I am doomed !! Interview Arabic vs English

[deemabrouk 0]

I think the recent posts have me all hyped up about the Interview and the red flags.. Etc.. So I called my husband to chat about this... My husband was Shocked that his Interview was not gonna be in Arabic!!! Now he is freaking out. My friend Marwa had her interview interview in Arabic (i told him a woman getting a visa is different)... And he said his friend got a visa to Live in England with his wife and he doesnt know any english at all(i told him every case is different Plus maybe England is different)... BUT from what I gather off this web site it will be in English!!!!!.. So I started drilling him questions.. and I got my husband SO NERVOUS he didnt even know how to respond.. he kept on stumbling over his words.. and he got very upset.. I am sure I didnt help cause I was almost acting like a Drill Sargent(how ever you spell it) cause I am such a frenzy about this now

he was like " But me and you have no problem communicating.. You understand some arabic and my english" my reply was "Well what are you gonna say if they ask you.. How can you build a marriage without speaking the same language??"

I got him so flustered.. he didnt even know what to say poor hayati

So now I feel like we are F'ed..

[Jenn! 918]

Calm down, I don't think you are doomed! Think of it this way, better to know now so that he can prepare rather than him having been caught off-guard at the interview.

My husband was able to do his interview in Arabic, since he didn't speak English at the time. But that was Morocco.

I think you should play drill seargent every night from now until the interview! Practice makes perfect!

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Hey there,

I am not sure how things are done in Cairo but when my husband had his interview he asked for it to be done in Arabic. He politely pointed out that the interview was so important that he wanted to make sure that there is an understanding between him and the CO. Maybe they let him do it just because we communicated only in Spanish as both of us are fluent in that language and they had tons of e-mails and hand written letters to prove same. The CO tried to push English but he told her that he doesn't understand it and finally they got an interpreter.

Hope that this will help somehow. I think that people going thru Cairo will have a better knowledge of the situation.

Best of luck

Dorothy.

[Aymerlu 3]

Don't worry. When my husband had his interview they asked him if he wanted his interview in english or arabic. And, if they don't offer, he can always request it.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I think the recent posts have me all hyped up about the Interview and the red flags.. Etc.. So I called my husband to chat about this... My husband was Shocked that his Interview was not gonna be in Arabic!!! Now he is freaking out. My friend Marwa had her interview interview in Arabic (i told him a woman getting a visa is different)... And he said his friend got a visa to Live in England with his wife and he doesnt know any english at all(i told him every case is different Plus maybe England is different)... BUT from what I gather off this web site it will be in English!!!!!.. So I started drilling him questions.. and I got my husband SO NERVOUS he didnt even know how to respond.. he kept on stumbling over his words.. and he got very upset.. I am sure I didnt help cause I was almost acting like a Drill Sargent(how ever you spell it) cause I am such a frenzy about this now

he was like " But me and you have no problem communicating.. You understand some arabic and my english" my reply was "Well what are you gonna say if they ask you.. How can you build a marriage without speaking the same language??"

I got him so flustered.. he didnt even know what to say poor hayati

So now I feel like we are F'ed..

sergeant, btw.

practice practice practice the interview questions. it's like sex, the more practice the better it gets

[deemabrouk 0]

I think the recent posts have me all hyped up about the Interview and the red flags.. Etc.. So I called my husband to chat about this... My husband was Shocked that his Interview was not gonna be in Arabic!!! Now he is freaking out. My friend Marwa had her interview interview in Arabic (i told him a woman getting a visa is different)... And he said his friend got a visa to Live in England with his wife and he doesnt know any english at all(i told him every case is different Plus maybe England is different)... BUT from what I gather off this web site it will be in English!!!!!.. So I started drilling him questions.. and I got my husband SO NERVOUS he didnt even know how to respond.. he kept on stumbling over his words.. and he got very upset.. I am sure I didnt help cause I was almost acting like a Drill Sargent(how ever you spell it) cause I am such a frenzy about this now

he was like " But me and you have no problem communicating.. You understand some arabic and my english" my reply was "Well what are you gonna say if they ask you.. How can you build a marriage without speaking the same language??"

I got him so flustered.. he didnt even know what to say poor hayati

So now I feel like we are F'ed..

sergeant, btw.

practice practice practice the interview questions. it's like sex, the more practice the better it gets

haha.. thanks Charles....

[deemabrouk 0]

I dont know... In the other topics people made such a deal about the Language - Now I am paranoid.. I know he has a long way to go with his english... and I have a long way to go in my arabic.. BUT it has never stopped us from fully communicating with each other...

But now all am freaked out about all these FING red flags..

AND i just freaked out on him Like Mommy Dearest. "I SAID NOT WIRE HANGERS!!!!!! "

I am way over stress.. I need a easter basket filled with some Chill Pills... and some chocolate

Edited April 6, 2007 by deemabrouk

[Jenn! 918]

I dont know... In the other topics people made such a deal about the Language - Now I am paranoid.. I know he has a long way to go with his english... and I have a long way to go in my arabic.. BUT it has never stopped us from fully communicating with each other...

But now all am freaked out about all these FING red flags..

Not saying that you should be complacent about your red flags, but honestly, you're going through Cairo, not Casa. It shouldn't be worrying you so much.

[Becky&Sam 0]

I think the recent posts have me all hyped up about the Interview and the red flags.. Etc.. So I called my husband to chat about this... My husband was Shocked that his Interview was not gonna be in Arabic!!! Now he is freaking out. My friend Marwa had her interview interview in Arabic (i told him a woman getting a visa is different)... And he said his friend got a visa to Live in England with his wife and he doesnt know any english at all(i told him every case is different Plus maybe England is different)... BUT from what I gather off this web site it will be in English!!!!!.. So I started drilling him questions.. and I got my husband SO NERVOUS he didnt even know how to respond.. he kept on stumbling over his words.. and he got very upset.. I am sure I didnt help cause I was almost acting like a Drill Sargent(how ever you spell it) cause I am such a frenzy about this now

he was like " But me and you have no problem communicating.. You understand some arabic and my english" my reply was "Well what are you gonna say if they ask you.. How can you build a marriage without speaking the same language??"

I got him so flustered.. he didnt even know what to say poor hayati

So now I feel like we are F'ed..

When my husband went for his interview in February, the CO started the interview in Arabic. Sam answered him in English so he asked if he was fluent in English and he said yes and then they conducted the interview in English. I think that the CO would have continued his interview in Arabic if he needed him to, but I don't know how this would effect the outcome of the visa.

Don't get him too scared. He will be so nervous anyway. Sam is fluent in English, but he was still so scared he would forget his English during the interivew, but he did just fine and understood everything very well.

[caybee 21]

He should have a choice of language for the interview (they do in Morocco). They just want to be sure that you can communicate well enough in a common language. Perhaps he could start off in English? They expect him to be nervous, and they will slow down or repeat questions if he asks them to. If he hits a wall where he just doesn't understand and wants to be sure he gives a clear answer, perhaps he could ask for Arabic at that point? Practice as much as you can until then, and perhaps he could practice chatting in English with some other friends, different voices and accents? It might help his confidence. My fiance was pleasantly surprised the first time he spoke English with someone other than me after we had talked daily for a few months; he didn't realize his English had improved that much.

It's just very important now for you two to get him as relaxed and confident as possible. Drills are very important, yes, but positive thinking is also. I don't believe you're doomed either, and he shouldn't walk in there believing he is going to fail. I believe a smile and a "good morning" to the CO are a good start, even if just to put him in a positive frame of mind. Look how far you two have come so far. He can get through this also. Break down the time you have and prepare a little each day. And breathe. Best wishes to you both.

[Together4ever 1]

First, calm down. I remember quite well feeling just like you do several times during this process. Waiting for the interview is a very harrowing time because of all the "what-ifs" and unknowns. Mohammed was offered his choice of interviewing in Arabic or English. He chose English. His CO was fairly understanding (but a bit impatient with his torrent of questions) and offered Arabic if he seemed confused by a question. I think this is a very minor point for you to worry over. My advice after being through this mess is to sit down and logically and rationally address any potentional red flag issues you may have and supporting information/evidences. Cairo, although incredibly slow, seems to also be quite fair. Now you and your hubby just take a deep breath and relax a bit. Stay focused on your relationship and don't let this visa thing eat up what is most important. Good luck!

[myfellah 0]

My husband went through Morocco but hopefully your husband will have choices in which language he wishes to take his interview in. My husband took his interview in English but did request that he could us Arabic or French if needed. You are not doomed, I'm sure. Just practice questions as everyone says so that when asked he will be comfortable and might not even think about the language he is using. You've done all you can do and now it's up to him to take on the interview. You can help keep him relaxed and confident. I know I did panic here and there through our process and probably will again when we file to lift condition later this year We all have our moments. You two will be ok. Good Luck!

Doreen

[Mona Lisa 0]

Oh noooo, it seems I am on the same boat!!

I dont speak english so well, I write more than speak this language, I don't know what to do, my husband talk with me everyday but I have noticed it is very different when I talk with his mom, daughter or friends, all the time they say me to rephrase because they arent understand me. It is terrible. Could I get the visa with the wrong pronunciation???

[deemabrouk 0]

okay *Deep Breath* (literally)

I appreciate all these responses. They were what I needed now I gotta make my husband feel better... I feel like I just Slapped a Puppy my poor husband

he knew all the answers.. but just couldnt say them good in English..

Edited April 6, 2007 by deemabrouk

[deemabrouk 0]

Oh noooo, it seems I am on the same boat!!

I dont speak english so well, I write more than speak this language, I don't know what to do, my husband talk with me everyday but I have noticed it is very different when I talk with his mom, daughter or friends, all the time they say me to rephrase because they arent understand me. It is terrible. Could I get the visa with the wrong pronunciation???

Husband has learned to Write better than Talk... Cause we are always IMing or using Text messages everyday.. And he has no one to speak english with over there.. Only Arabic.. But I suggested for him to get his Nieces (they learn english in grammar/ High school) to talk with him in English.