How to Learn Arabic Fast
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El Jem, Tunisiael djem amphitheatre image by Alan Perry from Fotolia.com
Immerse yourself by studying abroad. Schools in Arabic countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt offer summer and year-long intensive language courses that teach colloquial and Modern Standard Arabic. With these types of programs, you can learn formal reading and writing skills at the same time you learn the local spoken dialect of the country where you are staying. You will be able to immediately put into practice what you learn in class. Going through daily life and using what you learn in class to apply to everyday situations will rapidly improve your Arabic - 2). Simulate immersion where you live. If you can't get to an Arabic country, find some native speakers where you are. Take a course near you at a community college, community center, private school or sign up for an online course. It's best to combine these methods.Take as many classes as possible, chat with language partners and practice on your own as much as possible. You can practice online and with computer software as well.
- 3). Practice the four aspects of language learning (reading, writing, speaking and listening). Review the alphabet daily. Wean yourself off the Latin alphabet transliterations of Arabic letters as soon as possible. The Web has infinite resources for Arabic study. You can find listening tools such as YouTube clips of Arabic films, TV shows and news segments, as well as free podcasts from iTunes. Improve your pronunciation with online programs such as LiveMocha, which offers a feature where you can record yourself speaking and have your pronunciation evaluated by a native speaker. The language learning software Rosetta Stone allows you to speak into the microphone on your computer and compare your pronunciation to that of a native speaker.
- 4). Don't ever skip a day. Even if you have limited time to dedicate to your language practice, it's better to do a solid 20 minutes of study than to try to make up for a missed day of study with extra hours the next day. Even if you just talk to yourself or review the alphabet, integrate some time for Arabic study into your daily schedule. Find as many people as you can to practice with. If you only have one teacher, you won't be challenged to hear and understand many speakers. Interacting on a personal level with Arabic speakers is key.
- 5). Learn several dialects. While formal writing is standardized and won't vary from country to country, the Arabic speaking world is large and contains many spoken varieties. Once you have a solid grasp of Modern Standard Arabic (formal Arabic) and/or a specific regional dialect, try to learn a new one. You will then be able to communicate with more people. Comparing the differences between the dialects will help you become more solid in your understanding of the fundamentals of the language.
