How to start learning Arabic, advice for beginners
Learning Arabic is something many want to do; it is, after all, one of the most spoken languages in the world and it is the liturgical and intellectual language of Islam.
People all over the world study Arabic for a variety of reasons: work, travel, family, religion, wanting to travel to an Arab country, marriage or friendship with an Arab, or simply as a hobby.
And the more important a language is, the more interesting it is to learn! But, can Arabic be learned quickly? Or it’s hard to learn, and how to learn it? That’s exactly what I’ll be speaking about in this article.
Which Arabic do you wish to learn?
A lot of foreigner people who learned Arabic divide the language to two or three divisions: Modern Standard Arabic, Classical (Qur’anic) Arabic, Colloquial Arabic and advice to choose one type from the beginning and stick with it. I am as a native Arabic speaker find that not true at all, there are only one Arabic, the formal standard Arabic, and like other languages, there are many regional dialects, but there is one language.
Many English or American people find it so difficult reading Shakespeare’s language but it still English, the same thing is for the Arabic language used in the Holy Qur’an.
So there’s only one Arabic you should learn, don’t let these divisions confuse you, they’re not true.
Studying Arabic:
First of all you must learn the Arabic alphabet. The Arabic script seems daunting at first, and some people try to avoid learning it by relying on transliterations of Arabic words. This merely stores up problems for later; it is much better to ignore transliterations and use the script from the start. The best you can do is to buy or borrow a book at the library, since this is a long and difficult project
If you are able to study at home, there are self-tuition courses that will see you through the beginners’ stage, and perhaps even a little beyond. The traditional textbook-and-cassette courses vary in quality, as do their teaching methods. You may find yourself buying two or three before you find one that suits you.
Try language classes. For most people, part-time evening classes are perhaps the most accessible option. They can provide a leisurely introduction to the language, but don’t expect to learn very much very rapidly. Try researching what options you have in the area where you live.
Practice your Arabic with native Arabic speakers. the best way to develop your Arabic is to talk with Arabs and expose yourself to all things Arabic. Join an Arabic online chat , listen to Arab music, and watch Arab soap operas, Read Arabic newspapers , news broadcasts, and children’s shows.
You can also ask on Facebook if anyone knows an Arabic speaking person.
Contact the person and ask him or her to meet once a week for an hour. You can focus on words, for instance, words connected to living, travel, etc.
At the same time, focus on basic sentences, ready made chunks, such as how are you, my name is, how old are you, etc. You can also put these into different categories.
In the meantime, study the language points you have discussed with your tutor. When you meet next time, you will be able to understand more and have more insight into the language. You can also ask questions about the prior lessons.
