Dear Mair,
Mair I think that's wonderfull that you want to learn Arabic. As I have mentioned in another post, I can speak the common spoken Arabic fluently from living there, but have never learnt how to read or write it (appart from my name, and I know how to write numbers !). I want to encourage you as It really is a beautiful language........although it can sometimes sound a little aggressive !!! For me, I've never been good at learning languages, and found that the only way to pick it up was by living there. (I did not go there for the purpose of learning arabic, however it just happened !!). But obviously this is not feasible for everybody. And I found it so much more natural to say....'what does that mean?' having heard something said alot, rather than thinking of something in English and then asking how I would say it in arabic......so if it were me, I would try to watch as many arabic films (with subtitles) as possible. After-all, its how they learn english - by watching english/american movies and listening to music !! and I'ts so so much more fun than just having your head stuck in a book all the time !! Still use the books for reference, but try to use the films and music more too !! (preferably films with subtitles !) and that way I feel that your pronounciation will be much better too, as sometimes its hard to know from books etc.
But well done Mair, stick with it, and you'll be so proud of yourself when you go to the Middle East one day and flow into conversations with the locals !! Good luck, keep us posted as to what you have learnt and how it's all going, and if I can be of any help just let me know,
Love Demelza xxx
|