By amberherrle
I wanted to take some time to provide a list of resources for Arabic learners that I can go back to the first time and also hopefully provide you with some free tools to use while you're on campus learning Arabic or preparing to go abroad.
Arabic is so tough. One of my professor's who is by all means, fluent in Arabic said it best "Can I have conversations in Arabic? Yes. Can I read the newspaper in Arabic? Yes. Do I feel comfortable doing either of those things? No." Feeling comfortable speaking Arabic is equally as tough as learning the language. For me, it's tough to feel comfortable in Arabic because Arabic is so far from English. The idioms lack English translations, the verb forms similarly don't always have English translations or anything close to a translation so it can be hard for me to find my footing in this language. Nevertheless - Arabic is a spectacular language and my dedication for the language has only increased since arriving in Jordan.
Language Resources (or: "beyond Al Kitaab!")
Virtual Language Exchange Partners - Having a language exchange partner is a great way to train your ear. This is especially important in Arabic as what you hear on the news (and in Arabic class) is very different than what you hear in someone's home or on the street. A great place to start is italki.com
American Embassy's in country - In Amman there is a great language exchange once a week. Contact the American embassy if you are in an Arabic speaking country and see if they put on a language exchange program.
Professor's office hours - I cannot recommend this more. Go to your professor's office and just have a conversation with them in your target language. You can practice listening comprehension, gain confidence in your ability to speak in the language and learn new vocabulary.
Arabic specific language resources:
All the Arabic You Didn't Learn the First Time - this is a great website for grammar and verbal explanations. The presentation of complex concepts is quick and easy to understand if you need a refresher or didn't quite understand something you learned it class.
Arabic Desert Sky - Great for learning verb forms. Arabic Desert Sky also has pretty comprehensive vocab sets for idioms and phrases in the Egyptian dialect.
http://arabic.desert-sky.net/index.html
Google Translate - So this isn't the best resource if you are just jumping into Arabic but if you are in your second or third year of using the language and you know your way around the language Google Translate can be a great resource. You can also download dictionaries on the Google Translate App which is extremely helpful when you don't have wifi or data.
Okay so that's what I've got. Jordan is wonderful - my dialect speaking comprehension and skills are improved immensely by living with a host family and utilizing the language with people in my community. Further, my classes have been pretty awesome with visits from former Ministers to scholars here in Jordan.