photo credit: Puccaso

So, you want to learn Arabic? Can I get you your tranquilizers now or should I wait until after you’ve had your nervous breakdown. I don’t mean to scare you or anything like that, but you’ve decided to take on one of the toughest languages out there. I’m not sure which is harder, Arabic or Hebrew. I’ve tackled them both and let me tell you, neither of them is a picnic. But okay, you’ve made up your mind that this is one language you want to learn, so it’s best you’re forewarned and forearmed before tackling this beast. This article will give you the 2-cent tour.

There’s a Whole New Set of Characters

For starters, you’re dealing with a WHOLE new set of characters here. If you’ve been doing nothing but learning Latin based languages like English, German, French and Spanish, good luck with this monster. Arabic uses the Arabic Alphabet which is nothing like its Latin counterpart. The symbols, to the untrained eye, will literally look like chicken scratch. I kid you not. There is nothing in this alphabet that even remotely resembles our Latin characters that we so take for granted.

There are Many Dialects & Variations

Aside from that, you’re dealing with a language that has many dialects and variations. The alphabet itself can be written with vowels either written out or implied, meaning they’re left out but they’re there. If you think that’s confusing enough, combine that with the different dialects and you’re heading for a class A nervous breakdown. I sometimes wonder why anybody would voluntarily want to tackle this monster. Of course I understand that in some college curriculums, it’s required. My condolences to you and your family if you’re one of them.

Learning Arabic Will Take Some Time

Finally, and this may be the most important thing of all, when dealing with a language like this, it is CRITICAL that you put in a great deal of time into learning it. This isn’t something that you’re going to be able to do casually when the mood strikes you. Remember how tough it was to learn German? Well baby, that was a cake walk next to what you have ahead of you. At least with German you recognized your alphabet. Here, it’s like you’re five years old and learning to read for the first time.

Don’t Worry. There’s Help

If all this sounds daunting, don’t fret. On this website you’ll find reviews of great resources that will actually make learning Arabic tolerable. No, it’s not going to be a piece of cake, but it’s going to be easier than trying to go it alone with the “standard” tools you have available to you.

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