Arabic

[Bosco 1]

What websites/books or programs have you found most helpful? What tips can you share?

I think this is the best book for learning the Arabic alphabet The Arabic Alphabet It breaks it down and makes what can seem like a HUGE challenge very easy.

I consider these two the best dictionaries around:

Arabic-English ~ Hans Wehr This one uses the root system. Getting the roots down goes a long way in comprehension, because even if you don't understand a particular word, you can usually derive its meaning. The drawback is that it is only Arabic-English (great to have for the men).

and Al Mawrid English to Arabic and Arabic to English. If you are just starting out, this is a great reference (albeit pricey).

I also find listening to music helps with pronunciation. Anyone else?

[Veiled Princess 1]

and Al Mawrid English to Arabic and Arabic to English. If you are just starting out, this is a great reference (albeit pricey).

This book is great! It's pricey but well worth every penny! The only down side to this book is that it's only Arabic-English so if I want to translate from English to Arabic I have to look in one of my other dictionaries and then look up the Arabic word in this one to make sure it's not slang LOL.

I have Hans Wehr too but it's so small I can barely read anything... especially the Arabic text!

The Madeenah University E-books are great for learning to read formal (Quran) Arabic.... these are the actual workbooks they use at Madeenah University, just in e-book form for free download and printing. There used to be a website to accompany them that would teach you how to pronounce the words but it's been down for a while now. I'll check it tonight when I get home to see if it's still down inshallah.

I don't listen to music but there are some vocal or duff only nasheeds that I find helpful in learning to pronounce some things as well.

Of course the number one source for me is to listen to al-Quran being recited and also listening to lectures on CD by the scholars.... they'll give the lecture in Arabic and then someone will translate in English and that's helpful because you start to realize after a while that you're catching words here and there.

Yousuf also helps me practice my Arabic by letting me start our conversations in Arabic and then we'll just take it as long as I can before I run out of words or start getting confused by what he's saying LOL.

We (me and the kids) also practice our Arabic around the house by using any Arabic word we know instead of the English word... it's like a game... it sounds something like "spanglish" We need to come up with a name for the Arabic/English mix!

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I'm an utter failure when it comes to teach yourself arabic. I've tried and stopped so many times it's not even funny. I also was an ardent collector of teach yourself arabic books. I think I have at least 10 different programs sitting on the shelf at home. le sigh.

However, I have had the most sucess with is this - Mastering Arabic. I'm going to kick myself in the butt this weekend (maybe tonight) and buckle down again. I like this book because although I've learned the arabic alphabet on numerous occasions, I have a horrid memory retention, and forget a lot of it. This book introduced 4 or 5 letters each lesson, and keeps the same format throughout - learn the letters, learn some words with those letters, use them in sentences, etc. I unfortunatly don't have the cds or tapes that go with it, but with a native arabic speaker at home, I'm going to have him make up listening activities for me.

I also bought this set a few years ago and haven't even opened it yet. I may crack that one open this weekend and see if I can stick with it better than my last attempts.

When I actually took an arabic course in college, I found

201 Arabic Verbs in Fully Conjugated Form to be very helpful.

And, I'm pretty sure UW Madison uses this series, and my friends who took it there were pretty happy with them.

I think maybe I need a study partner who'll remind me to keep it up.

Oh, I forgot to add -

I found this book to be the most useful of all

[samir_shannon 0]

i am interested in trying to learn some arabic words... i will check all this out .. thanks

[Bosco 1]

The UW Madison series is what the use at The Arabic Language Institute in Fez. Hmm, now I am torn between this and the Rosetta Stone program. Maybe if I invest in both, I will feel so guilty I will be forced to study. I have also tossed about enrolling online at Arab Academy

Part of the problem is I have learned a fair amount of Darija (Moroccan dialect) and I don't necessarily know which terms are solely Darija and which are both.

I love this site with the Arabic Alphabet Song.

Maybe if there is a group of us interested, we could work out some type of study group/online meeting time.

Rebecca

I'm an utter failure when it comes to teach yourself arabic. I've tried and stopped so many times it's not even funny. I also was an ardent collector of teach yourself arabic books. I think I have at least 10 different programs sitting on the shelf at home. le sigh.

However, I have had the most sucess with is this - Mastering Arabic. I'm going to kick myself in the butt this weekend (maybe tonight) and buckle down again. I like this book because although I've learned the arabic alphabet on numerous occasions, I have a horrid memory retention, and forget a lot of it. This book introduced 4 or 5 letters each lesson, and keeps the same format throughout - learn the letters, learn some words with those letters, use them in sentences, etc. I unfortunatly don't have the cds or tapes that go with it, but with a native arabic speaker at home, I'm going to have him make up listening activities for me.

I also bought this set a few years ago and haven't even opened it yet. I may crack that one open this weekend and see if I can stick with it better than my last attempts.

When I actually took an arabic course in college, I found

201 Arabic Verbs in Fully Conjugated Form to be very helpful.

And, I'm pretty sure UW Madison uses this series, and my friends who took it there were pretty happy with them.

I think maybe I need a study partner who'll remind me to keep it up.

[Donna A 4]

ive found its difficult to learn arabic because of all the differnt accents. my husband of course can tell where a person is from by the accent. he teaches me some words on occasion.

his mom likes to talk to me on the phone and i try to speak a little to her. u know the usual...keefic, salamalakum, allahmack, marhaba. u know the little greetings.

it just tickles her tho. makes her happy.

Edited July 26, 2006 by donnaal

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Found this link today - might be worth investigating

The Complete Islamic University Of Medinah Two Year Arabic Curriculum

[MrsAmera 41]

I'll be in the study group!! Now that I've finished school I have no excuse not to study Arabic! So let's go girls - who's in?

[Veiled Princess 1]

There's going to be a study group?

[Bosco 1]

There's going to be a study group?

I would like it.

[Veiled Princess 1]

Me too but I haven't been invited

[Bosco 1]

Right now it is just an idea that is being mulled over.

Is anyone else interested?

[Bosco 1]

This site lists links to downloads to many different Arabic fonts. Not necessarily conducive to learning but they sure are pretty

Arabic fonts

[Mrs. Forgetful 2]

We (me and the kids) also practice our Arabic around the house by using any Arabic word we know instead of the English word... it's like a game... it sounds something like "spanglish" We need to come up with a name for the Arabic/English mix!

We call Moroccan/English, Morglish. I'm sure Arabic/English could be either Arglish or Englabic.

I am now just learning some words and finding "Instant Immersion: Arabic" to be fun, and simple. Like I said I'm a very beginnerand would like to understand the words before I write them. As soon as I unerstand the meaning and the pronunciation. I know it seems wierd and maybe backwards or the long way, but I'll learn the written word faster that way. Anyway, I would like to be part of this possible study group. It sounds like it would be a good way to stay on track.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

This site lists links to downloads to many different Arabic fonts. Not necessarily conducive to learning but they sure are pretty

Arabic fonts

Ooooo, I'm going to forward it to husband to download on our computer at home