Introduction:

Arabic is a Semitic language that first emerged in the 1st to 4th centuries CE. It is now the lingua franca of the Arab world. It is named after the Arabs, a term initially used to describe peoples living in the Arabian Peninsula bounded by eastern Egypt in the west, Mesopotamia in the east, and the Anti-Lebanon mountains and Northern Syria in the north, as perceived by ancient Greek geographers. The ISO assigns language codes to thirty varieties of Arabic, including its standard form, Modern Standard Arabic, also referred to as Literary Arabic, which is modernized Classical Arabic. Modern Standard Arabic is an official language of 26 states and 1 disputed territory, the third most after English and French.

Arabic is widely taught in schools and universities and is used to varying degrees in workplaces, government and the media. Arabic, in its standard form, is the official language of 26 states, as well as the liturgical language of the religion of Islam, since the Quran and Hadith were written in Arabic. Learning any new language is a new challenge that will open up your mind and help you to connect people across the world of different cultures and languages.

Whether you are curious about learning Arabic, seek to be fluent in Arabic, or you work in one of the Arab countries and just want to converse with your Arabic friends, you will indeed benefit from the following steps, and it will make your learning process much easier and faster.

“What’s the best tool or resource available to learn Arabic?”

If you’re learning Arabic, you’ve likely asked yourself that question over and over again. The answer to that question will vary for each individual. But the best answer is simple: the best tool to learn Arabic is the one you will use the most.

1. Real Arabic literature –

Textbooks are all well and good but you will eventually need to start exposing yourself to real Arabic. And if trips to Saudi Arabia, not on the cards just yet, then reading alongside listening practice is of course a great way to do that. 

2. Choose between Dialect or Classical Arabic

It has been common among the new Arabic learners to start with the Classical Arabic (Fusha), which is being used in Arabic newspapers, novels, poems, etc. However, natives do not speak Fusha. While Arabic is the mother tongue and national language of nearly 25 countries in the Middle East and northern Africa, different local accents are spoken.

3.Get a Arabic Dictionary

When you begin to learn a language and start trying to say or understand things, you’re always going to have more questions than answers. A dictionary helps you make progress in this area and allows more spontaneity in your learning. You can always look up words that catch your fancy, regardless of whether they relate to a structured teaching unit or not.

4.Take a Class or Computer Course –

If you don’t know any Arabic, a structured class is the best way to start. Find teachers in your area, or sign up for Arabic classes at a local community college or university. If taking a class isn’t an option, you can buy a language learning program. Applications like Multibhashi Learning Lessons Solutions are an excellent solution. They offer online classes in multiple foreign languages.

5.Listen to Language Podcasts –

There are lots of Arabic podcasts available online. They range from beginner to advanced. For best results, make listening to podcasts a daily part of your routine (listen during your commute or while you do chores). It will help you learn the language much faster than anyone else. 

6.Watch movies and TV shows with subtitles 

The first is for beginners: watching Arabic movies with English subtitles. The second is for advanced speakers: watching Arabic movies with Arabic subtitles. It might seem odd to watch in Arabic and read in Arabic at the same time, but it really does work wonders. Reading skills develop a lot faster than listening skills. By reading and listening at the same time, I was really able to improve my pronunciation.

7. Learn the Arabic Alphabet

The Arabic alphabet is entirely new and unique, and its pronunciation seems to be a bit hard for the non-native Arabic speakers, however, your level at Arabic will be at higher levels when you learn how to pronounce the Arabic word correctly without the need to use materials with transliterations.

You will notice that you are having progress and you will be able to write and read in Arabic, and pronounce more accurately. 

8.Keep an Arabic notebook and translate words throughout the day

Workbooks can help you learn to write characters and understand their meaning. Get a workbook and dedicate a short amount of time to practice each day, even if it’s only 20 minutes.  Fifteen new vocabulary words per day is sometimes quoted as a realistic target.

9.Use Flashcards –

Yes, the same tool you used to memorize your time’s tables when you were 8, will come in handy memorizing and expanding your new Arabic vocabulary.  You can make your own, buy pre-made cards like Arabic Grammar SparkNotes Study Cards $10, download Flashcard Touch app for your phone or simply visit the website www.flashcardexchange.com, which lets you print out flashcards from an existing database. The wonders of technology!

10. Listen to Arabic songs –

Listen to some Arabic songs and focus on pronunciation and meaning. It helps to listen to the songs multiple times. Arabic places usually play songs in their native languages.

11.Your Web Browser

With the Google Translate Chrome add-on, you can turn any Arabic website into an interactive Arabic dictionary. When you click on a word you don’t know, the English translation pops up on the same page, so you can read websites for native speakers without constantly stopping to look up words.