Introduction:

Learning Arabic can open the door to fresh opportunities and intercultural understanding. Arabic is the official language in over 20 countries and has more than 300 million native speakers. The language is essential for understanding Islam, the world’s second-largest religion, as well as global history. And, many significant advancements in math, science, engineering, and philosophy originated in the Arabic-speaking world.

Before diving into the best resources available to learn Arabic, it’s important to know that not all Arabic is the same; its three common forms are Classical or Islamic, Modern Standard, and Dialectical. Classical Arabic is used in ancient literature and writing, Modern Standard Arabic is the formal language, and Dialectical Arabic is the informal or colloquial language. The most common dialects are Egyptian and Levantine, though dialects vary throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East.

• Learn the Alphabet

 Having knowledge of letter names can make learning letter sounds easier for inexperienced readers and a good refresher for more advanced learners. Learning that there are predictable relationships between sounds and letters allows students to apply these relationships to both familiar and unfamiliar words, and to begin to read with fluency. Each letter of the Arabic alphabet can have a maximum of four shapes depending on their position in the word: initial, medial, final attached, or final isolated. There are no capital letters in the Arabic alphabet.

• Enroll in online classes 

Learning a new language is not something that happens overnight but, most definitely, there are ways that can make it easier for you. Listening well to the native instructor is proven valuable in getting familiar with the language. Conversations inside the classroom can help you remember better. After class hours, listen to the pronunciation and accent of words by native speakers in your workplace or home. This will also improve your speaking ability and use of vocabulary. Practice with your classmates. Speaking the language with a partner is also a helpful tip in learning the language fast and effectively.

• Buy a beginner’s dictionary 

This task is not as easy as it sounds. In an Arabic dictionary, words are generally organized around three-letter roots. To look up a word, you need to know what the root is and what letter the root starts with – which is not necessarily the first letter in the word. Using the dictionary takes practice, but the sooner you learn it the better. It will make the entire process easier and more enjoyable.

• Speak the language 

Seeing and hearing isn’t enough, however. It’s critical that you converse in Arabic with other people. It can be difficult to find a conversational partner if you’re not acquainted with native Arabic speakers. Thankfully, modern technology can do a lot to solve that problem. There are many groups for students of Arabic online, and it’s become much easier to find tutors who will coach you and help you in your studies. Take advantage of these resources. The more you practice, the faster you will learn.

Arabic is an important, useful, and worthwhile language to learn in today’s world. Arabic can teach you about other cultures you may not be familiar with and it can better your employment prospects as more business is being done in Arabic-speaking countries. If you’ve found free Arabic language resources and tools useful, take the next step and sign up for Arabic courses at Multibhashi today!