Easiest Things About Learning Arabic
Almost any article you read about learning Arabic will probably expound at length about how difficult this language is. Indeed, when dividing languages up according to difficulty, Arabic falls under the toughest category and can take around 2200 hours (or 88 weeks) of good, hard study to master. But successfully learning a language has more to do with mind over matter. Don’t let Arabic’s legendary difficulty level deter you from picking up a tongue which will open many wonderful cultural and business doors. Instead, take a look at the 3 easiest parts of learning Arabic and dive right in!
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Alphabet
A lot of people are deterred from learning Arabic because it is rumored to have a very difficult alphabet which differs a lot from Latin-based ones. However, we are here to tell you that this is not true! While Arabic does feature a completely new and different alphabet, it is actually quite easy to learn and has only 28 letters. Once you overcome this one simple obstacle of learning the alphabet, your confidence will soar because you’ll have unlocked the secret to reading and writing in Arabic too!
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Dialect
There are many varieties, or dialects, of Arabic and this can seem daunting to the new learner. Some people translate more dialects to mean that there is more information which needs to be retained in the language learning process. In reality, having various Arabic dialects can make the learning process easier! Quite simply, you can choose between classical, colloquial, or standard dialect. Looking to study ancient texts? Then the classical dialect is perfect for you. Hoping to engage with locals during your travels? Then colloquial will be right up your alley. Looking to do business or use Arabic for work? Then you’ll want to focus on the standard dialect. It really helps to narrow down the options, doesn’t it?
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Loanwords
One of the beauties of our modern age is definitely loanwords. English has taken countless words from Arabic just as Arabic has used loanwords with roots in English. Words related to technology like television and internet are direct loanwords in Arabic and are pronounced almost exactly the same as in English. But English isn’t the only language that can help you when it comes to learning this challenging language. French and Spanish are two other Latin-based tongues which have many similar words to those found in Arabic. If you know any of these three, picking up Arabic vocabulary is not really that hard!
Now that you’ve seen the simpler side of the Arabic language, you’re probably more than ready to dive in! Learning any new language can be challenging, but with the right tools you’ll be sure to achieve your language goals. Set yourself up for success with some first-rate Arabic language lessons and be sure to keep your skills on point with tools such as free online placement tests. Then embrace everything this beautiful language has to offer, both easy and hard, and take the Arabic speaking world by storm!