It’s beneficial for our mental acuity, it’s beneficial for our ability to communicate, and it’s beneficial to our awareness of other cultures and world history.

More than that, it can open up a lot of new opportunities for you on a personal and professional level.

So, let’s take a closer look at 5 great reasons to study Arabic.

1. You can stay connected in a distant world

The number of people interested in learning a second language spiked during all the lockdowns of the last couple of years.

Why?

In a time when travel was highly restricted, learning Arabic (or other languages) apparently became the next best thing to feeling like we were still connected to the wider world.

For some, it was an opportunity to connect with family members in another country. For others, it was all about getting to know a different culture.

You can strengthen your connections with friends and family all over the world with a strong foundation in Arabic.

2. Learning Arabic can help you learn other languages, too

Arabic is usually considered a very challenging language for English speakers to learn, but once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, it can be a strong foundation for several other similar languages. Turkish, Farsi, and other languages will be much easier for you to learn after you’ve made some progress in Arabic.

It won’t take long for you to start seeing how many of the words and grammar rules share some of the same roots, and these similarities always make it easier to start picking up the new language.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: I’m just getting starting with Arabic. Why would I want to think about yet another language?

To this, we can only say: you never know. The day may come when you’re ready to be multilingual. And if you have a strong foundation in Arabic, you’ll find a lot of familiarities in these other languages.

3. Companies are seeking out Arabic speakers

There are a lot of opportunities for people who can speak Arabic. As the commercial and corporate world continues to expand into new countries, people with multiple language skills will be in extremely high demand.

Arabic is the primary language for business in many different countries, so if you are attempting to gain employment in a company that has international dealings, you can expect your resume to gain some immediate attention.

On top of that, when you can show the necessary level of fluency in Arabic, you will likely be able to qualify for a higher salary.

4. You can have a more fulfilling travel experience

While it’s true that travel has been more limited over the past couple of years, many places are opening back up and welcoming new visitors.

Egypt has been one of the biggest tourist attractions for years, and there is so much to see and do here that it’s an experience no one should miss.

And when you arrive, just imagine how much more fulfilling your experience will be when you don’t have to rely on tour guides to communicate with others. You will be able to see the country from a whole new perspective.

5. You can make it a family endeavor

There are many great benefits that come from learning Arabic together as a family. For starters, when you travel as a family to Arabic-speaking countries (whether you’re relocating or just on vacation) you’ll all be able to communicate with your neighbors and the people you meet. If you have family in these countries, this is a great way to introduce the rest of your family to them. On top of all that, there are a lot of cognitive and intellectual benefits that come from learning a second language, which can give the young members of your family a strong head start.

It’s important to note that when you learn Arabic as a family, you an make the entire experience more fun. You can play games together, watch movies and shows together, and – most importantly – provide accountability for each other so everyone sticks to the coursework and strives to reach their goals.

Are you ready to get started? Check out our range of Arabic courses and see what we can offer. These online lessons make it easy to get started and easy to fit into your busy schedule. Get started today and discover these benefits for yourself.

The post 5 Reasons to Study Arabic appeared first on Arab Academy.

Whether for business, religion, schooling, or simply the desire to learn something new, hundreds of thousands of individuals have trusted us to provide them with a quality educational experience as they learn or brush up on the Arabic language.

A History of Arab Academy

We’re taking you back with a brief look at where we began and how we have grown over the last 25 years.

1996 – Arab Academy was incorporated under the name of EduMagic on Dec 7, 1996.

In 1996 the founder of Arab Academy, Ms. Sanaa Ghanem, was awarded ‘Best Software in the Middle East’ by GITEX in Dubai.

Diskettes & Floppy Disks – The company focused on developing programs for learning Arabic using diskettes and floppy disks.

1999 – In 1999 the company launched its learning platform on portals through the internet.

Expansion – The company launched other products in addition to teaching Arabic which were:

• The Arabic Language proficiency Test (ALPT)
• Teacher training
• Classrooms
• And more

2005 – In 2005, the company started providing Arabic courses through physical classrooms.

Today – Since inception Arab Academy has issued over 200,000 (two hundred thousand) usernames to paying customers.

We teach Arabic online, in the classroom, and offer immersive experiences to those who want a hands-on learning experience. We also cater to different needs and interests by offering

• Arabic for Kids
• Arabic for teens/students
• Arabic online for adults
• Quranic Arabic
• Colloquial Arabic
• Islamic Arabic

We have also been entrusted to work with colleges and the government, an honor we are privileged to have.

Arab Academy was selected by theUS State Department to teach Arabic to Egypt based Diplomats and has been providing this service since 2009.

Arab Academy also has many prominent institutions as its clients. This is a partial list:

• Cambridge University in UK
• University of Pennsylvania
• US Air Force
• British Embassy, Brazil Embassy, Japanese Embassy, Belgian Embassy, Embassy of Singapore
• Texas University
• Houston University
• Manchester University in UK

We are happy to have served you for the last 25 years and look forward to new students and many milestones to come. Explore our courses today and join the many who have chosen to learn with Arab Academy.

The post Arab Academy: 25 Years of Educating the World appeared first on Arab Academy.

So, whenever someone asks: “is Arabic hard to learn?” we have to answer with: “it depends.”

We understand that that’s not the answer a lot of people want to hear, and it may even seem like a bit of an evasion, but it’s true.

If we come at this a little more objectively, of course, there are some studies that have suggested that Arabic is one of the most challenging languages for English speakers to learn.

Maybe it’s safe to say that Arabic is certainly perceived as a difficult language to learn, so let’s take a look at why that might be.

Language Characteristics that Can Make Arabic Difficult

There are several elements of language learning that can be challenging for anyone. These are things like unfamiliar sounds, different combinations of vowels and consonants, and unaccustomed sentence structures.

In other words, the more similar the new language is to your native language, the easier it will be for you to learn it.

English speakers often have trouble with Arabic because it is very different from the language they know.

Here are a number of characteristics that make Arabic more challenging for some learners.

• The Arabic alphabet has 28 script letters that can be difficult for some students to learn
• Reading Arabic has its own challenges, because in written form it omits vowels
• Arabic is written from right to left, which takes a whole new mindset
• English and Arabic share very few common words (though there are some)
• Arabic uses a lot of sounds that require using the back of the throat in a way that most English speakers are not familiar with
• The sentence structure can be very different, because verbs tend to come before the subject
• There are not many opportunities to get immersed in the language outside Arabic-speaking countries

It’s important to understand what makes Arabic and English so different because this will give us a foundation from which we can work to overcome the most common challenges.

How Can We Make It Easier to Learn Arabic?

Once again, “easier” is dependent on the learner, but there are some things you can do to potentially make the learning process a little faster.

Online Arabic classes have made it more convenient than ever to study a new language and to go at your own pace. This means that if you are one of those who tends to pick up new grammar and vocabulary quickly, you can keep pushing yourself to go even further.

If you require more time to really grasp the new elements of the language, you’re free to do that, too. This means that you’ll be approaching Arabic in a way that will help you embrace the differences and really make the language your own.

There are, of course, some things that anyone can do to enhance their learning processes, including:

• One-on-one lessons with native speakers.
• Immersing yourself in the language whenever possible.
• Setting measurable and attainable goals.
• Testing your skills to measure your growth and improvement.
• Finding every opportunity to speak the language.

In the end, though, there is simply no better way to learn Arabic than to have the determination and desire to keep going no matter what.

It May be a Challenge, but…

The more challenging the language, the more rewarding the sense of accomplishment when you have your first conversation in Arabic, or write your first letter in Arabic, or realize you understood an entire movie or show in Arabic.

Each and every one of those accomplishments feels great. It encourages learners to continue working and striving to learn and speak a little more. And you can do it all if you stick with it.

So, is Arabic hard to learn?

Maybe.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely.

The post Is Arabic Hard to Learn? appeared first on Arab Academy.

If you’re trying to figure out which language to add to your child’s repertoire, why not try Arabic?

The Benefits of Learning Arabic

Children are not the only ones who benefit from learning Arabic. Teenagers and adults can also benefit as well.

Learning Arabic can open doors to employment and business opportunities, help bring about a greater understanding and appreciation of the Arabic culture, make traveling in Arabic-speaking countries easier and more enjoyable and can pave the way to lifelong friendships with Arabic speaking neighbors.

More and more international companies are conducting business in Arabic-speaking countries. Employees who are fluent in Arabic have a higher potential of getting hired and promoted. With the world events that are taking place, governments are also seeking personnel who are fluent in Arabic to help with translation and to build peaceful relationships with governments in Arab countries.

In communities across the U.S. there is an ever-diversifying population composing more and more of Arabic speakers. Children and those who aren’t professionally driven can find the relationships they build with their Arabic neighbors a good reason to learn Arabic.

Both adults and children can benefit from learning Arabic. The good thing is that no one is too young or too old to learn it.

When Should Children Learn Arabic?

Like any hobby or skill, the earlier you expose your children to the Arabic language, the easier it will be for them to learn and retain it.

Children’s brains develop the fastest within the first five years of life. The first words spoken in their native language are done by the age of two. In preschool, children are taught basic written and spoken language skills.

Unless you’re living in an Arabic-speaking country, Arabic will be your child’s second language. English will be the language children in preschool and early elementary school are taught. Arabic can be taught at home concurrently with English.

Oftentimes, children begin learning Arabic after first learning English.

Arabic, like other languages can be taught to children at a very young age, beginning with the Arabic alphabet. Slowly words can be formed and an ever-expanding vocabulary can be established using a variety of age appropriate resources including games, workbooks, videos, art and flashcards.

Learn Arabic at Any Age

What if you have older kids or if you want to learn Arabic yourself?

The Arab Academy offers both Quranic and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) to children and adults of all ages and skill levels.

Our courses are completely online so you and your family can learn Arabic at your own pace and on your own schedule. All the courses taught at Arab Academy are taught by native Arabic speakers and include a variety of interactive activities to reinforce learning.

The Arab Academy also boasts of one of the largest online Arabic language resource libraries that students can utilize to enhance, accelerate and solidify their Arabic studies.

If you’re looking for an internationally recognized Arabic learning school for your child or yourself, contact Arab Academy today for more information about our Arabic language courses and let us help you and your child experience the benefits of learning Arabic.

The post What Age Should Children Start Learning Arabic? appeared first on Arab Academy.

Why?

Because working on your Arabic pronunciation from the start can increase your ability to hear and understand the words that native speakers are using. In other words, it can help you speak and hear the language better.

And, let’s face it, if you want to impress a native speaker, it’s going to be with your accent, and not the number of words you know.

How to Start Learning Arabic Pronunciation

Pronunciation is one part of language learning that simply can’t be done straight out of a book.

Yes, you can look at a pronunciation guide and get a general feel for the sounds, but you really need to hear the words and practice speaking with a native speaker to really develop your ear for the language and your ability to connect the words you see with the ones you say.

There are a few simple guidelines for learning pronunciation that can help you get through this process.

1. Tune your ears to the language “frequency”

There are a lot of different sounds and rhythms in Arabic that you may not be accustomed to in your native language. Even if you don’t have a deep vocabulary yet, start listening to different sources and start getting a feel for the characteristics of the language.

2. Practice individual vowels and consonants

Once you have your ear properly tuned to the frequency, you’ll be able to hear when you’re matching the individual sounds.

It may seem extremely basic, but don’t settle for “close enough” here. Keep practicing, and remember that sounds may change based on how they’re used in different parts of speech and in different dialects.

3. Go beyond the letters

Think about how many ways you can pronounce the letter “a” in English. You need to know these variations, but it can be hard to know how to use them in different words. When you learned the alphabet, you didn’t learn that “a” was pronounced these 5 or 6 different ways. You learned that “a” in “apple” was pronounced one way, “father” another way, and “way” a different way.

Practice different words, focusing on those that sound similar but have distinct (if subtle) differences.

5. Listen to dialogue from a native speaker and parrot it back

Listening to and mimicking natural conversations can be extremely helpful. These kinds of exercises are different from repeating scripted phrases over and over again because it will give you a real taste of how words are pronounced by everyday speakers.

6. Practice the new sounds the most

You’re going to experience a number of new sounds in Arabic that you’d probably don’t have to deal with in your native language.

You can focus on practicing words in pairs that sound similar, so you can start to pick up on subtle differences in the pronunciation.

There are also different dialects in Arabic, so eventually you will start to understand the differences and similarities there, too.

7. Listen to the melodies of the words and sentences

When you’re learning a new language, you should take note that starts and stops, emphases, and inflections may come in different places that what you’re accustomed to hearing. There are patterns in how the sounds come together. Listen carefully and make sure you don’t get stuck on the patterns that are more common in your first language.

With everything else you’re trying to learn while you study Arabic for the first time, it can be tempting to tell yourself that you don’t need to focus on getting the pronunciation just right. At least not yet.

However, it can be extremely helpful to the overall language learning process to keep these tips in mind, because the sooner you start discovering the differences between your first language and Arabic, the sooner you’ll be able to start sounding like a real native speaker.

Sign up for a free lesson today to learn more about Arabic pronunciation![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The post An Introduction to Arabic Pronunciation appeared first on Arab Academy.

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Even when learning Arabic for fun or personal reasons, the added benefit of knowing Arabic can help you carry on a conversation and spark relationships with your Middle Eastern friends and neighbors.

Being fluent in Arabic will also be highly beneficial if you’re planning a trip to the Middle East any time soon.

There are many reasons to learn Arabic.

What language school should you go to in order to best learn Arabic?

The Arab Academy has been a globally recognized language school since 1997. The courses are entirely online and taught only by native Arabic speaking professors.

As a student, you can learn at your pace and select the right program for you. The Arab Academy has tracks for both novice and experienced speakers and include courses in Quranic and Modern Standard Arabic.

At Arab Academy, we know it can be difficult learning a new language. We provide students with additional resources and prompt, online support via chats with professors.

Here are some additional reasons to trust Arab Academy with your Arabic learning:

• You can find a tailored learning plan specifically to meet your goals. We have over 292 courses to suit all ages, levels and interests (including those for kids, business professionals, native speakers looking to expand their language, non-native speakers, standard Arabic, Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, and Islamic Arabic
• Learn Arabic from a world-trusted school. Arab Academy has partnered with numerous highly-respected colleges and universities worldwide and have attracted students from numerous countries across the globe.
• Be taught Arabic with a highly esteemed school. Not only is Arab Academy world-recognized, the quality of its programs is highly recommended by our students. In fact, 97% of our students would recommend us to a friend
• Your learning is under the care of qualified teachers. Each teacher at Arab Academy is a native Arabic speaker and they are committed and dedicated to your success. Even though our courses are online, there is plenty student-teacher interaction and our teachers are always available via chat to answer any questions and provide additional assistance.
• Flexible learning formats to ensure your success. At Arab Academy, we know not every student learns the same way. That is why we offer students the option for 1-on-1 lessons in place of the traditional group teaching format. We also provide each student access to the largest library of online Arabic language courses in the world so they can study, review and gain more knowledge in a specific area of Arabic that interests them.
• We make school affordable with scholarships. School can be expensive and the costs of tuition, books and materials is one of the two biggest deterrents for many would-be students. At Arab Academy, we see the value of an education, especially in one of the fastest-growing languages. We provide scholarships to students who qualify for financial assistance. Money should not stand in the way of achieving your goals, getting that promotion at work or building important relationships with neighbors.
• Become a fluent Arabic speaker in no time. The length of a program is something many students consider when looking for online learning programs. Many schools promise a fast completion time to attract students. These schools, however, sacrifice the quality of the education in order to give out certificates of completion quickly. At Arab Academy, we know your time is important, but we also don’t want you wasting your time and money on low-quality Arabic language courses with content that will be quickly forgotten. Our unique teaching format combines basic Arabic language fundamentals and combine them with cultural contexts and real-life examples and situations.

If you’re looking to learn Arabic quickly from a world-recognized language school that provides the highest-quality education, contact Arab Academy today to learn more and to register for a class.

The post Why Choose Arab Academy for Your Arabic Language Lessons appeared first on Arab Academy.

The Arabic language is becoming more important. Its increasing use in business makes it advantageous for any professional to add its proficiency to his or her skills.

For those looking to start a career in the government or work for a global organization, it is highly recommended to learn Arabic.

You may not need further convincing that learning Arabic is professionally beneficial. The challenge you have is time. You know that proficiency in a new language doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time; time you don’t necessarily have a lot of.

There is also the cost. There is no such thing as a fully free, quality online education. Even if the course is affordable, it goes back to the time. The more accelerated and condense the course, the more expensive it will be.

The longer it takes you to master Arabic, the more opportunities you’ll miss out on.

How would someone go about learning Arabic fast?

That’s where Arab Academy comes in.

While becoming proficient in any language will take time, there are online courses that are affordably priced and accelerated to enable students to finish the course quicker than traditional offline courses at college campuses.

These kinds of courses allow students to get more out of the course quickly.

Progress At Your Own Pace

The material is easy for new learners to grasp the concepts and rules of the Arabic language as well as build vocabulary. The pace of the course isn’t too slow that students get bored and the course gets prolonged longer than necessary. The pace is also not too fast so as to frustrate and discourage students. Online courses also enable students to learn and study on their schedules, making it convenient, especially for working individuals.

Teacher Expertise Impacts Speed & Cost of Course

Top-quality professors who give their time to teach a course will generally demand more compensation. Online courses, however, don’t require as much time from the teacher and allow the instructor to perform several functions efficiently. This equates to lower prices for the students.

A teacher that is more experienced in Arabic can better teach as they will be more up to date on how Arabic is spoken among native speakers. Instead of relying on rote memorization, these teachers employ contemporary tools.

These teachers will provide the most effective and correct teaching of Arabic. This means the classes will move quicker and end sooner.

Teacher Availability & Student Interaction

A language is more quickly learned and remembered with regular practice. Students learn faster and more effectively when they communicate regularly with a qualified teacher who is also a native speaker in the language rather than passively listening to an instructor teach the language.

In most cases with new Arabic language learners, the only native Arabic speaker they know is the professor. This is why it’s important that a quality Arabic course has a professor who is readily available to students.

When students have immediate access to the professor and can practice their Arabic speaking and listening skills, they will learn the language faster and more of it will be remembered.

Arab Academy hires native speakers to teach our courses. We want our students to learn from the best and all our courses are 100% online, so they are affordable and convenient for students. Our Arabic classes are interactive with video conferencing, chat and more.

We have a tremendous student success rate and would enjoy helping you reach your goals as well.

If you have any questions about our Arabic courses or would like to enroll, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

The post How to Learn Arabic Fast appeared first on Arab Academy.

Arabic is the official language of many countries in Asia and Africa. In countries where Arabic is predominantly spoken and is the official, national language, business has been increasing.

The Importance of Learning Arabic

You may have seen the luxury private islands and high-tech skyscrapers of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates on TV and in movies. These unreal scenes of opulence are not exaggerated that much. These and other oil-rich Middle East countries are expanding their dominance in the sectors of business and technology. Many countries in the Middle East have risen in prominence on the international business scene. Countries around the world are building businesses and participating in trade in these Arabic countries.

Learning the Arabic language is a skill that many businesses are looking for in employees because of the growing financial and economic influence of middle eastern countries where Arabic is spoken.

International government agencies are also seeking out recruits who are fluent in Arabic because of the world events happening in the Middle East.

While you don’t need to necessarily go to the countries below, learning Arabic can offer professional and personal benefits where you’re at. (There are Arabic speakers all around the world.)

Below is a list of countries whose official language is Arabic or where the vast majority of its residents speak Arabic:

Arabic Speaking Countries in Africa

• Algeria
• Chad
• Comoros
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Libya
• Mauritania
• Morocco
• Sudan
• Tunisia
• Tanzania
• Somalia

Arabic Speaking Countries in Asia

• Bahrain
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• United Arab Emirates
• Yemen

Arabic is the official language in 24 countries, all of which are included in the list above.

How to Learn the Arabic Language

There are many online resources available that can help you learn Arabic. The abundant resources can be overwhelming.

For an effective learning experience, you need to look for a qualified online school that has native Arabic teachers.

Arab Academy is one such school that offers each student a comprehensive Arabic language learning experience that they can progress through at their own pace. All our teachers are native Arabic speakers who are professionally qualified to teach to non-native speakers

You’ll also want to look at how long the school has been around and the variety of Arabic courses they offer. Some programs are a one-size-fits-all but Arab Academy has courses with are tailored to every need and pace

At Arab Academy, we know that no two students are the same. Some students know basic Arabic and need to brush up on their skills. Other students have never been exposed to Arabic before. Our students can progress through their courses at their own speed so they can best learn the language.

At Arab Academy, it is never too early or too late to learn Arabic. Click here to learn about our Arabic courses and sign up today!

The post Countries Where Arabic is Spoken appeared first on Arab Academy.

Since the time of its creation, it has had time to develop unique characteristics that set it apart from other languages of the world.

Here are some surprising facts about the Arabic language that you may not have known:

Arabic has different forms depending on the context in which it’s used.

Standard or classical Arabic is the form of the language used in media, newspapers, literature and most formal settings. A different, distinct spoken form of Arabic is used in ordinary, everyday conversation. Both forms are used in conjunction with one another, serving unique and different functions and purposes in society.

Arabic uses roots to construct words.

Arabic has an unusual root system consisting of three letters. Every word with the same three root letters can then be categorized into similar areas. For example, the root ‘k-t-b’ refers to writing. The words ‘kitaab’ and ‘maktab’ both contain the letters (or root) ‘k-t-b’ and mean ‘book’ and ‘a desk or office’ respectively.

There are 11 words for ‘love’ and over 100 words for ‘camel’.

There are 11 words for ‘love’ in Arabic, with each conveying a different stage in a relationship or the falling in love process. These words include ‘hawa’ which is the initial attraction towards, or turning towards and ‘hayam’ which is blind love and the complete loss of reason. The most common words for love are ‘hubb’ which means ‘seed’ and ‘qalb’ which means ‘heart.’

Arabic has over 100 words for ‘camel’ which at one point had as many as 1,000 words. ‘Al-Jafool,’ for example is a camel that is frightened by anything and ‘al-harib’ is a female camel that walks ahead of the other camels.

Arabic has sounds that don’t exist in other languages.

The Arabic language has many sounds, such as specific throat sounds that don’t exist in any other languages. Some words in Arabic are very similar in pronunciation, but have completely different meanings when just one syllable is mispronounced. ‘Qalb,’ for instance means heart, but if heard or spoken wrong, it can mean something dramatically different, like ‘kalb,’ which means dog. An example of a unique sound is the ‘h’ in ‘hubb (word for love) which is pronounced as if you’re gently breathing on a window pane to create mist.

Some of the unique throat sounds found in Arabic include: the pronunciation of Haa, a guttural breath that’s only found in Arabic, Ayn and Ghayn and kha, which is like the clearing of the throat.

Many words in English have Arabic origins.

There are many common words in English that have Arabic origins. These words include: racquet, alchemy, alcohol, algebra, algorithm, alkaline, amber, arsenal, candy, coffee, cotton, hazard, lemon, loofah, magazine, sherbet, sofa, sugar and tariff

Even the number system we use was introduced by Arab merchants to Europeans along trade routes centuries ago.

Capitalization and abbreviation don’t exist in Arabic.

Arabic speakers also don’t use contractions to combine two words.

Arabic uses the same punctuation that is in English, but the symbols are inverted.

Since Arabic is read from right to left, the punctuation is also inverted. For example, in English, you’ll see  , (comma),  ? (question mark) and ”“ (quote marks). The same in Arabic looks like   ،  ؟  . “”

Arabic is only written in cursive.

Whether writing or typing in Arabic, the letters are in cursive and connect to one another. The cursive style of each letter changes it from its original shape. Arabic speakers, therefore must know multiple shapes of each letter.

The Arabic language is indeed a unique one. If you want to learn this valuable language, sign up for an effective Arabic course today!

The post Surprising Facts about the Arabic Language appeared first on Arab Academy.