Learning Arabic can be tough for native English speakers. That’s why we have made it our mission to highlight and remove any potential roadblocks.
If you are keen to learn Arabic for work or leisure reasons, you must avoid some of the main mistakes that beginners make. In this article, we will explore the best ways to ensure learning Arabic is a smooth process.
To get us started, below we’ve listed the main problems that native English speakers tend to experience:
New Alphabet
One of the main issues that native English speakers can experience is that the alphabet used in the Arabic language is completely different to what they are used to. This not only leads to confusion but also highlights why mastering Arabic can take longer when compared to learning other languages.
The Arabic alphabet can also be challenging for native English speakers as the letters change shape based on position in a word, and the writing direction is from right to left.
Different Grammar and Rules
The Arabic language is underpinned by a root-based word system. This includes a different structure to English that is focused on gendered nouns, complex verb patterns, and unique patterns that are not always uniform.
Choice of Dialects
As the language can be tough to learn, it’s vital that English speakers choose the correct dialect for their study. This will improve success rates when using new language skills in real-life situations. The choice of Arabic styles to learn can be overwhelming, which is why some native English speakers fall at the first hurdle. We eliminate any stress around this thanks to our library of helpful resources to help you choose the best course for your needs.
New Speaking Styles
Finally, Arabic is a language that requires different sounds to be used. This can mean that, for native English speakers, it’s tougher to master the verbal side of the language. As well as different phonetics being used, the new sounds can lead to embarrassment for shy students who fear doing something wrong, as the language is completely different to everything they know.
Advice for English Speakers Learning Arabic
To keep motivation and morale high, we outline clearly how long it takes to learn this new language as well as offering tailor-made Arabic courses for students.
We also believe that it’s important to commence study at the right level. If you are a native English speaker with no prior Arabic experience, our beginners’ course is ideal. However, if you have some prior knowledge, you can take our online Arabic self-assessment questionnaire to place you at the correct level of learning.
Another way that English speakers can learn this interesting language is by selecting a learning style suited to their preferences. For example, if you’re keen to learn faster and also think you will suffer from some shyness, a 1:1 setting is best. However, if these are not issues for you, book onto a group class.
Click here to view our courses or get in touch for more information.
