Arabic is a language with a lot of prestige attached to it. In Western culture, we don’t consume a whole lot of Arabic movies, music, or TV shows, but if someone can speak Arabic as a foreign language, we tend to assume they’re ridiculously smart. If you don’t know any Arabic, though, it’s pretty easy for anybody with a decent accent to fool you into thinking their Arabic is perfect, even if native speakers would be totally lost trying to follow what they’re saying. That’s why there are Arabic tests and exams that you can take to show that your Arabic proficiency has been verified by a third party. Language exams come with certificates. Those certificates can get you a job inside or outside the Arabic-speaking world. But... Show more

Language is really about making connections. If you know how to chat with somebody about the weather or the food you’re eating, well, good for you. That might lead to an interesting conversation. But when you know a little bit more about your target language culture, and you can pull out the right phrase for the right situation (like how to wish a happy birthday in Arabic), you show that you’ve gone beyond just knowing a handful of words. And when that phrase is about some major life event, something that really has an emotional effect on somebody? That’s when you make a fantastic impression. So that’s what this article is all about: the absolute essential phrases that you need in Arabic to show somebody that you care, no matter... Show more

Do you know what the most decisive moment of a day in the office is? It happens in the blink of an eye, and it could mean the start of a great deal—or a disaster. It’s the length of time it takes for you to click “Send.” A scary moment, to be sure. Are you positive there weren’t any mistakes in that last email? Did it go to the right person? And when you’re doing business in another culture and another language, the pressure gets turned up to eleven. But at the same time, the rewards could be enormous. If you’re someone who’s already got a decent grasp of the written Arabic language, then you might be ready for the challenge of writing business emails in Arabic. What does it take—and what’s in it for you? In this... Show more

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from everyone here at ArabicPod101.com! We're grateful to have listeners just like you, and we're eagerly waiting for the upcoming year to learn Arabic together! And when the New Year comes around, be sure to make a resolution to study Arabic with ArabicPod101.com! Have a healthy and happy holiday season. From the ArabicPod101.com Team