Everyone agrees: Learning a foreign language is an amazing (if hard) and fulfilling process. By learning to speak, understand others, and think in a language different from our own, not only do we add a new skill to our repertoire, but we can also change the way we see the outside world and our relationship to it. Now for the question at hand: How long does it take to learn Arabic, and is it worth it? Well, consider the fact that there are more than ten words for "love" in Arabic—and over 100 words for "camel"! I mean, these facts will certainly have an impact on the way you think about your love life…and about those amazing desert creatures! Learners of Arabic would all love to dedicate endless hours to studying the language and... Show more

Have you been binging on YouTube lately? Hopefully not in English! To supplement your normal Arabic lessons, YouTube videos in your target language can be of immense help.  YouTube is a fantastic tool for language learning, more so than most people give it credit for.  And when you’re studying a world language like Arabic, you’ll practically be spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding what to watch. There’s seriously something out there for everybody!  Interested in gaming? Arabic gamers. Food? You betcha. Documentaries? Right there with you.  And even if you’re just beginning to get comfortable with Arabic, there are still fantastic free resources on Arabic YouTube channels to guide you along the way—including one that you’ll... Show more

"You’re learning Arabic? Wow, I could never do that!" You’ve probably heard that sentiment, or something like it, dozens of times. Or perhaps you’ve become intimidated hearing it said to other people.  For English-speakers, Arabic has a reputation for being an incredibly tough language to learn. Nobody offers Arabic classes in middle school, and nobody talks about picking up Arabic from watching cartoons. But does Arabic deserve such a reputation? Is Arabic hard to learn? Could it be that there’s more to a language than its perceived difficulty? Let’s find out! Table of Contents Is Arabic Really the Hardest Language? Why Arabic is Hard to Learn Why Arabic is Easier Than You Think What Every New Arabic Learner... Show more

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to speak flawless Arabic? It’s a language that flummoxes students around the world daily. Even in Arabic-speaking countries, people are divided on what’s really "correct" and "proper" Arabic. The truth is, you really don’t have to speak Arabic by the book in order to show your respect for the cultures and languages of Arab people. A little really does go a long way! In this article, you’ll see some of the most common mistakes Arabic speakers make when learning the language, as well as the best ways to overcome them. Table of Contents Pronunciation Vocabulary Mistakes Word Order Mistakes Arabic Grammar Mistakes Uniquely Arabic Mistakes The Biggest Mistake Conclusion 1.... Show more

You can learn quite a bit of a language through questions. Whether you’re traveling or hanging out in your hometown, any conversation you have with a native speaker in Arabic is going to involve a little bit of Q-and-A. In fact, this is especially true for Arabic, since it’s a language not as commonly learned by foreigners. People are going to be rather curious about you as, in all likelihood, you’re going to be the first Arabic-speaking foreigner they’ve ever met. Check out these common Arabic questions and answers, so that you have a leg up when the conversation starts! Table of Contents What’s your name? Where are you from? Do you speak Arabic? How long have you been studying Arabic? Have you been to ___? ... Show more

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

You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Arabic! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Arabic keyboard. Table of Contents Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Arabic Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Arabic How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer How to Change the Language Settings to Arabic on Your Computer Activating the Arabic Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet Arabic Keyboard Typing Tips How to Practice Typing Arabic 1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Arabic Learning a new language is made so much easier... Show more

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela gave some solid advice. Your words, and the language they’re spoken in, can make a powerful impact. But what about what you’re not saying? What are you communicating without even realizing it? Is your message, “I’m confident, trustworthy, and capable,” or something more like “Watch out!”? In this article, we’re going to take a holistic look at the nonverbal signals you might be giving your business partner. When you’re in another culture, you can’t expect your body language to stay the same. In Dubai, you might accidentally be sending messages that tip the scales in the... Show more

Can You Really Learn Arabic Alone? Learning a language on your own or without traditional classroom instruction may seem quite daunting at first. What if you run into questions? How do you stay motivated and on track to achieving goals? Don’t worry, not only is it possible to learn Arabic or any language without traditional classroom instruction: ArabicPod101 has created the world’s most advanced and extensive online language learning system. Not only is ArabicPod101 specifically designed to help you with learning a language on your own, it’s actually faster, more convenient, and less expensive than traditional classroom options! Let’s look at some of the benefits of learning Arabic or any language alone. Also, don't forget to... Show more

Yes, even beginners can quickly learn conversational Arabic well enough to carry on real conversations with native speakers. Of course, beginners won’t be able to carry a conversation the same way they could in their native language. But, just knowing a few tips like which questions to ask to keep a conversation going are all you need to speak and interact with real native speakers! But before we get to specific suggestions, let’s first take a closer look at how having real Arabic conversations is so vital to your mastery of the language. Learning to Carry a Conversation is Vital to Mastery of Any Language Communicating with other people is the very point of language and conversation is almost second nature in our native tongue. For... Show more