who are not Bahrainis and speak in English, not Arabic, and I need to speak with them to understand their cases. Moreover, some documents in lawsuits can be in English, that is why I am learning the language,” Gafar, a 40-years-old Bahraini lawyer told this newspaper. “Sending documents to translation offices can cost as much as 70 Bahrain dinars per page and take a long time to be translated. Also, some of these documents should remain confidential, in the interest of clients,” he added. “Parents also enroll their children as young as seven years old for evening courses in the winter, and for summer courses, ” Wiele said. The widespread use of English and its being taught extensively to children have led some to warn that their countries might lose their cultures and that Arabic might end up as a second language in their societies. Observers, however, say that some foreigners also try to learn Arabic, making the region a home for the diversity of languages and cultures. Bahraini girls and women are as much interested in learning English as the men. Amany, a 17-year-old Bahraini, is learning English because she likes the American culture and want to read American literature. Seemingly obsessed with the American dream, Ali, 6, says he is leaning English to be able to travel to the US to study. “I am planning to study IT and progress in this field in the US is very good, hence my desire to learn English to travel to study there.”
