5 reasons to learn Arabic

I love learning languages and I’ve often thought about learning Arabic, although I haven’t taken the plunge. I have done some research into learning the language though as I am trying to choose “the next one”. Why would people want to learn Arabic? The reasons can usually be put into one of 5 areas.

Firstly, as a hobby. Some people love learning languages. Once they’ve mastered one they want another one. Despite what you may think, confusion between languages rarely happens. I learnt French, Italian and Russian together at University and don’t think I ever confused them. Mind you, I can’t remember much Italian or Russian! I like a language that’s a bit of a challenge, and Arabic would certainly tick that box, with its script and challenging grammar.

The second reason people may want to learn Arabic is because of their interest in Islam as it is the language of the Qur’an. If you are interested in Arabic for this reason then you should probably learn modern standard Arabic to start with, but also take some special Qur’anic Arabic classes to supplement your standard Arabic.

Thirdly, many people learn Arabic because they want to visit an Arabic speaking country. Modern Standard Arabic would be understood by most educated Arabic speakers, although it may sound a little formal to them. It is the version of Arabic used in newspapers, television and radio, so you should have lots of opportunities to hear it spoken, even without travelling. Many versions of Arabic are understood outside their regions, although colloquial Moroccan Arabic is a little harder for other Arabic speakers to understand. Nevertheless, knowledge of some of the language could greatly enhance any travel experience in the Middle East or Northern Africa, and if you are travelling in more remote areas it would be essential as there aren’t always English speakers available.

Fourthly, many people want to learn Arabic to do business with the Middle East. Of course business Arabic is specialised but a course in Modern Standard Arabic, perhaps starting with evening classes, can then be supplemented by private lessons, or even a course in an Arabic speaking country. Year long courses are very popular but you can also find some shorter courses available in many countries.

Finally, Arabic has a rich story telling history and has given the world a wealth of literature. The Arabian Nights stories were obviously written in Arabic, and the stories of Ali Baba, and Aladdin also started as stories passed down through the tradition of oral storytelling. Something less well-known is the earliest known science fiction novel, “Theologus Autodidactus”, written by Ibn al-Nafis (1213-1288). In fact, science fiction is also featured in some of The Arabian Nights stories so those who think it began with Jules Verne, H G Wells or Star Trek can learn some Arabic and read the original sci-fi! To learn literary or classical Arabic, the best option would be to enrol on a university course, as these often concentrate on history, literature and the classical language rather than conversational fluency.

Of course, the usual online or book/cd combination options are also available for learning Arabic but with such a rich and complicated language, the benefit of a real teacher cannot be overestimated. If you have learned Arabic anywhere, let us know how you got on, we’d love to hear from you!

Paula is a qualified EFL teacher who has taught in the UK and abroad. She has also taught adult literacy and numeracy in prisons and is now combining a small amount of private teaching with writing.