A comprehensive guide to help you learn Arabic. Are you ready to start learning Arabic? Take on our beginner’s guide to fluent Arabic, which covers everything from the alphabet to speaking practice.
How should a beginner learn Arabic?
Are you a true language lover looking for a way to broaden your horizons and improve your career opportunities? Then learning Arabic might be the right thing for you! According to the most recent ranking of the most widely spoken languages, it ranks fifth, just behind Spanish and ahead of French, which is now seventh. This means that over 274 million people worldwide speak Arabic. And this number is increasing year after year. The Arabic language is unique and ancient. It had a significant influence on Latin and Greek, and Portuguese and Spanish borrowed heavily from Arabic. Finally, learning Arabic is a rewarding endeavor that will provide you with invaluable life experiences.
Are you ready to embark on this journey?
We’ve got some essential tips that will help you get started and achieve amazing results. Keep reading to learn more or take your first online Arabic class on alphabetarabicacademy.com.
How to learn Arabic: a few introductory facts
Before you throw yourself into sentences, vocabulary, and other language stuff, let’s have a closer look at the Arabic language. The more you know about its origin and history, the better understanding you’ll get about the best way to learn Arabic.
The Arabic language belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language group, the largest one in northern Africa. Arabic is a macrolanguage with 30 variations. Still, there are two generally accepted versions of it. Classical Arabic is a literal, formal language taught at schools and universities. But above all, Classical Arabic is a religious language of the Muslim and the Qu’ran, or Koran, the sacred book of Islam.
Modern Standard Arabic is the linguistic thread that connects the Arab world. It’s widely used in media and modern literature. Still, you won’t meet a person who speaks pure MSA, as it consists of dialects from main Arabic-speaking areas — Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and North Africa.
So, which should you learn?
It all depends on the reasons you learn the Arabic language and the countries you’re going to live or travel to. If you can’t decide what type to choose, let experts help you. For instance, alphabetarabicacademy.com provides 1-on-1 lessons with native Arabic tutors from all around the world. This means you’ll find a tutor who specializes in the dialect which you’re looking for. You’ll be able to study online from any location in the world by video chat. Find your tutor, and you’ll see how flexible language learning could be.
Reasons to learn Arabic: political and cultural aspects
Since the time of the Islamic Empire, Arabic has expanded its influence over many languages, cultures, and politics. It is still in high demand and popular all over the world.
arabic in literature
The tradition of Arabic literature dates back to his fifth century. The first important literary work written in Arabic was the Koran. It is a mixture of prose and poetry with a complex structure consisting of 114 surahs and over 6,000 of his poems, which fascinates linguists and scholars.
Another great work of Arabic literature is The Thousand and One Nights, also known as the Arabic prose novel. Western folklore has shaped a wide range of stories and legends, including Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad the Sailor. The Arab writer also contributed to the development of philosophical works and his science fiction literature and published the earliest novels of these genres.
The role of Arabic in religion
Arabic plays an important role in understanding Islam and its central religious text, the Koran. There is even something like the Holy Quran in Arabic. If you want to immerse yourself in Arabic culture, why not study the Holy Quran in Arabic? It shares many similarities with Modern Standard Arabic, but there are some differences in grammar and punctuation.
The influence of Arabic on politics
Arabic is spoken in much of the Arabian Peninsula and parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Therefore, knowing the language will give you a better understanding of the political situation in the area. It will also help you become more competitive in your professional life, expand your horizons and travel freely throughout the Middle East.
Is learning Arabic difficult?
Arabic often ranks high on lists of the most difficult languages to learn. But is this a big problem for language learners, or is it just a stereotype? Here we debunk some common myths to help you feel more confident about learning Arabic. Masu.
Myth 1. Difficult to pronounce
If you’re a language learner, you may have heard about the peculiarities of Arabic pronunciation. However, there are only two or three Arabic sounds that are unfamiliar to non-Arabs. Once you have learned that, you can quickly move on to the rest of Arabic phonetics. There, all words are written according to their pronunciation.
Myth 2. Verbs are difficult to conjugate
Compared to English, Arabic has fewer irregular verbs. There is actually a class of irregular verbs called “weak” verbs. But this is just a small group following a certain pattern. In general, Arabic verbs are conjugated in different tenses related to the verb’s performer, tense, and mood. There are also online services like ACON, an Arabic conjugation tool that makes verb conjugation much easier.
Myth 3: Word order is important for understanding.
According to the World Atlas of Linguistic Structures, Arabic is a minority language (7%) with verb-subject (VSO) word order. However, it is flexible and can be converted to SVO just as easily as English, without affecting the meaning of the sentence.
Myth 4. Arabic has a huge vocabulary
Arabic is like a basic building block. Most words are built on a common root. It usually consists of several consonants, and adding more sounds to this root forms another word.
How can I learn Arabic fast?
First, decide what type of Arabic you want to learn. If you are not interested in a specific region, Modern Standard Arabic is the right choice. It is used in most Arabic-speaking countries, although it is limited to formal language environments such as media, education, and literature.
Classical Arabic is more book-oriented than Classical Arabic. So, if you are planning to study the Quran or are interested in learning about the golden age of Arabic, Classical Arabic is for you.
Spoken Arabic includes many Arabic varieties and dialects. This is exactly what is needed for communication and life in Arab countries. For example, if you travel to Egypt often, you should learn Egyptian Arabic. For example, if you want to do business in Lebanon, learn Lebanese Arabic. If you frequently visit Jordan, Israel, or Turkey, learn Levantine Arabic.
Once you have decided which type of Arabic you want to learn, take the necessary steps to gain real knowledge.
How long does it take to learn Arabic?
Learning a foreign language takes time, which is difficult to estimate. Some people spend years in school and still can’t speak a language. Others may learn new words, grammar structures, and pronunciation in a few months of dedicated study. After all, it all depends on your motivation, diligence, and approach.
Step 1. Start with the basics. Learn the letters of the Arabic alphabet.
Like other languages, Arabic begins with an alphabet. However, this is not the type of alphabet we are all used to. Here are some facts on this topic.
Each letter represents a long consonant or vowel.
Short vowels are identified by isolated or deleted vowels.
Many letters change shape depending on the position they occupy in a word.
Some letters are always associated with printed and handwritten alphabets.
There is always a temptation to cut corners and start learning Arabic by copying words rather than learning the alphabet first, as the letters may be unfamiliar. However, this is the wrong method. Moreover, there are only 28 Arabic characters, so why not give it a try?
Step 2: Learn how to read Arabic
The most difficult part of reading Arabic is remembering that some letters change shape depending on their place in the word. The first, middle, and last letters of a word are:
read in Arabic
What’s interesting is that this message is pronounced the same way. Don’t you think it’s difficult to understand? Don’t panic! You can listen to Arabic podcasts or use language learning apps (Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, etc.) to familiarize yourself with the Arabic writing and pronunciation system. The best books for learning Arabic are also available online.
Step 3: Learn how to write Arabic
Arabic text is written in italics from right to left. This means that almost all the characters are interconnected and flow into each other. There are no uppercase or lowercase letters, but the shapes of the four letters (depending on their position in the word) create this flow. Here are some tips to help you start writing Arabic correctly.
When writing, do not lift the pen and try to move it smoothly from one letter to another without interruption.
Practice often. Carefully write each letter over and over again, controlling the movements of your fingertips.
Step 4: Learn to speak Arabic
The main reason we actually learn languages is communication. Don’t be afraid to speak a foreign language, even if your grammar isn’t perfect or you only know a few basic words. Don’t think about mistakes, just let your thoughts flow freely.
Unless you have friends who speak Arabic, it can seem difficult to find someone to talk to. However, thanks to modern technology, there is no need to travel abroad to talk to locals. For example, you can find an online tutor who can help you gain confidence in speaking Arabic and give you feedback on your progress. For more information on this topic, try our list of the best language exchange apps of 2020.
Step 5. Reward yourself for your daily practice
The more you practice, the faster you will learn. Luckily, there are plenty of learning tools and resources available to help you learn at any time. Download the app on your smartphone to improve your vocabulary and grammar skills on the go.
Another method you can use as a beginner is to watch children’s TV shows. Once you reach a higher level, try watching Arabic movies and YouTube videos with English subtitles. With practice, you’ll be able to understand the content even with subtitles turned off.
