Interested in learning Arabic? Whether you’re planning a trip to an Arabic-speaking country or want to try reading Arabic literature in its original language, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best resources for those who want to start learning Arabic.
Mastering Arabic by Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar
Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar’s textbook Mastering Arabic is one of the most popular textbooks out there for learning Modern Standard Arabic, the standardized literary variant of Arabic that you’ll come across in newspapers, journals, and mass media. It’s a staple in college-level Arabic courses and is also a great resource for somebody studying on their own.
This textbook is geared toward learners with little to no prior experience with the language, so it starts out by teaching you the alphabet and aims to bring learners up to a B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Routledge’s Colloquial Arabic Series
While the Modern Standard Arabic taught in Mastering Arabic will certainly give you a strong foundation in Arabic, Arabic learners are also advised to familiarize themselves with a vernacular dialect, as spoken variants of the language throughout the Arab world can differ quite a bit from the standardized dialect taught in Mastering Arabic.
That’s where Routledge’s Colloquial Arabic series comes in handy — this series has three different books to cover some of the largest dialects spoken in the Arab world. Egyptian Arabic, Levantine Arabic (spoken in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Palestine), and Gulf Arabic (spoken in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arabic Emirates, and Oman). By going through these textbooks, you’ll get a better sense of the phrases, vocabulary, and pronunciation quirks unique to these major dialects.
iTalki
Textbooks and audio recordings can only get you so far, though. Once you’ve got a decent grasp of Arabic grammar and vocabulary, you’ll want to actually practice using it with an Arabic speaker, and iTalki is one of the best ways to find a conversation partner or tutor.
iTalki is one of the largest online communities of language learners, making it a great resource for you to find somebody to practice Arabic with. Conversation exchange is an important way to improve your speaking and listening skills, and will really help you take your skills to the next level after you’ve gone through your textbooks. Plus, you also have the opportunity to help Arabic speakers learn your native language as well, making lessons a fun and informative exchange for both parties.
ArabicPod101.com
iTalki is a great way to get speaking and listening practice, but scheduling a mutually convenient time to meet with your conversation partner can be a bit of a hassle sometimes. ArabicPod101.com is an excellent way to get in some quick listening practice. ArabicPod101.com features a huge database of audio lessons so you can improve your listening comprehension skills.