Oman: Improving one's Arabic

I can often be found on the sofa after a weekend morning run flicking through the channels looking for something worth watching in Arabic. This morning I found a peach. The ShowShasha channel shows a Spanish language telenovela called ‘Gata Salvaje’ which, in quality terms, is some way below dire. Imagine the spoof Spanish weather forecast on the Fast Show lasting for sixty-minutes and you’ll have some idea about ‘Gata Salvaje’.

However, the programme has been dubbed into standard Arabic. It’s brilliant - I can actually understand it! It’s a bit like watching East Enders in Oxford English, but who gives a stuff? An hour of Arabic language study while watching ladies with nice chesty dumplings in a comedy drama. Superb.

I am hooked.