Culture & Education | Sunday 13 October, 2019 1:08 am |

The thrill continues as four more Arab Reading Challenge semi-finalists enter the danger zone after grueling challenges that set contestants apart. 

The second group’s eight contestants partook two challenges during the third episode of the Arab Reading Challenge TV show before the judging panel placed four in the danger zone. 

Mezna Najeeb from UAE, Raneem Hamouda from Egypt, Bushra Assiri from Bahrain and Hadeel Al Zoubir from Sudan will further compete with the last week’s danger-zoned contestants in the next episode that will see the first stage of elimination of four semi-finalists. The upcoming fourth episode will narrow semi-finalists down to 12 contestants to continue their competitive race towards the grand title: The Arab Reading Champion 2019.  

The third episode, aired on Friday, saw contestants undergoing different challenges that involved to selecting an inspiring book character and presenting their choice in a one-minute talk before the three-member judging panel. The second challenge, meanwhile, involved drafting an engaging and short social media post of an inspirational quote from a book and their take on the author’s words.    

The judging panel evaluated the contestants’ reading choices, creative expression, quick wit, analytical and critical thinking and ability to communicate and articulate accurately in Arabic. 

Last week’s contestants moved to the danger zone were Umm Nasri Mamin from Mauritania, Fahad Shuja Al Habout from Saudi Arabia, Shaima Ali Basyouni from Egypt and Sumaya bint Sami Al Mafrajieh from Oman. They will be seen again next week as they compete with the other contestants in the danger zone for one last chance to get closer to the grand prize. 

 

Away from the competitive ambience, the semi-finalists shared moments of laughter as they met the Emirati sports commentator Fares Awad and tried to take on his role in a football match. 

 

The weekly show airs every Friday at 9 p.m. on MBC1, taking Arab viewers on the evaluation and selection process of contestants in the largest-ever Arab literacy initiative that leads to the announcement of the winner who will take home Dh500,000 in prize money, as part of Dh11 million worth of cash prizes.

The show aims to celebrate inspiring young Arab readers and highlight their success stories in an edutainment format, encouraging young people to follow suit and take up reading as a lifestyle, while preserving their language.