Why do we learn about...Arabic?

C:
Based on a conversation we had recently regarding the importance of working diligently and why we're studying what we're studying, I'm assigning MS several short blogs with the topic of "Why do we learn about...?"

This is to get him used to the mechanics of blogging and because I thought he has some pretty insightful things to say about the subject (or subjects, as the case may be).

MS:
We learn about Arabic, because it's good to learn different languages, and you might want to learn the language of your country (we live in the Middle East). It's also good to practice the language of your country (especially when you're surrounded by people speaking a different language).

C:
I realized I forgot to explain about MS's Arabic learning situation.

For two years now, his study has consisted of listening/being in the environment (well, that part's been most of his life) and using Rosetta Stone Arabic 1. Beginning this fall, RS seems to have really been sinking in. This year, he's also been doing more in the neighborhood, like running to the dookan (corner store) for little (and big) things I need (this has been a huge help to Daddy who has had to make a lot fewer stops on his way home from work). He talks to the kids playing outside along the way and converses a little with the storekeeper.

About a month ago, we had the opportunity for me to begin studying with an experienced Arabic teacher who has been traveling to our city to work with ML's co-workers on language learning. Some of those co-workers are in the States for a while, and she was needing to pick up extra students to make her trip here worthwhile. I had known this but thought coming to our house would be more than she was willing to do (I have no one to watch the kids while I go to the Center, nor do I really want to add 1/2 an hour getting there and back to any of my already busy days on top of lesson time). It turns out, she was willing to come to our house before leaving town.

I also assumed that, since she'd always worked with adults, she wouldn't want to tutor an elementary student. Wrong there, too. She knew our kids from having been around them a bit here and there and was willing to try tutoring MS.

After some false starts with scheduling, we've settled on one 45 min. lesson for each of us at our house on Tuesdays. Usually, ZL sleeps late enough for me to get my lesson in first while he's down. Then, on Saturday, MS goes for a 1 hour lesson at the Center. This splits the traveling responsibilities, and ML is home to take him to the Center on Saturdays. Occasionally, we use Saturdays for family days in Conan, so we'll either cancel MS's lesson or switch with the person who's lesson is earlier (R) and leave afterwards. Unfortunately, none of the days MS has Taekwondo are options for a lesson, otherwise he'd take Arabic at the Center that day and stay over for Taekwondo. Oh well.

Although all along we'd been working on the assumption that, by our children living in a language-rich environment, they would be equipped to learn the language faster and with better pronunciation once we decided it was the right time, I'll admit there have been times when I've faltered, worrying that we were depriving them by not sending them to school and immersing them.

MS's progress in just the few lessons he's had so far has done a lot to quell those worries. His pronunciation is excellent, and it is obvious that he is drawing on a foundation of knowledge of the language that he didn't even know he had by the speed with which he's picking up new vocabulary and language concepts. Thank you, Lord.