Your editorial Arabic lessons would bridge culture gap (April 20) made valid points.
Language lives where it is used. If it isn’t used at home, at work, at school, at places of worship, at social gatherings and at the shops, then what you’re left with is Klingon/ Esperanto.
Prestige language – the means of getting ahead in life – is a key factor in what governs our language choice and the choice we make for our children’s education. Is there an easy solution to this?
Timothy John Holmes, Ajman
If you like the local food, music, architecture and speak some Arabic, you have blended in well with Emirati culture. But the best thing is to have some Emirati friends.
Natasha Clemmensen, Dubai
I’ve been here almost eight years. I’ve made it a point to learn as much Arabic as I can and most of my close friends are Emirati. If you want to live in a foreign country, you have to try to fit in to that society.
John Paravalos, Dubai
When people from the same state in India meet, they prefer to speak in English instead of their native language. They clearly do not have an interest in learning Arabic. We just need to take the initiative.
Mathew Litty, Dubai
I refer to the article Expats 'should learn about UAE before coming', April 19). One solution to this issue is to make a movie explaining the rules and regulations of this country and play it on all UAE-bound flights.
Melanie Bahr AlDaboos, Abu Dhabi
It’s not so tough to save money
Even though salaries are not increasing, we can live comfortably and save (As UAE cost of living goes up will salaries keep pace?, April 18). It's simple. Live within your means. Don't try to live the Dubai lifestyle.
I know many families who live in one-bed apartments and drive flashy cars because they want to keep up appearances. While we are on a good salary, we live in a modest two-bedroom apartment with three children, drive a regular car – no posh brand – have put our children in a good school, not a flashy international school with an Olympic-size pool, and we’ve survived the economic downturn as well.
Seven years on, we saved money and now we’re able to afford an upgrade.
We’ve become a superficial society that doesn’t know how to manage its money. In Australia, where I’m from, it can cost up to A$3 (Dh11) for a loaf of bread and $5 for two litres of milk, so we’ve got it good here.
Taghred Chandab, Dubai
Losing weight is not so easy
Why have you published the article How to lose fat without exercising (April 20)? In a region where obesity and related diseases kill thousands, articles like this allow patients to continue to believe that they can break the laws of thermodynamics and improve their health while continuing to live a dangerously unhealthy lifestyle.
Melanie Katrina Mingas, Abu Dhabi
You cannot lose weight without doing exercise and controlling your diet. If you eat foods laden with oil and sugar and do no exercise, no amount of low-frequency ultrasounds are going to fix your overweight situation. The only thing you are truly guaranteed to lose is cash from your wallet.
Craig Field, Qatar
How about education programmes on television on how to eat healthily or billboards on the roadside?
Vicki Attoe, Dubai
Schools need more resources
With reference to the news report Dubai Autism Centre thanks Sheikh Hamdan for donation (March 31), it would be nice if some mainstream schools could have special education wings. It seems there's no in-between special needs schools and mainstream. Children are missing out on education due to lack of staff and resources.
Shani Sutton-Gardiner, Abu Dhabi