Are you interested in learning Arabic? Learning languages like French, Spanish, Italian or German may feel like the only viable option at times. Arabic has a slightly different feel. However, you may think about questions like is it even feasible to attempt learning this language, given that its phonetics differ significantly from English’s and its alphabet is entirely different? Yes! Here are a few extremely prevalent false claims:
- "Arabic has too many unique words and pronunciations that are impossible for foreigners to learn." WRONG. Only two or three sounds are absent from English, and they are easily taught by imitation.
- "Arabic has a crazy vocabulary, with 400 words for a camel, 200 for a lion, and so on." WRONG. The terminology used in ancient poetry is comprehensive and complex. However, the vocabulary of any other modern language is just as complicated as that of modern standard Arabic.
- "Arabic Grammar is incredibly complicated." WRONG. It has a very simple verb structure. For instance, past and non-past are the only two tenses. So don't hesitate any longer and start studying Arabic!
Easy Basics to Remember and Use
The initial Arabic lessons, however, could appear simple. A few classes should be enough to teach you the fundamentals of Arabic.
For instance, one student observed that certain aspects of the Arabic language are simpler to learn:
- The nominal genres of modern standard Arabic, the official language you learn in school, are pretty simple to pronounce. Tet marbuta (ة) is the final letter of every female word.
- Both direct and indirect objects are straightforward—just give the verb a suffix.
- Simply add tet marbuta (ة) at the end to make the adjective versions simple.
On the other hand, after learning these concepts, you can run into the following issues:
- A vocabulary that is significantly distinct from that of Indo-European languages
- Arabic dialects vary between Arabic-speaking nations, and spoken Arabic differs greatly from written Arabic.
- Reading foreign sounds and pronunciations from right to left
4 Tips on How to Learn Arabic On Your Own
1. Start by learning the Arabic alphabet.
If we had to choose one rule to prioritise, this would undoubtedly be the most important. The alphabet will always be your starting point if you want to be able to read, write, and expand your vocabulary with Arabic words. Keeping aside the alphabet that has been your lifelong companion is another aspect of learning Arabic. In this case, mastering an entirely new alphabet is part of learning Arabic.
The 28 Arabic alphabetic letters must be learned to know Arabic on your own. Additionally, you’ll need to commit these various letters’ pronunciations to memory. Therefore, both visual and aural memory are evoked in this endeavour. Lastly, you should be aware that every letter has three different forms based on where it appears in a sentence: beginning, middle, and end.
2. Ignore English grammar
3. Make Your Exercises
4. Get Experience Speaking Arabic
5. Games for Education
6. Watch Videos to Learn Arabic
7. Books for Learning Arabic
Many Arabic speakers choose Living Language Arabic, Complete Edition: Beginner to Advanced Course as a resource for learning the language. With the help of this helpful book, you will learn the Arabic script and alphabet excellently. What’s so great about it? The book ensures one thing: after just six weeks, you will be able to write in Arabic and learn the Arabic alphabet! But one thing you have to do on your end is, be consistent with it.
Major Tip: Get in Touch with Language Skills
Learning Arabic on your own is a good motivation, but taking an expert’s help is always advisable. At Language Skills, our trainers have years of experience and ensure that your Arabic language learning journey is easier. If you’re willing to have a hassle-free and easy learning experience, connect with us today.
