By Trisha Bartle
"I have sat two nights and so learnt patience." in Arabic
Arabic is the main language of many countries in the
Middle East and North
Africa. For instance, it is the official language of Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. When traveling to any of these countries, it's a good idea to learn Arabic as a second language. This way, you can easily communicate with the people that you meet along the way. Luckily, there are several ways to learn to speak Arabic. When using these methods in conjunction, you can learn Arabic much quicker.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Things You'll Need:
- Audio discs
Arabic language software
Arabic phrase books
Arabic films
Notebook
- Audio discs
- Arabic language software
- Arabic phrase books
- Arabic films
- Notebook
Step 1
Listen to Arabic audio discs. For instance, Pimsleur has an audio disc program for learning basic Arabic, which is perfect for beginners. Listen to this on your plane ride for a refresher of the language.
While there are several different Arabic dialects, it's best to learn Modern Standard Arabic as this is common in both speech and written word. Regions also have their own dialect, so focus on the dialect of Arabic for the area to which you'll be traveling.
Step 2
Learn Arabic from computer software programs. They are interactive and will quiz you on what you've learned. Try Rosetta Stone's Arabic program or Tell Me More Arabic. These can be used on the go if you've got a laptop computer.
Step 3
Carry an Arabic language book with you in your travels. Phrase books and dictionaries are a great way to quickly find the word or phrase you're looking for. This is particularly helpful when traveling for finding words like "bathroom," "hotel" and "hospital."
Step 4
Watch movies in Arabic without English subtitles. This is a great way to get better at understanding spoken Arabic. Films such as "Tale of the Three Jewels" and "Rana's Wedding" can be found through traditional methods such as Netflix and online movie stores.
Step 5
Keep an Arabic journal while learning. Since Arabic uses a completely different alphabet than English, it can help you remember what you've learned. Write down important phrases in the Arabic alphabet, which contains three vowels and 26 consonants. Also concentrate on the special Arabic root system taught in audio discs, software programs and phrase books. This will help with both reading and writing while in an Arabic-speaking country.
Resources
About the Author:
Trisha Bartle began her writing career in 2007, with work appearing in publications such as "Adventures for the Average Woman" and DexKnows Weddings. She has also been a professional wedding photographer since 2001. Bartle holds an Associate of Applied Science in programming and game development.
Photo Credits:
Hello, I am Bruce / Flickr
