[20] How To Start Learning Arabic

In this episode, I share how I began learning Arabic over 15 years ago and how I would approach the language if I were a beginner all over again.

Summary:

• Arabic was the first foreign language I learned to fluency.
• Choose one dialect in the beginning and stick with it before learning others.
• Don’t learn MSA in the beginning unless you need it. Nobody speaks it anywhere as a native language. Pick a spoken dialect.
• Learn to read the alphabet quickly. It’s much easier than it looks.
• Cultural assimilation is vital. If you want to succeed, assimilate into Arab culture as much as possible.
• Surround yourself with Arabic from day one.
• Get a teacher who uses a communicate approach and not a traditional/formal method.
• Forget grammar. Speak Arabic immediately and make mistakes.
• Use high quality resources. Here are mine.
• Avoid fear and cultural stereotypes of Arabs which may dampen your efforts.

Related blog post:

Check out my blog post where I went into detail about how to learn Arabic.

Resources:

Visit TalkInArabic.com for spoken Arabic dialect material (review here).