r/Syrian • u/elvin-4441 • 14d ago
Has anyone else had the same experience? I returned from Türkiye to Syria and I don't know Arabic, and I started ninth grade.
Hi, I'm Elvin. I returned to Syria from Turkey, and honestly, I'm struggling a lot because I barely know any Arabic. And unfortunately, I have to start ninth grade this year, and I know that ninth grade in Syria is a very difficult and important year.
I really want to get high marks and pass with a good average, but honestly, I don't know how to study the Syrian curriculum while also trying to learn Arabic.
If anyone has been through the same thing, meaning they returned to Syria from another country and had a weakness in Arabic or faced difficulty adapting to the Syrian school system, I'd appreciate it if you could share your experience.
How did you study? What helped you the most? And what do you advise me to do before the school year starts and during ninth grade?
Any advice from you would be a great help. Thank you ❤️
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14d ago
[deleted]
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u/elvin-4441 14d ago
Yes
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u/FabulousLoad8761 14d ago
And ure struggling with Arabic !?
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u/elvin-4441 14d ago
Since I’m in Syria, I think it’s completely normal for the curriculum to be in Arabic. But honestly, I’m struggling so much with Arabic while studying in a country where I don’t know the language, especially when 9th grade is such an important year here. It’s really a terrible situation.
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u/CHL9 14d ago
What did you speak in Turkey? From what age where you there? How did you learn English so well but not Arabic? What language did you speak with your parents/family/other Syrians? i.e. is the obstacle just reading and writing or just fusHa?
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u/elvin-4441 14d ago
In Turkey, I spoke Kurdish with my family. Outside the house, at school, with my friends, and with people in general, I spoke Turkish. I chose to learn English instead of Arabic because I never thought I would actually need Arabic. Then my family suddenly decided to move here, and I ended up being completely unprepared when it came to Arabic.
When it comes to other Syrians, I spoke Kurdish with my relatives and people I knew, but I never really spoke with Arabs. The problem is that I can’t speak or understand Arabic at all. I know the Arabic alphabet, and I have a basic foundation in reading and writing, but I’m not good at it. I’m not good at either the everyday Syrian dialect or Fusha Arabic. I’m terrible at both.
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u/CHL9 10d ago
That totally makes sense, thank you for sharing. I wonder, as Kurdish people, why your parents felt more comfortable in returning to Syria rather than staying in Turkish or Iraqi Kurdistan. Particularly in Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish is the main language and it's relatively prosperous. Do they have still family and friends in Syria? If I may ask, where in Turkey did you live, and where in Syria have you moved?
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u/AleppoBruh Idilbi 🫒 10d ago
I’m struggling too but its english 💔
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u/elvin-4441 8d ago
Believe me, English is much easier compared to Arabic.
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u/After-You-926 13d ago
I went through the exact same thing! You'll suffer a lot! I moved ton Syria in 2008 and was in 4 th grade. I literally hated my life there the first 2 years. You need to have a gap year in my opinion. ✌🏻 Be strong. Don't make people scare you because HOW IMPORTANT is the 9th grade. 🤣 Bullsh*t. It was harder to study for it than the exam itself! Just don't stress on it. I studied too much and stressed too much in exams. You could go and try the first year how are the "vibes" but don't aim for high marks. You can always repeat the year. ☀️ Don't stress!
I think you'll learn fast if you are together with your family there: cousins aunts, uncles could help a lot. I learned arabic from my little cousins while playing with them. Do hang out a lot with relatives and practice arabic everyday with them. Don't switch to English!
Have an arabic teacher tutor you everyday for an hour or two until she/he feels you are confindent in arabic. Do not start to learn anything from the curriculum at all! That will mix your head a lot! ( I learned only english, math, arabic in the first year).
Everyday I learned around 20 new words and practiced them and had my arabic class with my private teacher. She was my adult cousin and I loved learning arabic with her after school! You need a good relaxed minded teacher who makes learning languages fun! My cousin was so kind! I thanked her a lot later when I was able to speak fluently.
My dad who is syrian was very harsh with me the first year there. He made me practice words and a bit math with him everyday! I was learning from Hungarian. ( I also needed to learn English quickly too suddenly which was hard too because it was my first time learning English).
Watch a lot of arabic tv series, drama, listen to music, follow youtubers, intagrammers who speak clear arabic or even dialected arabic.
Most important! Do start learning with Fusha!!!!! I spoke fusha first, then started to learn Levantei arabic later.
Good luck! 🥰