4 Ways to Learn Arabic Online

In the last 20 years, the internet has made the world a smaller place. Knowledge from all over the globe is now at our fingertips. There was a time when learning another language meant the student had to travel, spend time in another country, and immerse himself in the target language.

But today, due to advances in technology, language acquisition is possible online. And although it is possible to learn languages online, the methods used are different than the traditional classroom.

Reading

Many languages around the world use the same letters as the English language even if they are pronounced differently. With Arabic, this is not the case. Arabic letters are different, and the words are written and read from right to left, whereas English is written and read from left to right. For this reason, you must have a good program that will assist you in learning to read Arabic.

You have total recall when it comes to reading English because you have been exposed to it from birth and it does not take any thought when reading. It is important to build a foundation when learning to read Arabic that is not compared to the letters in the English alphabet.  You must see the letters and know their sounds without associating them with anything else.

The Arabic Unlocked app is tailored to establish connections as you learn Arabic online. All of the key components for learning to read are there; someone providing pronunciation of each letter and eventually words, pictures to associate the letter to its sound, and repetition of the information so that it becomes part of the long-term memory.

As with any newly acquired skill, it takes practice to improve reading and comprehension. There is a plethora of reading material on the internet, some geared toward second language learners.

When building your reading skills, you should constantly build your vocabulary, choose topics you are interested in, and read. If you are learning Arabic because you want to be able to read and understand the Quran, then the best way to increase your reading ability is to read the Quran.

Listening

While reading and adding on vocabulary is the first steps to learning the Arabic language, listening is a vital part of learning Arabic. There are podcasts, apps, vlogs, Quran and other materials in abundance.

Not long ago, the only options for listening to Arabic were traveling to an Arabic speaking country. The web has allowed language learners to reach across borders and get what is needed for language acquisition.

Podcasts and apps are perfect for sharpening listening skills. Both provide target learning that can be repeated as much as you want to hear it. They create connections between reading and listening by providing written material to what is being spoken. With podcasts, you can follow written transcripts as you listen.

The biggest benefit of podcasts and apps is their portability. You can learn from the comfort of your home, in your car on the way to work or school, even on breaks during the workday.

 As mentioned before, vlogs are an excellent way to gain fluency and understanding of the Arabic language. There are so many vlogs and videos on the web that a learner could never exhaust them.

Vlogs provide you with the opportunity to hear native Arabic speakers and make connections with what is being said and the actions of the actors on the video. Another benefit you get from videos is the ability to turn on captions and slow down the media. This enables you to grasp the material covered.

Speaking

Often in an English-speaking country, finding someone to speak Arabic with proves to be a challenge. However, there are many platforms online that will allow you to buddy up with native Arabic speakers. You can converse one-on-one or join in small groups. This type of platform is flexible. You can target your conversations, or you can participate in random discussions.

While most written material, regardless of the platform, is in standard Arabic, this is not true when it comes to speaking and listening material. The reality is most people do not speak standard Arabic in their everyday lives. When choosing a platform or individual to practice speaking, make sure that the person speaks the dialect of Arabic you are learning.

For those who are learning standard Arabic, known as fusha, choose learning partners who focus on academia or religious knowledge. This gives you the opportunity to hear as well as speak and be corrected on pronunciation and sentence structure

Immersion

When it comes to Arabic language acquisition, the ideal situation would be for you to be saturated with the language. This usually happens when traveling abroad. You would hear, see, and speak the language. There is no place in which you would not have the opportunity to learn Arabic.

A similar environment can be created online and in your home. When online keep reading material up on your screen. When possible, have an audio along with your reading material. When working or sitting in the home, play Arabic programs from various genres to duplicate the saturation a learner would receive in an Arab country.

Language learning takes times, but it does not have to be difficult or daunting. The internet has brought the world to your fingertips. Utilize it to immerse yourself in the Arabic language.

8 Comments

  1. Amara Kamara

    Very interested in learning Arabic language

    Reply
  2. Amara Kamara

    Undrrstood

    Reply
  3. Fathi Raya Nonci

    Jazaakallah khayran katsiiran

    Reply
    • Arabic Unlocked

      وَأَنْتُمْ فَجَزَاكُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
      Wa Antum Fa Jazakumullahu khayran

      Reply
  4. Saadon Shukor

    How can we find friends who have a common interest that is to learn to speak Arabic?

    Reply
    • Arabic Unlocked

      You could try searching online, such as Facebook groups, Dischord, and forums, and join them to connect with new friends interested in learning Arabic.

      If you’re interested in a focused group, inside our Academy, we have private Facebook groups and live classrooms. These are designed to help you connect with other Arabic students and experience an immersive learning environment.

      You can learn more about our Academy here: https://arabicunlocked.com/arabic-unlocked-academy/

      Reply
  5. Ndagire Zubeda

    So now where do I begin from

    Reply
    • Arabic Unlocked

      Most of our students find it easiest way to start with our Arabic Unlocked App: https://arabicunlocked.com/app/

      InshaAllah, this can be a great way for you to start too.

      Reply

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