I just got started on the first couple of lessons this morning and I’m so excited! I just want to learn very basic stuff for my trip to the UAE, because although I know a lot of people speak English, I think it’s better to be safe than sorry, plus, I think it would be a little conceited of me to travel to a country where I don’t speak the language, and expect people to cater to ME and not even try a little bit… does that make sense? lol!

I do have a question… I know Mounia already answered this question for Lebanon and Jordan, but is Arabic in Morocco very different than in the UAE? I wouldn’t want to make a fool of myself speaking the wrong language!

Also, I like to comment on:

.”When I started learning Japanese, it was important for me at the early stage to keep using the Latin alphabet to write words and sentences. Once I got used to the sounds of words and I could associate them with characters in the Japanese script, I got more fluid at writing.”

Couldn’t agree more. I’m training myself to learn my native tongue, Arabic, and Japanese and Chinese through Latin letters first. It just makes sense to use the language you already fluently speak to learn another language. You can’t reinvent the wheel so to speak and memorize stuff you don’t understand (Kanji) to teach you a brand new language. Its like learning in reverse.

However, you’ll notice a difference in romanization for the Arabic sounds that do not exist in English. For example, you’ll find the sound (خ), pronounced like the ‘ch’ in the German “Bach”, transcribed as “kh” or “x” depending on which transcription system you’re looking at. Similarly, the sound (غ), like the French ‘r’, is transcribed as “gh” or “ġ” depending on people. As for the (ع) sound, which can be approximated by pronouncing the sound ‘a’ in “fat” with the tongue against the bottom of the mouth and from as deep in the throat as possible, you’ll find it transcribed as it is “ع “, an “a” with a little “c” shape next to it, or in a different way. Same thing goes for the letter (ش) which you’ll find written as “sh” or “š”.

Now, if you see a transcription character doubled, that means that a “shedda” (an emphasis) is over that character in the Arabic scrpit.

Sometimes, you will see a hyphen used. Different romanization systems use it for different purposes but in the PDFs it indicates the definite article “the.” Another symbol you will sometimes see is the apostrophe ( ‘ ). When you see an apostrophe, it indicates a “break” between vowels as heard in the English exclamation “uh oh.”

Now, as for your second concern, whether to learn the Arabic alphabet before learning to speak it or not, I personally think that you don’t really need to do that in the very beginning. Knowing a system of transcription that uses characters you’re familiar with (the Latin alphabet) will help you learn Arabic, early on, fairly quickly. But as you move on, when you practice the different sounds of Arabic until you can reproduce them, I suggest that you start learning the Arabic script. It’ll be easier for you to learn grammar that way when you can visualize how verbs change and what letters are added/taken out and so on.

When I started learning Japanese, it was important for me at the early stage to keep using the Latin alphabet to write words and sentences. Once I got used to the sounds of words and I could associate them with characters in the Japanese script, I got more fluid at writing.

Timothy, a member of our Arabic team who learned Arabic and who now designs and plans Arabic lessons, also has a say on this for you:

“I don’t think you need to learn the Arabic alphabet before learning to speak. I did know how to write in the Arabic script when I started learning, but I learned every word that I know through listening, and I still get verification everytime I write a new word. But I do think you need to learn the sounds of the letters so that you start out realizing there are two t’s that sound very similar, two d’s that sound very similar, two h’s that sound very similar, two k’s that sound very similar…..

That way you can ask when you’re not sure which sound you heard. Since you’re a visual-type, I would recommend writing the words. If you have to spend effort learning a romanization, you might as well learn the Arabic script instead.”

Good luck Erik and keep us posted of your progress.

Martin and netto! Shukran. Thanks a lot for stopping by and enjoy learning Arabic. Let us know if you have any questions.

كيفك ؟ أثمنى ان جوابي ما يكون معطل كثير. إدا دخلت ثخصص انجليزي، ممكن تصبحي مدرسة، كاتبة، صحفية… وبعدين ممكن ثثعلمي
لغات اخرى وتصيري مترجمة بأحد المنضمات العالمية. انت شنو هدفك؟

It would be interesting to hear your comments re the romanisation. I have seen so many different ways of translit Arabic into English!

I have also heard different opinions about the imortance of first learning the Arabic alphabet and then start to speak it. What is your take on that?

Shukran Jazilan.

Erik

بس ما اعتقد ان في حد يقول “شكراً جزيلا” هاذي الايام هههه
على اي حال كنت ابي اسأل سؤال….أنا وايد أحب الانجليزي بس مادري اذا دخلت تخصص انجليزي في الجامعه ايش ممكن اشتغل بعدين فاايش رأيك؟؟ ادخل انجليزي ولا ادخل شي ثاني؟؟

I am considering getting all 60 lessons of survival phrases arabic. I really likes the lessons I listened to so far. But before that I have one last question. I won’t be going to Morocco, but to Jordan, or Libanon. Now sometimes you mention that some words that you teach are moroccon arabic. But if you don’t mention anything, can I assume that you teach modern standard arabic, and that I will be understood in Jordan as well?

Best regards
Sophie

Was Mehdiya Beach a surfing paradise back then too? I know I’m waiting for the water to get warmer to hit that beach for some surf.
Glad to know you haven’t forgotten all about your trip to Morocco.

Brigid, thank you for taking the time to drop me a comment. good luck with the rest of your Arabic learning.

This, thus far, appears to be a great way to dust off my memory and add to my knowledge! Shukran Jazilan!

-Jim

Thankyou so much for the lessons! As has been observed before there is a lot of information on Arabic in terms of Grammer and far less of the actual spoken word which is how i learn best. I want to learn Arabic in the hope it will be useful in my later career as an Archaeologist as I’m enchanted by the history of Egypt and Mesopotamia and it would be great to converse with people whilst im there. Thanks again.

Tom

I’ll definitely be subscribing!

I admire what you do and your willingness to volunteer at clinics and schools in Morocco. Many poor regions are in definite need of medical help. If there is ANYTHING that you would like to know about the language or the local customs before embarking on your trip, do let me know. I hope you have a rewarding experience.

Mounia

Thank you all so much for your enouraging comments! You’re terrific Kevin for wanting longer podcasts. Some lessons are just so full of information I go a bit too fast to fit in as much as I can, but I’ll remember to slow down.

Jessica, I can’t tell you how good it feels to know that my lessons are a step for you to become a translator at the navy! All the best in your work.

If you are interested in learning Arabic, French, Spanish or English the fun way, be sure to visit http://www.speakitall.com.

Thank you sooo much.

Thank you so much for putting out this series. I have signed up for the premium account just so I can get all the lessons. You are very easy to understand and your comments make it easier to remember.
My wife and I will be going to Morocco this fall to be medical volunteers in schools and clinics for the poor in conjunction with the ministry of health. I hope to be able to use your lessons to help communicate with the people we meet on a daily basis.

Looking forward to many more lessons.

-Neil-

From a beginners point of view in learning Arabic, I find the tutor goes just a little too fast at times - another sixty seconds on the length of the podcast should not be too much of a problem but would allow for slightly longer gaps after a phrase is spoken, just to let it sink in and give me a moment to absorb it before being spoken to again.

But other than that I would highly recommend anyone to look at your material. I will certainly be back for a second course.

Keep up the good work,

best wishes,
Kevin

I really enjoy learning these survival phrases. I don’t know too much, at all, YET, but I can impress my friends with a few words here and there.

It’s nice that you don’t just teach the “survival phrases” but you explain them too. It’s great.

Thank you!

Erika

Thanks a lot for the nice comment and encouragements, I’m glad you’re finding the lessons quite useful. Yes, Spoken Arabic is what you need to learn to interact with locals and it’s not very common in textbooks.

Enjoy the rest of the series (there’s a lot more coming :smil and do leave us more posts.

Mounia

I’m finding these lessons quite useful, as there are not much resources in the Web concerning spoken Arabic, and most of them focuse on grammar issues rather than the usage of everyday language.

Definitely, you are doing a great job

Carlo