BBC Arabic (Learning English) has a dedicated bilingual radio programme aimed at teaching English to native Arab speakers. As an Arabic learner yourself, you may benefit hugely from listening to this interactive programme where the host (an Arabic speaker) interviews a guest (an English speaker) in English about a particular news item. The interview is then interpreted in Arabic immediately by the host.

This is the latest BBC bilingual radio programme for learning English. It is hosted by Mr. Louay Ismail, the BBC producer who came to interview us here at CASAW, University of Edinburgh last Tuesday 4th Mar. 2008

The topic of this podcast is very cheerful and nice to listen to : What makes you happy?.

The topic of discussion stems from a recent research carried out by the University of Edinburgh, which suggests that genes ‘play key happiness role’.

Read more

Welcome to BBC Xtra English!

In today’s programme Doug and Louay talk about happiness.
Scientists at Edinburgh University have been studying identical twins and non-identical twins to see what influence genes have on happiness.
Identical twins have the same genes while non-identical twins are genetically different.
The scientists asked the twins questions to measure how satisfied they were with their lives.
The results were interesting. Identical twins were generally equally happy even when their lifestyles were very different.How can this be?
The scientists have linked certain personality traits with happiness. These include not worrying too much, being sociable and even being conscientious at work.
50% of these personality traits are inherited so the scientists think our genes might contribute to 50% of our general happiness and satisfaction with life.

Listen to the programme :

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Key Vocabulary

• happiness : السعادة
• identical twins : توأم متماثل تماماً في الشكل
• non-identical twins : توأم بينهما إختلافات في ملامح الشكل
• genes : جينات وراثية
• genetically different : مختلفين جينياً
• satisfied : راضياً
• equally happy : سعداء بشكل متساوي – سعداء بشكل متماثل
• lifestyles : أنماط الحياة -أساليب الحياة – الطرق التي يعيش بها الناس حياتهم
• personality traits : مزايا – خواص شخصية
• conscientious : واع – حي الضمير
• inherited : ورث

Further Reading

Related article from Middle Eastern Online

من قال ان السعادة لا تورَّث؟

باحثون يكتشفون ان العوامل الوراثية تتحكم في نصف السمات الشخصية المسؤولة عن الشعور بالسعادة.

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If you have enjoyed reading this post, we welcome your comments, ideas and suggestions for improvements.

To leave a comment about this post, use the comments section below.

To leave a comment about V-Arabic realia resources, go to FEEDBACK & SUGGESTIONS

The following is a collection of “Get well soon” e-cards from the Arabic Online community site Maktoob.com

The Arabic words and expressions written in these cards are all you need to know if you would like to wish someone a speedy recovery.

They really mean a lot to those who are feeling down or ill.

Best wishes – Wishing you a speedy recovery

Your temperature is high!

Wishing you a speedy recovery

Get well soon

Wishing you peace and a speedy recovery

Thanks to God (Allah) for your recovery

Easy..Easy!

Don’t worry about it

To send a Speedy recovery e-Card go to Maktoob Cards

Source of Realia:

Maktoob e-Cards

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If you are interested in improving your vocabulary and understanding of Child Care and Development simultaneously in both Arabic and English, then these leaflets might be useful.

The leaflets were written originally in English and then translated into Arabic primarily for UK Arabic-speaking residents.

Screenshot of a sample leaflet

The following “Quick tips” leaflets are available:

• dummies and talking Download PDF
• talk to your baby in your own language Download PDF
• say hello to your new baby Download PDF
• making the most of television ·Download PDF
• talking with your baby Download PDF
• sharing songs and rhymes Download PDF
• sharing books with your baby Download PDF
• playing with your baby Download PDF

Souce of Realia:

BBC Arabic (Learning English) has a dedicated bilingual radio programme aimed at teaching English to native Arab speakers.

As an Arabic learner yourself, you may benefit hugely from listening to this interactive programme where the host (an Arabic speaker) interviews a guest (an English speaker) in English about a particular news item. The interview is then interpreted in Arabic immediately by the host.

Read the following article before listening to the podcast:

Today Kaz and Louay talk about controlling your anger.

A new study says that controlling your anger helps the body repair itself. It speeds up the healing process.

100 participants were given blisters on their arms and asked to fill in a questionnaire on how well they controlled their temper. Then scientists studied the speed of recovery.

The hot-headed people took longer to heal.

If you can’t control your temper your produce higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn affects the healing process.

We hear some anger control techniques including meditation, walking away and biting your lip.

Do you have a bad temper? How do you control it?

هل لديك طبع و مزاج حاد؟ و كيف تقوم بالسيطرة علي غضبك

Further reading:

‘Anger control’ key to recovery – BBC News

Listen to the programme :

Key vocabulary:

• controlling your anger : السيطرة علي غضبك
• the healing process : عملية الشفاء
• blisters : تورم جلدي خفيف – بثرة مائيه
• the speed of recovery : سرعة التماثل للشفاء
• hot-headed people : الناس الذين مزاجهم حاد و يغضبون بسرعة
• to heal : أن يُشفي
• stress hormone : الهرمون المسبب للقلق و الإجهاد
• anger control techniques :طرق و أساليب للسيطرة علي الغضب
• meditation : التأمل و التفكر
• biting your lip :عض الشفاه

Read more >> Options >>

Source of Realia:

• BBC Arabic – Learn English – تعليم الإنجليزي

Key Vocabulary:

Blue Vicks : فيكس الازرق

More powerful : أكثر قوة

More refreshing : اكثر انتعاشا

The Commander: (Al-Qa’id) القائد

Source of Realia: Kuwait TV