AlHoda
Elite Member
- Messages
- 375
- Reaction score
- 50
- Gender
- Female
- Religion
- Islam

My dear brothers and sisters, I have a serious language problem, let me explain. I'm now 17, I was born in Germany, but I have Somali parents. I never actually lived in Germany, as my parents were refugees trying to escape the 1992 Somali Civil war, my parents and I came to Holland, where i basicly spend my entire childhood, after I turned 13, we moved to Egypt,Cairo to learn more about Islam and learn the arabic language. So, when I first came to Egypt, I couldn't utter a word of arabic exept la (no);D.
Anyway, I live now 4 years in Egypt and my Arabic gradually improved, but I can not speak it fluently as I haven't practiced a lot. My English also improved greatly, but I can't speak it very well. I learned the Somali language from my parents, and speak it with relatives and friends of the family, but I never learned grammar and spelling. I can't even write or read except for a little. Here is the problem, I don't speak or write any language very well. That is one of the reasons why I never socialize with people. i can write English well, but not speak it. My first language is dutch, which I knew better than the Somali language, but now after four years with never having spoken dutch to anyone, except the embassy, I'm starting to forget the language. I scan speak Arabic but not very well, I can read it most of the times and understand text but I always ask for help. I speak Somali now at home to family and relatives here in Egypt, but don't speak also very well as I am limited. I, have noticed that this is the problem of many somali children who grew up in the west and then moved to arab countries such as egypt, who can seem to master one language well, but speak several.
Can someone please advice me?
Jazakallahughair.
:wa:
A confused girl.