Introduction:

First things first, in order to start your learning on a smarter note, it is important to ask yourself which form of Arabic you would like to learn, as the dialect changes depending on the region that you are planning to apply for or settle down. Arabic is the mother tongue as well as the official language of nearly 30 countries in the Middle East and northern Africa. Modern Standard Arabic would be a rational choice, as it is not only one of the official languages of the United States but also of 22 Arab countries. Arabic is foreign to English in every sense of the term. It is written from right to left. It contains certain sounds that don’t exist in English or in any other language. Having said that, with utmost dedication, smart time, and resource management, it is possible to learn the ropes of Arabic in a short while. So, let’s see how-

• Alphabets

The book that most colleges throughout the Middle East follow to learn alphabets thoroughly is ‘Alif Baa’ and additionally it would be a great idea to catch hold of a pocket dictionary. It is easy to fall into the trap of transcribing Arabic, instead of learning the alphabet first. Remember how we used to do in school- first, we used to learn the letters, letters turned words, and words slowly transformed into sentences. Lastly, grammar and syntax used to follow. Taking shortcuts will only slow you down!

Read aloud- My childhood memory recollected the extraordinary mysteries of ‘Aladdin’, ‘The stories of Arabian Nights, ‘Alibaba and 40 thieves’ and so on and so forth. So, once you start grasping the letters and words, continue reading loudly these childhood jewels in Arabic. Children’s books always have the simple vocabulary to grasp. You may also download some phrases related to their Greeting techniques. You may record yourself for rapid self-correction.

• Entertainment

When we are happy, we learn quickly. Bollywood has a great market in the Middle-east. And it is proved by the fact that Sharukh Khan has citizenship in Dubai. Thanks to social media where easily we can watch any Hindi movie in Arabic. For learning purposes, you may sit with a dictionary and immediately pause on the word or the expression that you couldn’t grasp. It’s a great tool to enhance your vocabulary. Arabian Music and poetry have always inspired Indian musicians for decades. So, if you love poetry then Arabic would be the ideal language to learn for its immense sweetness. Amazon Music has a great facility, where you may actually read the lyrics while enjoying the song.

• Invest in a good trainer

Let me be honest with you that Arabic is one of those languages where self-learning is difficult. Ideally, it would be great to speak with a friend who is a native speaker as well. However, if you don’t have that luxury, you can invest in a good trainer. Since Arabic changes its dialect and nuances depending on region hence a trainer can arm us with basic greeting techniques, which can put our daily lives at ease. Here I would like to mention the role of Multibhashi. It’s an ed-tech platform, which maintains absolute transparency be it sharing of curriculum or your session recordings. It’s a great tool for an introverted person like me as both options are available- individual or group sessions. You may also book a demo for your chosen trainer at your stipulated time. The only condition here is to maintain regularity and dedication, as a trainer can definitely teach you Arabic to your desired level, however, your lack of discipline can prove to be detrimental in case you are planning to learn Arabic for job prospects.

• Conclusion

As a teacher, it is imperative for me to illustrate for every human being the concept of ‘short time’ is different. It all depends on your grasping power, for me it can be 6 months and for you, it can be 8 months. So my humble suggestion would be doing not to rush into Arabic as you may feel lost and then eventually give up. However, the tips given on top can help you to keep your head above water, and in a short while, you will find that you have learned a lot in Arabic, if not all!