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Learning Arabic...Interesting

nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
I speak with son Travis about once a week or so. The other day, I asked him what he had been up to. He said he is learning Arabic. I asked him if that means he is about to go somewhere that knowing some Arabic phrases will come in handy. He said no, it is just a training exercise.

Would the Army teach Arabic to a bunch of soldiers just for grins?
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  • fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    Would the Army teach Arabic to a bunch of soldiers just for grins?


    they probably wouldn't. I do think it's important though. It'll open up many opportunities for him when he gets out. I hope he soaks it all up.

    Ben
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  • AbdulazizAbdulaziz Member Posts: 65 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    We can hope he won't have to use it also.
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  • 65gto38965gto389 Member Posts: 2,850 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    NUNN: I would also recommend investing in one of those pocket dictionaies, but with those country he might be going to.

    What I mean is that a lebanon pocket dictionary will not exactly match up with one from iraq, syria, jordan, etc... It is the same letters as I can recall (A.B.C,etc) , just that they have different words for different items. [8D]
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  • HAIRYHAIRY Member Posts: 23,606
    edited November -1
    Geez, it can't be that difficult--look at all the kids who speak it, for crying out loud. [:D]
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  • DocDoc Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Lee Harvey Oswald learned Russian while in the Marine Corps for no apparent reason.

    As for learning Arabic, how long can it take to learn the entire language? All they say is "Death to America."
    ....................................................................................................
    Too old to live...too young to die...
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  • zipperzapzipperzap Member Posts: 25,057
    edited November -1
    I understand it's a pilot project for soldiers stationed in Kansas.
    Something to do with sensory depravation training - testing
    the transition from wheat bin to the sandbox![:D]
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  • mpolansmpolans Member Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Given the dire need for Arabic speakers in the armed forces these days, they might be looking to teach a few words and phrases to everyone in case they have to go to the sandbox and also looking out for anyone that has an aptitude for it since it's a hard language.

    That said, if your son has recently enlisted (and IIRC, he has), there's a good chance he will be deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan after completing his schools.

    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    I speak with son Travis about once a week or so. The other day, I asked him what he had been up to. He said he is learning Arabic. I asked him if that means he is about to go somewhere that knowing some Arabic phrases will come in handy. He said no, it is just a training exercise.

    Would the Army teach Arabic to a bunch of soldiers just for grins?
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    If he goes, I will worry. And pray.

    But, I know he wants to go. He was VERY disappointed to be stuck in Kansas. He wanted very much to go where there was some action. I guess that's why wars are fought by the young. They believe they are immortal.
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  • boeboeboeboe Member Posts: 3,331
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nunn
    If he goes, I will worry. And pray.

    But, I know he wants to go. He was VERY disappointed to be stuck in Kansas. He wanted very much to go where there was some action. I guess that's why wars are fought by the young. They believe they are immortal.


    As a life-long Kansas resident, point out to him (for me) he will remain more immortal in Kansas than just about anywhere else on earth.
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  • PATBUZZARDPATBUZZARD Member Posts: 3,556 ✭
    edited November -1
    Far as i can tell there's an army wide program trying to teach the basics of arabic to everyone. That way if and when you go, you at least know the basics. Such as "Uguff teraa aramie!!", "Stop, or I will shoot you." and other useful phrases. [:D]
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  • CLINTFCLINTF Member Posts: 735 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most branches of the military offer linguistics classes and many have huge bonuses for becoming fluent.
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  • mpolansmpolans Member Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    True. Some folks are getting something like $500 per *paycheck* extra for fluency in certain languages!

    quote:Originally posted by CLINTF
    Most branches of the military offer linguistics classes and many have huge bonuses for becoming fluent.
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  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You can start worrying once he starts learning Farsi.

    [;)]
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  • tccoxtccox Member Posts: 7,379 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well,if past military experience means anything, they will probably be sending him to Mexico. Tom
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    How many times have you taken a TCLEOSE survival spanish class Nunn? Maybe its kinda like that, just getting everyone standardized training in case they ever need it... Seems like the majority of the armed forces are dealing with that kinda like Texas law enforcement dealing with non-english speaking spanish speakers...
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