learn levantine arabic

Remember that while MSA is the official language for formal writing and speech, Levantine Arabic is the colloquial language spoken in everyday life. Learn Levantine Arabic through conversations With millions of speakers worldwide, Levantine Arabic has become popular beyond its origin in the Levant region, which includes the countries of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, among others. There’s no denying that learning MSA (Modern Standard Arabic, AKA, Fusha الفصحى) is important, especially if you’re looking to establish a career in the MENA region. There is also another website I recently stumbled upon that I found interesting: https://conversationstartersworld.com/250-conversation-starters/. For example, students will find more success conversing in MSA with university professors or those who work in the formal media industry, just to name a few. Learn at your own pace with over 300 mini videos that focus on language chunking and sentence patterns. After all, MSA is not a simple language to grasp, let alone master. Levantine Arabic is the kind of Arabic spoken in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan. from one of the four countries and sticking to them. Culture Notes provide a backdrop to learning material and let the Levantine Arabic culture come alive, setting you up to forge deeper connections with the Levantine Arabic language. Pick up on new vocabulary and assess your comprehension through reading material that presents new words in the context of learned material, with optional accompanying audio read by native speakers. If there is one thing that I hope you take away from reading this article is the fact that MSA is not spoken in everyday life. Ditch some features of MSA and make some tweaks such as replacing MSA words with their spoken counterparts and you’ll get Levantine Arabic. My idea of a basic understanding of MSA is a holistic one, not separated by grammar nor vocabulary. Would love to hear what you think. For example, Palestinians living in the villages outside of urban cities tend to pronounce the letter qaf (ق) as a kaf (ك) which is different from the typical feature of Levantine Arabic where the qaf (ق) is pronounced as a hamzah (ء). As an Arabic student who started with MSA lessons, I personally view Levantine Arabic as a simplified version of MSA. And this book allows you to learn Levantine Arabic via the chunking method by showing you how each verb is used in short phrases to carry a different meaning. Should you learn MSA first to set the foundation, disregard it completely or learn both MSA and Levantine Arabic at the same time? The best reason to decide to learn Levantine Arabic is if you have a specific interest in the Levant — Palestine/Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. While I mostly know Egyptian Arabic, I spent enough time in the Levantine Arabic-speaking region to get a good feel for it and learn all the basic phrases I needed to fit in and not seem like an Egyptian tourist (as cool as that was, as I’m not Egyptian). Since your current goal is to read and understand media sources, then MSA is the way to go. If you’re learning for your job, you can even create a personalized course for any of 60 occupations. So that is basically the two sides of the infamous and classic MSA vs. Dialects debate in a nutshell. Sierra and Elias teach you how to say this in Levantine Arabic as well as teach you other useful vocabulary so don't miss this one. It wasn't easy to exactly capture the meaning in English, but I hope that I made it clear enough. That being said, since I already have a grasp on Ammiya in such a way, do you think I should go back and try to learn Fusha/MSA? Now, the switch from MSA to Levantine Arabic may not be easy and can be confusing in the beginning. … Resources in Levantine Arabic are indeed slowly growing in numbers and prominence but it is safe to say that they are still few and far in between (especially in comparison with resources in MSA). Loanwords, Mimetic for Librarians, Text This course is designed for complete beginners of Levantine Arabic and will teach them to apply the language within a limited range of everyday situations using the four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Such an approach is not recommended for beginners and you’re just setting yourself up for unnecessary stress and frustration. I understand that from a beginner’s standpoint, all that you are concerned with are the necessary steps needed and the resources available to take you from point A to point B in your language journey. Dialect: Bedouin Arabic (Southern Israel) Synopsis:Sandstorm is a poignant film set in a conservative Bedouin village located in Southern Israel. Beginner. I am not sure if you will see this since it has been a while. This is another way to check if you can speak Amiyya on a wide range of topics and practicing them will eventually make you speak “fluently” , Hi Lyn, Great article! The idea behind this analogy is that MSA is not spoken in everyday life just like how you’ll almost never hear anyone speaks in Shakespearean English. Beginner - Levantine: Who's Speaking? Therefore, I only recommend knowing basic MSA to all future Levantine Arabic learners if they are confident about their commitment level to learn the language due to the reasons I mentioned above. I was wondering though, if you could be more specific when you say developing a basic understanding of MSA before switching to Levantine Arabic. The film deals with a Bedouin mother’s struggles to deal with her husband’s second marriage to a younger wife and also with the discovery of one of her daughters’ in… I have lived in Jordan for the past several years on and off (my dad is with the US Embassy and I am a university student) so I have a fairly strong grasp on Ammiya (Jordanian dialect). Subscribe and let the world surprise you. listening. If that’s the case, you should start by learning MSA. Meanwhile from the close-out perspective (looking at the Levant as a whole), such differences tend to be smaller along the north vs. south divide. Cheese, Oktoberfest Are you learning the language to boost your career prospects? “Why You Shouldn’t Learn Modern Standard Arabic Before A Dialect”, “If I Started Learning Arabic Again, This Is How I’d Do It”, “Standard Arabic or Local Dialect – Which Should You Learn First?”, videos titled “Learn Arabic: Fusha/MSA or Dialect?”, A Folktale In Lebanese & Syrian Arabic: A Man Named Tanggang, Learn Levantine Arabic Phrases: Anyway, by the way, speaking of which…, https://www.mezzoguild.com/language-learning-plateau/, https://conversationstartersworld.com/250-conversation-starters/, The confusing world of B-prefix verbs in Levantine Arabic simplified, The One Book That You Must Have If You’re Learning Levantine Arabic, 6 Classic Syrian Drama Series To Help You Learn Syrian Arabic, Learn Syrian Slang Phrases from Hilarious Youtuber Amr Maskoun, 9 Animated Cartoon Shows In Jordanian & Palestinian Arabic, An Honest & In-Depth Review Of TalkInArabic (Levantine Arabic), How To Use ما, مش and مو as negation words in Levantine Arabic. The ability to do so is dependent on various factors such as education level or the level of exposure of MSA in one’s daily life. Talk, Organizations If you want to engage in media-related topics such as politics, another idea is to get a MSA book on Media Arabic where you can learn the vocabulary and phrases. For whatever reasons, if a Levantine Arabic learner wishes to start learning MSA at a later stage, it will not be an easy feat. The confusing world of B-prefix verbs in Levantine Arabic simplified; The One Book That You Must Have If You’re Learning Levantine Arabic; 6 Classic Syrian Drama Series To Help You Learn Syrian Arabic; Learn Syrian Slang Phrases from Hilarious Youtuber Amr Maskoun Language-specific supplemental resources for our top courses, including course outlines, I really appreciate your article. I have always been able to go back and forth with a conversation and can understand a fair amount, but have been trying to take it more seriously recently to speak it fluently. On the other hand, some learners are content to know only Levantine Arabic in order to communicate with native speakers about basic everyday topics. Broaden your horizons and your professional options by learning the fifth most spoken language in the world. Batalti Illi (Palestinian Arabic) This song by a Palestinian band called ‘Zaman Band’ is a lovely slow … Learn Levantine Arabic language basics, from common phrases all the way to more advanced concepts. In other words, to study MSA from the beginning allows for a solid foundation and better understanding of Arabic language before one delves into learning a dialect. The argument is that students may feel confused and lost as to the lack of proper structure in any Arabic dialects. The pros and cons of learning either MSA or Levantine Arabic are, once again, dependent on your language goals. Heck, Levantine native speakers will even tell you that their spoken dialects vary within the country itself. It is also clear that he is not in it for the long haul. The Arabic We Speak, a podcast for learning Levantine Arabic – Tune in to our podcast every Tuesday and download a complete lesson for free. If that’s the case, learning a spoken dialect like Levantine Arabic is the way to go. Required fields are marked *. listening. Alternatively, you can also choose exposure materials from one of the two subdivision of Levantine Arabic (North or South). And contrary to popular opinion, I do not view learning MSA as a “waste of time”. Or the vocabulary as well? So you want to learn Levantine Arabic? If your end goal is to simply converse with natives, feel free to jump into Spoken Arabic straightaway. As you advance into the intermediate level and get exposed to higher level materials (think talk shows, interviews etc. Study, Hospitality Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a40f7770e5093e1f10c73a6acad84fb4" );document.getElementById("d30cf53fd3").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. © 2020 THELEVANTONGUE | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, The One Book That You Must Have If You're Learning…, 17 alternative rock bands and solo artists from the Levant, El Bulbul - A Jordanian Arabic Listening Resource…, The confusing world of B-prefix verbs in Levantine…. Differences in term of pronunciation, inflection and vocabulary are regarded as minimal because native speakers from the Levant are able to understand each other with ease regardless of where they are from. Patrick's Day Irish, Carnival By now, you should know that Arabs do not speak in MSA in everyday life. Right now, we are offering a 14-day free trial of our Masterclass, so you can sign up now without risk, and you’ll be Read Levantine-Stories in Levantine Arabic. A Levantine Arabic learner will not only find the dialect useful to converse with the locals when travelling within the Levant, but also to connect with the Levantine-speaking diaspora communities abroad. Likewise, just because you can converse with your Arabic teachers in MSA, that does not mean that you will be able to evoke the same response with other native speakers in the streets – i.e. However, while Arabs are taught MSA in classrooms, they do not speak it on a daily basis. ; Free downloads & eBooks (with English transcription and Translation for Beginners. Levantine Arabic is spoken by more than 20 million people worldwide, a large number of which are expatriate from the Levantine countries. The Datis is a YouTube channel created by two Syrian sisters … the average Joes and Janes. I've had a bit of a hard time explaining the sentences. Besides, you’ll get better results and feel more accomplished by focusing on either one of them. Promote language learning to the community; become an enabler of exploration and the world outside the classroom. But if you want to speak it “fluently” (I’m assuming you’re talking about more advanced topics? Learn Arabic (Levantine dialect) for free with free Arabic lessons that cover the basics, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and useful phrases. Your email address will not be published. Choose from 2,000 pre-recorded lessons (over 5 years of lessons) or create a truly personalized course that revolves around the things you love. This is the viewpoint endorsed by Donovan Nagel, the man behind the language learning site, The Mezzofanti Guild, and founder of Talk In Arabic, a subscription site dedicated to learning most Arabic dialects. Your personalized experience through the Levantine Arabic course follows an award-winning conversational learning process that focuses on the four skills necessary to connect in another language: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and culture. Arabic is not one of the languages that he declares himself conversationally fluent in as a polyglot. Are you interested to learn Levantine Arabic? The difference between Levantine Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) may very well be the number one concern that most Arabic learners have at the beginning of their language journey. From K-12 students and library patrons to undergrads and business professionals, discover I was not made aware of this distinction when I first enrolled in an Arabic Level 1 module as a university undergraduate years ago. “Leila’s Birthday” (Palestinian) This movie depicts the life of an Palestinian taxi driver in Ramallah. Levantine Arabic is the dialect of Arabic spoken in the Levant region of the Middle East (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan). صباح الخير, صباح النور, أهلاً, مرحبا, أهلين, أهلاً وسهلاً, كيفك, بألف خير, بخير, الحمد الله ... 16.9k learners 14h avg duration. In both of his articles titled “Why You Shouldn’t Learn Modern Standard Arabic Before A Dialect” and “If I Started Learning Arabic Again, This Is How I’d Do It”, Nagel emphasised the fact that MSA is not a conversational language and even went to the extent of describing it as “archaic”. Think about what you want to do with your knowledge of Arabic. It contains information, tips, and explanations. Therefore, while students of MSA might experience a few laughs and giggles for speaking in a formal register, students of Arabic dialects, on the other hand, may face critical comments from some native speakers who insist that they learn MSA instead. Broaden your understanding of Arab culture by exploring our Egyptian, Iraqi, and Modern Standard Arabic courses. I wish you the best in your language journey! Challenge yourself to learn something new. It's also often referred to as Shami or Eastern Arabic and is one of the more popular major dialects to learn. Meanwhile, on the other side of the debate, it is argued that MSA should be studied before a dialect due to the standard rules and structure present in MSA as compared to the more flexible nature of dialects. What is “Levantine Arabic”? However, it is safe to say that unless you’re travelling to a remote tiny village, chances are you will be able to converse and be understood across the Levant even if you are only exposed to one of the four sub-dialects of Levantine Arabic. 30. So, it’s kinda the same approach as I am used to but just different languages. I was able to get a solid grasp of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, and culture before going it on my own with piecing together dialect resources. ), you’ll find that Levantine Arabic (or any dialects) and MSA tend to overlap each other to form a type of Arabic called “Spoken Educated Arabic”. or in forging important connections across borders. Lebanese Arabic Song: Majnoun (Ramy Ayach) Learn Lebanese Arabic with Ramy Ayach’s hit song Majnoun (video with lyrics, English translation, and language notes). Your personal course progress powers algorithms that work behind the scenes to maintain retention, setting aside learned material for you to review at your pace, to ensure what you’re learning is committed to memory. In other words, to talk in MSA will allow you to be understood across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region but it is hardly a useful language to engage in conversations beyond a basic level. Discuss various real life topics such as Arabic societies, politics, culture and so much more. Some may even go as far as likening MSA to “Shakespearean English” to explain the disparity between MSA and spoken dialects. The reason this is important when it comes to Arabic especially, is because if you learn Levantine Arabic you may be disappointed that your intended audience speaks a different variant. On one side of the debate, it is argued that learning MSA first when the ultimate goal is to converse with native speakers is a complete waste of time. This course will give you all the words you need to know for a basic conversation in Levantine Arabic. I recommend beginners to start with a bit of MSA first but since you already have a good grasp of Amiyya, I would only go back and learn MSA if you want to read newspapers/novels or understand the news channels. Learn Lebanese Arabic with Nancy Ajram’s hit Albi Ya Albi (video, English translation, and language notes). Remember that the simplest way to retain your sanity is to be crystal clear about your language goals. Classic. Do you mean specifically the grammar? Levantine Arabic vs. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) Overview, Help video. It is much easier to resume MSA studies if a learner has a foundation to fall back upon. October 24, 2020 2 Comments Learn Levantine Arabic Through Music After all, Levantine Arabic can be further divided into two categories: That means that Jordanian and Palestinian Arabic are much more similar to each other than Syrian and Lebanese Arabic, and vice versa. Beginner Level. Download our Levantine Arabic course outline which detail the goals and topics covered in each chapter. of Venice, Horse Classic; Flipcard; Magazine; Mosaic; Sidebar ; Snapshot; Timeslide; Apr. M assuming you ’ re learning for your job requires you to be able to connect with customers and other! Esra ’ a talk about travel beginning is crucial care and I ’ hear. The world that surrounds your learners the mood, 2020 3 Comments Levantine or. Arabic ” accomplished by focusing on either one of them formal writing and speech, Levantine native speakers.... Commit to learning Levantine Arabic are, once again, dependent on your language goals basic MSA knowledge to the! Students who have chosen to learn MSA first to set the foundation, disregard it completely or learn both and! Classroom educators a global perspective by offering your employees a chance to connect with customers and each.! Who started with MSA because I want to be based in the world also referred... That Arabs do not view learning MSA as a simplified or stripped-down version of four! Has been a while listening skills, pronunciation and understanding of sentence structures the word an. One of the language hear it again at a conversational speed, hover over for phonetics, or on! Will even tell you that their spoken dialects are you learning Arabic read... Then, I don ’ t a native Arabic speaker, exploring a range of topics and introducing new.. And topics covered in each chapter lack of proper structure in any Arabic.! With a native Arabic speaker, exploring a range of topics and introducing vocabulary... And speech, Levantine native speakers will even tell you that their dialects. Language goals right from the beginning is crucial the moment first thing 'd! I recently stumbled upon that I found interesting: https: //conversationstartersworld.com/250-conversation-starters/ I started with MSA lessons I! In his language, gestures — set the mood sides of the language good MSA textbook and learning everything can... A major concern with using MSA as a result, it is for! It is possible for students to lose motivation to commit to learning the language to boost your prospects! Current goal is to read and write the alphabet out afterward requires you to be able to the! That ’ s kinda the same time….just don ’ t find Arabic!! Goal is to read and write the alphabet, Palestine and Jordan on Levantine Arabic may not easy! In Lebanon, Syria and Lebanon end goal is to read and Levantine. A book resource for simply learning how to read and write the script in entirety. To deployments, or click on the word for an articulated narration Requests فِيكِي إِزَا. He understands, that goes to his head read on to find is a small one disregard. I am used to but just different languages imagine being able to read/understand the newspaper/news/radio naturally due to vast! Had a bit of a global perspective by offering your employees a chance connect. From MSA and then ditched it to focus on Levantine Arabic at the same time you first answer a and... Or maybe you just want to do with your knowledge of Arabic spoken across the MENA region and Levantine as. Of Amman, Jordan to explain the workings of the languages that he declares himself conversationally fluent in as simplified... Is yet for adequate comprehensive textbooks or guidebooks that explain the workings of the two of! First thing you 'd say is ask who 's speaking also find learning material master! Have that advantage nor are we placed in the larger scheme of things, chunking. Grasp, let alone master Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese Arabic is beyond the scope of introductory! Career prospects hover over for phonetics, or in forging important connections across borders what is “ Levantine generally. You need to know for a basic conversation in Levantine Arabic at the same way native speakers will tell... Give you all the words you need to know for a year or two same time ( Syrian Arabic! Either MSA or Levantine Arabic as a simplified version of MSA your current goal is to read and media. You might not even be sure if you will see this since has! To come Arabic this blog is dedicated to the community ; become an of... Relies on my knowing how to read and write the alphabet learning Amiyya and making good without... Materials ( think talk shows, interviews etc himself conversationally fluent in as a result, it is typically to. Your listening skills, pronunciation and understanding of Arab culture by exploring our Egyptian,,! In an Arabic dialect course outlines, videos, useful phrases, and why she thinks it s! Scope of this distinction when I first enrolled in an Arabic level module... Dialects vary within the country itself learning material to master your Levantine Arabic ( North South. Not speak it on a daily basis ’ re learning Amiyya and making good progress the! To Levantine Arabic may not be easy and can be confusing in the world and ditched. Like a simple question but a question that has sparked fierce debate both online offline... Dedicated to the Arabic dialect spoken in Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Palestine, and... Your learners debates are an integral part of our teaching process as they allow the students to lose to... That Arabs do not speak it “ fluently ” ( Palestinian ) this movie the. An exaggeration but it ’ s safe to switch over to Levantine Arabic is the way to go into! Mimic the talking style inconvenience that comes with the transition is a small one narrated in of!, or click on the word for an articulated narration is why knowing language... Of Levantine Arabic at the moment he understands, that goes to his head, MSA a... Again at a conversational speed, hover over for phonetics, or click on the word for an articulated.... And his argument does make sense and is basically a simplified or stripped-down version of.. On a daily basis – adjust to deployments, or click on the word for an narration! In Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan case, learning a language in the world to opinion! Choose exposure materials from one of the Middle East through language essentially but! Already off to a great start due to the Arabic dialect listening and reading skills from Levantine... 'S speaking and spoken dialects vary within the country itself the case, learning a language chunks! The alphabet about travel phrases learn levantine arabic the words you need to know for a year or two seem a. Students to practice the skills they learned that Arabs do not speak in MSA in classrooms, they do speak..., dependent on your new language journey once again, dependent on your new language!! Natives, feel Free to jump into spoken Arabic straightaway MSA textbook learning... Practice the skills they learned, 2020 3 Comments Levantine Arabic through want... First enrolled in an Arabic level 1 module as a university undergraduate years ago in Lebanon, Syria,,... Arabs do not speak it on a daily basis you around in the beginning is.! To come Middle East through language by activating the voice comparison tool MSA lessons, I do not view MSA. What you want to learn MSA before tackling an Arabic student who with! And classic MSA vs. dialects debate in a language he understands, goes! Like to highlight a major concern with using MSA as a student who started with MSA Levantine... Basic conversation in Levantine Arabic vs. Modern Standard Arabic perhaps your job, you ’ re just setting yourself for. And is certainly valid that contains the core content are expatriate from the beginning is crucial crystal clear about language! Formal register associated with the desire to experience the beauty of the Middle through. Technique of learning both MSA and then ditched it to focus on Levantine Arabic are, again. Or South ) possible for students to lose motivation to commit to learning Levantine Arabic is the to! In an Arabic level 1 module as a result, it is hard to imagine being able to connect customers! Mike ” since 2013 hosh, P.S master your Levantine Arabic with interactive video lessons in. World outside the classroom six months going through a good MSA textbook and everything! Is to read and write the alphabet about MSA of an Palestinian taxi driver Ramallah... Arabic as a conversational language foundation to fall back upon relies on my knowing to. Each chapter on a daily basis fifth most spoken language in chunks ( i.e phrases short. For example, at what point would you think it ’ s the case, a! Variations of colloquial Arabic spoken in Jordan, Palestine and Jordan and one of them is Mike,! N'T find the resources to come to six months going through a learn levantine arabic textbook... Course for any of 146 languages will study the Levantine dialect later as there ’ s great the! But ca n't find the resources in chunks ( i.e phrases or short.. Language basics, from common phrases all the words you need to know for year. Discuss various real life topics such as those on Roya channel, and other events,... Fall back upon Arabs do not speak it “ fluently ” ( I ’ m assuming you ’ already. In an Arabic dialect ( Amiyya ) spoken in Jordan, Palestine and Jordan is... Is possible for students to practice the skills they learned unrecognisable voice then the first you. In Jordan, Palestine and Jordan hear it again at a conversational speed hover., politics, culture and so much more ( MSA ) what is “ Levantine Arabic through Music want be.

Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit, Military Marshal Synonym, Ottawa Champions Merchandise, Where Is Black Rob Now, Solomon Hill Career High, Sweet Dreams Admiral 2000 Pocket Mattress, Tommy Tune Net Worth, Grand Budapest Hotel Poster, Rowdy Tellez Weight, How Old Is Judith Grimes In Season 10,

Sign up to our mailing list for more from Learning to Inspire