There are more than 375 million Arabic speaking people globally, making it the fifth most spoken language in a world where it is also recognised as the official mode of communication in 20 countries. Moreover, The British Council has listed Arabic as one of the 10 languages significant to the UK’s future.
Ask anyone who took up Arabic as his or her second language and they would testify that learning it is an awe-inspiring process and every stage of it can be very accomplishing. However, time is money and despite our urge to have limitless time to hone our linguistic skills, the reality is that the vagaries of our professional and personal life leave little time to learn a new mode of speech.
So how much time do you need?
The most widely asked question still does not offer an easy answer. This is because learning a language is a complex process based on various factors. Let us take a look at these factors and how they can impact your learning process.
1. Your Previous Language Learning Experiences
If you were raised bilingual or already speak a foreign language, you have a head start over someone who only speaks one language. Bilinguals find it relatively easy to learn a third language as many linguistic studies have substantiated. This is because they are subconsciously more used to being exposed to different languages.
However, if you are not bilingual or multilingual do not fret as that year of French in school or that business trip to Singapore was helpful. One of the initial steps to learn a language is to know a little about the nomenclature of the language and its distinct aspects.
If you have already explored Arabic grammar, memorised vocabulary, listened to various sounds and looked at the letters, your mind already knows what to expect when exposed to the language. There are not as many surprises and eventually, language learning becomes faster.
2. The Language You Are Learning
Despite the fact that Arabic is considered one of the toughest languages for English speakers to learn, this riveting language actually takes up a few words from English. These words can spare you time when acquiring some Arabic vocabulary.
Let us take a look at some of them:
- كومبيوتر – [kombiouter]: Computer
- تليفون – [telifone]: Telephone
- مليون –[ milyoon]: Million
- ميكرويف –[ maycrowayf]: Microwave
- How Are You Learning?
Your learning methods play a pivotal role in how quickly you learn Arabic. If your language learning is restricted only to a classroom environment, then it will perhaps take you comparatively longer to learn.
Nonetheless, if you also are exposed to the language outside the classroom then you can speed up the learning process. Reading, listening to music, radio or books, speaking, writing, watching films, and travelling to Arab speaking countries can all alleviate your learning curve.
- The Time Dedicated to Learning
Rationally speaking, the length of your learning process depends on how much time you intend to invest in it. Individuals who are willing to devote an hour a day to study grammar, memorising vocabulary, reading a book or watching a movie can escalate their learning process. That is why online lessons such as the ones here at http://omarnassra.com/ work so well for many new learners. These lessons encourage regular study and are easy to access 24/7.
- Your Attitude
Of course, you know attitude plays a crucial role in every aspect of your life and acquiring a new language is no different. If you strategise language learning with an optimistic attitude and see it as a fascinating opportunity to expand your horizons, you will be more open to learning.
By following the above techniques, there is no reason why you can’t become an expert in Arabic in a matter of months.