Introduction:

During the Middle Ages, Arabic was a driving force of culture in Europe, especially in mathematics, philosophy and science. As a result, many European languages have Arabic words embedded into their vocabulary.

The Arabic language is one of the most ancient languages in the world. It has been around for over 1000 years and is believed to have originated from the Arabian Peninsula. For instance, Arabic means “nomadic”: Arabs (aka nomads). Arabic is one of the hardest languages for English speakers to pick up, but it’s worth learning. Learning any language, let alone one with dozens of varieties of it, can reveal so much about a culture. Each region or country has a special dialect of Arabic that can be radically different from another country, revealing stories of its’ traditions, geography, and history. 

Arabic is not a waste of time, here are so many benefits of learning Arabic such as :

1. Arabic speakers are in high demand

Suppose you are fluent in Arabic, or have achieved a level of advanced competency in reading, writing, and conversational skills. In that case, you will be in high demand for a great amount of jobs and opportunities in the world for which Arabic is an essential requirement. In many countries, Arabic is the primary language of business and commerce. You have Arabic on your resume as one of the skills that could push your application to the top of the pile. The United Language Group explains, “With the competitive salaries and positions available to fluent speakers, Arabic will become an invaluable skill for any job seeker. While the push for Arabic language education in the Western world might take some time, the pieces are in place for the supply to meet the enormous global demand.”

2. Arabic is spoken in many countries

Additionally, The United Language Group reports that, “Arabic is the official language of over 20 countries, and has nearly 300 million native speakers. Economically, these countries have grown quickly in a short amount of time, and the Arab world has a combined GDP of $2.5 trillion.” Studying Arabic will open up opportunities to travel, work, and explore in all Arabic-speaking countries.

3. It’s essential to understanding the world’s second-largest religion, Islam

Language, culture, and religion are intimately linked together — it’s almost like one cannot be understood without the other. “Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and the first largest religion in the Arab world. Islam is not only a religion to many Arabs but also a lifestyle.

4. Arabic can connect you to a rich history and another civilization

“Linguistic evidence seems to point to an origin of the Semitic languages somewhere between the Fertile Crescent [an area that spanned the top of the Arabian Peninsula from Egypt to Syria and Kuwait] and the Arabian ­Peninsula,” says Stephan Guth, professor of Arabic language and Middle Eastern literatures at the University of Oslo, in a recent interview with The National. 

5. Studying Arabic will offer you a more nuanced understanding of Arab culture 

Learning a language allows you to delve deeper into the country’s culture and traditions or countries where that language is spoken. Arab culture is rich and exciting. Learning the language will enable you to read some of the famous classic literature. 

6. Travel will be more accessible in Arabic speaking countries

If you enjoy traveling off the beaten path, someone who always has itchy feet, or unquenchable wanderlust, you will want to consider studying Arabic. Travel will be much easier in Arab countries if you speak, read, and write Arabic. As the official language in 20 countries, you’ll gain access and be able to better interact with people in these countries if you know at least basic Arabic — and experience true ‘Arab hospitality. 

7. You’ll promote intercultural understanding

 At the same time, events in the Middle East affect our daily lives. Reliance on such false and superficial images can lead to mistrust and miscommunication and an inability to cooperate, negotiate, compromise, and perhaps even military confrontation. Those who learn Arabic gain deeper insights into the cultural, political, and religious values that motivate people in those cultures.” As a student of Arabic, you’ll be poised to start social justice action and better intercultural understanding, both locally and globally.

8. Arabic can help you understand other languages easily

Not surprisingly, the Arabic language is related to other world languages and knowing Arabic will grant you an easier time learning other languages such as Farsi or Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and Hebrew. A majority of the lexicon for these languages are similar or from the same root as Arabic words. As a prospective student of Arabic, you can rest assured you are making a good investment in your future by learning Arabic because it will also grant you flexibility and access to other languages.

9. Arabic speakers make good salaries

Today, Arabic remains a high-demand language skill that can gross a high annual salary. For example, Indeed.com reports that an Arabic foreign language instructor can start between $69,000 and $112,000 per year. 

So, learning Arabic is not a waste of time; it is a career-boosting language; there are many job opportunities in the middle east & the Arab world.