Arabic is a language which is only growing in importance; there are over a billion Muslims in the world – not all of their primary language is Arabic, but it is the language of the Koran and so this helps it spread far and wide. The Middle East is a very important region and Arabic is therefore very important here if you want to work or travel here. Equally, if you are interested in the region more generally, Arabic is a great language to help you study more about the region, its culture and its people.
In this guide, we will talk you through some tips which will help you learn the language quickly and effectively and also make a recommendation for where you can study the language in the Middle East.
But wait… Which dialect??
Arabic is a fascinating language as it is made of many different dialects. In most classrooms outside of the Middle East, students will be taught Modern Standard Arabic, a kind of catch-all formal version of the language which is the best way to learn the language until you know in which dialect you want to specialise.
Local people in each region speak their own variant – the dialects share many similarities with the Modern Standard format, but some vocabulary and grammatical structures may be different. Northern African countries have dialects which differ quite substantially from Middle Eastern Arabic due to the different linguist influences there.
The two most popular dialects in the Middle East are Khaliji (Gulf Arabic) and Shami (Levantine Arabic). Khaliji is spoken in the Gulf states like the UAE and Qatar, while Levantine is spoken by all the Arabic countries which are near the Mediterranean Sea: Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. Critically, most Arabic speakers can understand Levantine dialect as this is the most commonly recognised, while other dialects may be less likely to be understood by an outsider.
Speak native!
The best advice when learning every language is to find a native speaker to practice with. If they can speak your language, they will be able to explain everything you don’t understand as well as give you recommendations for material like articles, films or websites to improve your language lesson. They will also be able to teach you the quirks of their dialect much better than a non-native speaker.
If you make friends with an Arabic speaker, they can help you learn the language informally without needing to pay a tutor. This is especially useful if you already know some of the languages and you just want to practice conversation through talking about various topics.
Watch Arabic TV and films
The more you immerse yourself in Arabic culture, the quicker you will pick up the language as well. Arabic TV and film is very popular so ask an Arab friend for recommendations of programmes you might be interested in. Once you are intrigued by a programme, you can use the subtitles to build your understanding of the show.
If you are really interested in the show, then you will want to understand every little part of what is happening and that means learning the language. Also there are some great Arabic songs and it helps to appreciate the music if you understand the language.
Studying Arabic in Palestine
The Excellence Center is a fantastic place to study Arabic in Palestine as it mixes dedicated courses with just being in the environment of learning from local speakers. There are the intensive Arabic courses which involve up to five hours of studying a day plus homework, which will rapidly build your language level in the minimal possible time.
Alternatively, if you want more time to explore Palestine and its culture, you can take on a volunteer programme, which involves a little bit of teaching in exchange for several hours of Arabic lessons a week. Whichever programme you choose, you will spend much of your time at the Excellence Center with the permanent Palestinian staff who can help you with your Arabic, practising and correcting your mistakes, even outside of lesson time.
The Excellence Center is based in Hebron, the biggest city in the West Bank, Palestine. There are many interesting things to do here and there are great opportunities to continue your Arabic development through meeting and befriending locals who are eager to help people speak their language. Many of them speak English as well which helps with the translation and the language learning process.
Students and volunteers always make lots of Arabic friends and contacts while in Hebron who will allow them to continue practising their Arabic even after leaving the country. Whether it’s a WhatsApp conversation or just regular phone calls, they are able to practise reading, writing, speaking and listening to Arabic even once they’re back in their home country.
Find us online
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact at Rafat@excellencenter.org
Whatsapp:+972599479880
For more information, please visit our website: https://excellencenter.org
Excellence Center’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
Excellence Center’s Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron
Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg
Visit and Explore Palestine: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorePalestine
