The Arabic language is spoken in twenty countries throughout the world and by over 280 million people. Most Arabic speakers live in the Middle East and North Africa. The popularity of Arabic is ever increasing as we become more of a multi-cultural and multi-lingual society.

Arabic Alphabet

Your first focus should be on the Arabic Alphabet, as it is different from English. There are 28 letters in the Arabic alphabet, rather than our 26. Many of these letters change form, depending on their position in a word. Arabic numerals are also different from our own. While they are written in a horizontal line from left to right, the letters are written in horizontal lines from right to left. There are plenty of online resources available to help get you started.

Writing in Arabic

Once you have learned the alphabet, you can begin to practice writing in Arabic. There are several websites that will allow you to connect with native speakers online. You can become “pen pals” through e-mail or chat, which will greatly improve your language skills. However, there are many different colloquial varieties of Arabic so if you’re learning it because you will be traveling to a certain area, you’ll want to find someone from that area to become pen pals with. That way, you’ll be sure to learn the way Arabic is spoken in that region.

Speaking in Arabic

The best way to learn a language is to speak it. Of course, you’ll have to learn common phrases, words, and verbs to do that. If you’re studying on your own, flash cards are a great idea. You can put pictures on one side if you’re more of a visual learner, or you can just put the English word with the Arabic word on the reverse side. Another great way to learn is by taking a class. Being able to speak to others in a classroom will be a huge advantage to you, as well as having access to a teacher. But if that doesn’t fit into your schedule, there are also many online courses offered on various sites.

Once you learn enough of the language to speak it, you’ll find yourself thinking in it. That is an excellent sign that you’re making progress. Practicing reading, writing, and speaking is the most important part so keep that in mind as you work towards your goal.