How to Learn Arabic

Arabic is one of the world's chief languages, with over 180 million speakers. Spoken throughout the Muslim world and used in religious writings and political speeches, speaking Arabic can be a huge advantage in many careers. But learning this complex language is not for the faint hearted or those who give up easily.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Buy some learning materials either on line (see resources) or from a library or language store. CDs, DVDs and interactive software programs are all available but you may prefer classroom lessons or a personal tutor. If money is no object, immerse yourself in the culture by taking a trip and having some lessons overseas.
2. Have time to devote to learning. The government estimates that it takes a year in a country or full time in the classroom to have even a basic command of the language. Unlike Latin-based languages, Arabic doesn't have many familiar words or language rules, which make it a lot more difficult to learn.
3. Become familiar with speech. When learning a new language it is important to learn correct pronunciation from the beginning. A lot of pronunciation is made from the back of the throat, so practice individual sounds and then put them together.
4. Learn the written basics. The Arabic alphabet has only 28 letters but writing is from right to left and doesn't include vowels, which can make it very confusing for the beginner. Practice writing simple words such as your name and build up gradually.
5. Understand the differences. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the most commonly taught but Arabic isn't a live spoken language anymore. Instead, a series of dialects are used. The Arabic spoken in Egypt will be entirely different from the dialect Moroccans use and these speakers use a combination of standard Arabic and individual dialects to communicate. Be aware of these differences and look for similar word meanings.

Tips & Warnings

• Arabic uses many religious references in everyday speech.
• Arabic is an extremely difficult language to learn and will be very time consuming.