Learn Arabic Quickly | 5 Incredibly Effective Tips (no joking!)

You want to learn Arabic quickly, right? 

So, listen carefully…

Do you know this incredible story of New Yorker Trevor Milch who learned to Arabic fluently in 2 weeks, without even studying the Arabic language?

I bet you’ve never heard of this amazing story, have you? Neither do I! The reason is simple: this story does not exist.

Look…

Vous voyez, apprendre l’arabe n’est pas aussi simple que devenir bilingue en un claquement de doigt. C’est un processus, et un merveilleux voyage à entreprendre. Mais il y a des astuces efficaces pour assimiler la langue du Coran de façon incroyablement plus rapide, et de gagner un temps monstre. 

You see, learning Arabic isn’t as easy as becoming bilingual in a snap. It’s a process, and a wonderful journey to take. But there are some effective tricks to learn the language of the Qur’an in an incredibly faster way, and to save massive time. 

Here it is…

How would you like to save years in your learning Arabic, and experience more quickly the thousand and one delights of the language of the Arab-Muslim civilisation? That would be great, wouldn’t it? This is why this article is for you. In a moment, you will discover 5 effective tips (no joke!) that will allow you to learn Arabic quickly and easily.

So, are you ready to go and explore these 5 magical beans?

Come on…

Let’s go!

1. Choose the right method to learn Arabic quickly (this is more important than you might think…)

Vous voyez, le nerf de la guerre pour apprendre l’arabe rapidement est de choisir la bonne stratégie, c’est-à-dire la bonne méthode d’apprentissage.

Parce que, voilà le secret explosif derrière le choix de la bonne méthode : 

Vous savez, une bonne méthode pédagogique, c’est comme une bonne recette de cookies, croustillants à l’extérieur et juste assez moelleux dedans !

Parce que regardez…

Imaginez un chef pâtissier qui a mis 20 ans de sa vie à perfectionner une recette de cookies. Et voilà la question clé : est-ce que vous allez obtenir les mêmes cookies alléchants si vous suivez les étapes de sa recette ? Et bien oui, même si vous n’êtes pas chef vous-même ! Autrement dit, c’est un gain de temps énorme pour des résultats fantastiques, vous ne trouvez pas ? Et bien c’est la même chose pour la merveilleuse langue arabe.

Voilà pourquoi : 

You see, the key to learning Arabic quickly is choosing the right strategy – that is, the right method of learning.

Here’s the explosive secret behind choosing the right method: 

You know, a good teaching method is like a good cookie recipe, crispy on the outside and just soft enough on the inside!

Look…

Imagine a pastry chef who spent 20 years of their life perfecting a cookie recipe. Here’s the key question: are you going to get the same mouth-watering cookies if you follow the steps in the recipe? Well yes, even if you are not a chef yourself! In other words, it’s a huge time saver for fantastic results, don’t you think? Well, it’s the same with the wonderful Arabic language.

Here’s why: 

Parce que vous savez, il y a des linguistes et des spécialistes qui ont passé des années à peaufiner des méthodes pédagogiques efficaces pour l’enseignement des langues. Et vous voyez, pourquoi tuer des années de votre vie à tourner en rond et à essayer de réinventer la roue quand vous pouvez gagner un temps phénoménal en utilisant une méthode déjà éprouvée, vous ne trouvez pas ? Voilà pourquoi le choix de la bonne stratégie didactique est le nerf de la guerre pour apprendre l’arabe en un temps record.  

As you know, there are linguists and scholars who have spent years perfecting effective teaching methods for language teaching. And, you see, why kill years of your life spinning around and trying to reinvent the wheel when you can save a phenomenal amount of time using a method that has already been proven, don’t you agree? This is why choosing the right didactic strategy is the key to learning Arabic in record time.  

Listen up… (it’s very important): 

You know, even the most seasoned polyglots swear by the method, and their stories wonderfully illustrate the phenomenal power of a good didactic strategy to learning a foreign language. 

And here’s a simple example that’s very moving:

This magnificent example is the story of Alexander Argüelles (and it’s a true story this time!). So listen carefully because you will surely recognise yourself in a part of this exceptional story …

You see, Professor Alexander Argüelles is an incredible hyperpolyglot who has been described by The New Yorker as “a legendary figure of the polyglot community” because, hold on tight, this American speaks 50 languages! Yes, 50 languages…! That’s amazing, isn’t it? And yet, Alexander’s start was disastrous. 

You see, Alexander Argüelles started his language learning adventure at age 11 by studying French in school for 7 years and, hold on tight, his results were deplorable since after these 7 years of learning, his level was poor, and he could barely hold a conversation in French.

And…

Doesn’t that remind you of your 8 years of studying French in middle school and high school, with frustrating results? Or, those years of Arabic lessons and ultimately not knowing how to hold a conversation in Arabic? I bet a lot of us recognised ourselves in this story, right?

But that’s not all because there is something much more striking. 

You see, what is more striking is that this story is not unique, but common to many other polyglots. And here’s a refreshing example: you know, polyglot Bennis Lewis admitted that he spent 11 years studying Irish and 5 years studying German only to ultimately not be able to speak either language. Ouch, right?! And yet, after years of demotivating experiences with languages, Bennis Lewis now speaks 8 languages! Isn’t that crazy?

So, you see?

These polyglots do not have an innate gift for learning languages because here’s their precious secret: you know, they all say the tipping point was changing their way of learning languages because when they got their hands on the right method, they achieved exceptional results. That’s amazing, right? This is why the key to learning Arabic quickly is choosing the right strategy, that is, the right method of learning

Yes, but… 

Concretely, how can you go about choosing the right method? Look… 

Here are 3 practical tips: 

1. Take the time to learn about teaching methods for teaching Arabic before you start because this upstream research work will save you a lot of time afterwards, and will allow you to reach your goal. 
2. Run away from traditional approaches to language learning because these methods have already proven to be ineffective, and are a prime example of what a terrible return on investment is. That’s to say, the results obtained are terribly disappointing for the time, energy and work you invest. 
3. Choose a strategy that relies on how your brain works and on human natural language learning mechanisms because acting in accordance with your biology is what will get results quickly and easily.

And a bonus…: 

Here is a fascinating article that simply explains the fundamental (but little known) pillars that make it an effective method to learn Arabic (but also all languages in general). 

So, you understand now, choose the right teaching method to learn the language of the Qur’an flat out! 

But that’s not all: there is a second ingredient that is just as powerful…

Look…

2. Believe that it is possible to learn Arabic quickly (Caution, scoops alert!)

You see, it’s no secret: your mindset has a direct and phenomenal influence on your actions and your results. This is because 80% of your success is related to your mindset, while only 20% is the result of your strategy. In other words, if you believe that it takes years to learn Arabic, you are going to take years to learn Arabic. Likewise, if you believe that it’s possible to learn Arabic quickly, you will learn Arabic quickly.

Here’s the truth: 

You can achieve remarkably more things than you realise, but only if you don’t constantly stab yourself with self-imposed limitations. So STOP: no more excuses, and let(s stop telling ourselves stories about why we can’t learn Arabic! 

Here are some scoops: 

• You don’t need to have a special talent or particular genetic predisposition to learn a foreign language.
• You are not too old to learn Arabic.
• You don’t need to travel to learn the language of the Arab-Muslim civilisation.
• You don’t have to suffer and toil to learn a foreign language. 
• You don’t need to invest hundreds and hundreds of pounds in a private tutor to become bilingual.
• You don’t need to have an exceptional memory to learn to speak Arabic.
• You don’t need to have more time than you already have to learn the Arabic language. 

This is the heart of the matter: 

These are just terribly dangerous excuses because, in the end, what do they bring you? Nothing! And even worse, it is precisely these limiting beliefs that are keeping you from reaching your goal. 

Here is the proof: 

For example, if a person hasn’t learned Arabic until now, it’s not because they haven’t had the time. But this person did not learn Arabic because they convinced themselves that they did not have enough time and, therefore, they didn’t really try.

We can all find time for what’s important to us, right? And there are always solutions when you do a bit of research. So, here are some examples of “I don’t have time” solutions: 

• You can use the 30-minute drive to work to listen to audio, and get your ears used to listening to Arabic. Likewise, put this audio on when you do housework.
• You can find 15 to 20 minutes per day to learn a foreign language. But is 20 minutes a day too much? So, what about 10 minutes in the morning, and 10 minutes in the evening? You see, that already gives you 2 hours and 20 minutes of language learning per week, or 9.2 hours of studying Arabic per month. 
• You can replace English with Arabic for some of your daily activities. Like reading the newspaper or watching movies 

You see, time is not the issue because we have all the time to learn Arabic. But, it’s just a matter of priority and motivation. And, when we want, we can, right? 

So, now you know, you need to believe that it is possible to learn Arabic quickly! 

But it is not finished because there is a mistake to be avoided at all costs in order to become an Arabic speaker! 

Listen…

3. Above all, don’t try to be perfect (Caution, this will be shocking!) 

Don’t try to be perfect; just start learning it, and gradually build it up because the quest for perfection is a long, arduous and painful road that leads nowhere. And, on this path, you will find nothing but stifling stress, overwhelming anxiety and a phobia of destructive failure.

Look…

As you know, babies don’t walk on the first try but they eventually do. Well, the same goes for learning Arabic; it won’t be perfect the first time, but you will eventually get there. 

So beware, this will shock you! 

Here are 3 refreshing tips if you want to learn Arabic quickly: 

1. You don’t need to be able to make perfect sentences to dare make a sound in Arabic. It is precisely by making imperfect sentences and mistakes that you will improve yourself, correct? And the more you practice, the faster you learn Arabic. Here’s a rather funny example: you see, a tourist in Paris can wait to be perfectly ready to tell you in French without any errors: “Excuse me, would you be kind enough to indicate to me where the nearest toilets are?” Or he can say: “Toilet, where?”. The meaning communicated is the same, with the added practice and fun. And the same goes for the Arabic language: dare to improve quickly!
2. You don’t have to understand every word and every detail to experience the pleasure of reading a story in Arabic, and discovering an exciting new culture because, even if you only understand 70% of the story, that’s already great.
3. You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment when the moons, stars and planets aligned to start studying the language of Arab-Muslim civilisation. Here’s the scoop: that moment will never come! So, say hello to procrastination, and the hellish cycle of guilt that drains your energy and robs you of the pleasure of learning a foreign language.

Look…

You see, it’s okay to make embarrassing mistakes, to look silly, or to make linguistically twisted sentences in Arabic because every mistake you make is an opportunity for you to improve yourself by learning something new. And you know, making mistakes is a necessary part of learning a language at top speed. This is why, the sooner you abandon this quest for perfection, the faster you will learn the language of Ishmael. 

So, now you get it – don’t try to be perfect! 

But… there is something even better! You will discover a formidable trick, but often misunderstood and surrounded by stubborn myths… 

There it is…

4. Immerse yourself in the Arabic language (but, not any old how!)

Have you ever wondered why some of your secondary school peers performed so much better in French than the rest of the class? You see, most of them had one thing in common, they watched animated movies, series or manga in French, right? In other words, they were much more exposed to French, and without knowing it their learning method was much better than the grammar lessons in school! Which explains why their language progress was faster than the rest of the class. And the same goes for the Arabic language! This is why immersion is an essential approach to learn Arabic quickly.

But beware! There are 2 myths about immersion that should be forgotten urgently in order to learn Arabic quickly and easily! Here they are:

1. The first myth is the belief that you need to go to a foreign country to learn Arabic through immersion. And it is wrong! That’s because immersion is simply exposing yourself heavily to Arabic for a period of time, and you can do it efficiently from the comfort of your own home! Isn’t that awesome? For example, watching a cartoon in Modern Standard Arabic for 20 minutes is immersion. But, attending an Arabic course where you are taught in English the grammatical rules of the Arabic language, is not immersion. 
2. The second myth is the belief that immersion consists of listening to a university lecture on Merovingian archaeology in Modern Standard Arabic in the hope that the language of the Qur’an will rub off on your brains, and make us Arabic speakers while we just started learning Arabic. That’s unrealistic, don’t you agree? But, hold on tight, here is the magic secret to a successful immersion: it is exposing yourself massively to understandable content in Arabic, which means content that you understand the overall meaning of, but that you don’t fully understand. And this is how you are going to learn Arabic quickly.

And as a bonus, here are some practical ideas to immerse yourself in the Arabic language: 

• Read children’s books if you are a beginner. And you can also listen to audio stories like these wonderful Arabic stories  to develop your understanding of Arabic, and savour the benefits of being immersed in the Arabic language!
• Change the language on your phone to Arabic. This is a simple change that will allow you to learn new words and use Arabic every time you use your phone.
• Watch your favourite movies and series in Arabic. And do the same for YouTube videos.
• Write down the names of some objects in your house in Arabic. For example, write the word “fridge” in Arabic on a piece of paper, and stick it on your fridge. 

As you can see, it is by surrounding yourself with the Arabic language in your daily life that you learn the language of Arab-Muslim civilisation incredibly quickly! 

So, now you know that, you should immerse yourself in the Arabic language in order to obtain dazzling linguistic results! 

But that’s not all because… to finish, let’s discover this essential pillar to allow you to master Arabic in a short time…

 5. Create a routine to learn Arabic in record time (+ 3 essential practical tips)

You see, creating a routine is a fundamental pillar in propelling you in your study of the Arabic language because motivation is the momentum that helps you start learning Arabic, but it’s your daily habits that will transport you, gloriously, to the finish line! In other words, you are equipping yourself with a formidable weapon when you turn your learning of the wonderful language of Ishmael into a habit.  

Here are 3 fantastic benefits that a habit will give you: 

• No more problems with motivation! You don’t need to motivate yourself to brush your teeth at night, do you? The reason is simple: you do it automatically and effortlessly, because it’s a daily habit. So, can you imagine what you can accomplish if you turn your learning Arabic into a routine? 
• An exceptional linguistic progression! The secret to learning Arabic is to do a little bit, but regularly. And the same goes for mastering any type of skill. In other words, you are probably going to think that you will never be able to master certain Arabic vocabulary words or certain pronunciations, but day after day, being consistent, you will gradually become a pro without realising it! Isn’t that awesome?
• No more anxiety, stress and procrastination! When your learning Arabic becomes a routine, you no longer need to worry about the end results! All too often the source of stress and procrastination is an obsessive focus on the end results without living in the moment and savouring the process. That’s why when you create a language learning routine, you break out of this obsessive performance cycle because you know that as long as you stay consistent with your routine, results will come sooner or later.

But how do you create a new habit? Here are 3 practical and effective tips: 

1. Add your Arabic learning to an already existing habit. It’s a phenomenal shortcut to building new habits, and your brain will love it. 

Here are some simple examples: 

• Do you take the car to work every morning? So, as soon as you start the car, put on a 15-minute Arabic audio. And here you are working on your oral comprehension of Arabic.
• Have you finished brushing your teeth at night? So, read a few sentences from a book in Arabic. Here you’ll work on your language reading skills.
• Did you finish the dishes after dinner? So, watch a short YouTube video in Arabic. Then you will improve your Arabic language skills. 

2. Aim for small habits to achieve massive results! How long does it take you to read a few sentences or watch a short video? Not a lot, right? And that is the key to success because if you say to yourself: “Tomorrow I’m going to read a book in Arabic for 2 hours!”, what’s going to happen? Your brain is going to do everything to try to escape this huge task, whereas if you say to yourself: “Tomorrow, I’m going to watch a 5-minute video in Arabic!”, it’s easy and small. And it’s those little daily habits that will build your huge success.

3. Reward yourself after making an effort to learn Arabic! The reward is what keeps all of your habits going for the long haul. This means that in order to effectively create a habit, you need to have fun doing the routine. For example, if you often eat these chocolate cakes, it’s because they give you pleasure and, sometimes, even emotional relief. That’s why you want to have these chocolate cakes over and over again. And the same goes for the Arabic language! 

So, create a routine to learn Arabic in record time! 

6. Over to you!

Tell us in the comments: 

• What tip did you like the most? 

In the meantime, if you are keen to learn Arabic, you can download the guide for free: “The 8 Biggest Mistakes Arab Language Learners Make“

You can also discover our complete Arabic language learning programme for children, as well as our free Arabic immersion learning programme through a trial week.

With that, see you soon for new epic adventures!