[vc_row][vc_column][trx_content][vc_column_text]Like any other language, Arabic requires time and determination to learn. As with other languages, there are many online classes and courses, books and video tutorials available to help you master the Arabic language. The abundance of language resources available can be overwhelming. Which ones are the best?

Arab Academy wants Arabic language students to master the language. To help with this, we offer a variety of online courses for every ability level and offer additional resources to help students build upon what they learn through the courses. These resources have been carefully selected and can be enjoyed by students and non-students of Arab Academy.

If you want to learn Arabic or build upon your Arabic language foundation, here are some of the best Arabic language resources that can complement your lessons:

An Arabic Keyboard

Chances are your computer doesn’t have an Arabic keyboard. An interactive Arabic keyboard can be handy in your Arabic language lessons. It appears on the screen and is a great way to associate Arabic letters to their English counterparts. Associating the Arabic and English letters can give you valuable practice in spelling, writing and reading Arabic words.

The Arabic Alphabet

Learn the basics of the Arabic alphabet. Knowing the Arabic alphabet is the fundamental stepping stone to spelling, writing and reading Arabic words. Once you know the alphabet and how to write and spell Arabic words, it becomes easier to communicate, even if your uncomfortable with speaking and understanding spoken Arabic.

Each letter of the Arabic alphabet can have a maximum of four shapes depending on their position in the word: initial, medial, final attached, or final isolated. There are no capital letters in the Arabic alphabet.

Learn to Perform Hajj

Hajj is the most important ritual in the life of a Muslim. It is required for every Muslim at least once in his or her lifetime. The Hajj is an annual journey to Mecca, the holiest city in the Muslim faith. The multi-day journey involves specific rituals and prayers to be conducted and recited along the journey.

Learning the various prayers and rituals of Hajj is a great way for Arabic language students to expand their vocabulary and grasp of the language.

Learn How to Pray in Arabic

The most widely used form of Arabic is that which is found in the Quran, the holy book of the Islam faith. Arabic and Islam are very intertwined. To help you get a better grasp of the Arabic language, it is a good idea to learn how to perform prayers in Islam, including how to read and recite the Quran, and practicing the recital rules and many prayers recited during important Islamic rituals.

Prayer makes up a big part of worship and is a dominant component of Arabic-speaking countries. By learning how these prayers are said, learning the Tajweed and being able to interpret what the prayers say can greatly help you in learning Arabic.

Learn the Rules of Tajweed

Tajweed is a set of pronunciation and articulation rules used when reciting the Quran. These rules involve pauses (whether they are mandatory or optional) and accents (heavily accented vs. lightly or no accent). Knowing these fundamental rules for reading the Quran will help students in their Arabic language studies. The Arabic of the Quran is the most used Arabic used by Arabic speakers.

The free slideshare presentation up above explains the rules of Tajweed, with an emphasis on “nasal assimilation,” one of the most important rules.

Some additional resources for learning Arabic can be found inside this Quora post. The author even gives suggestions for specific resources depending on your level of knowledge of Arabic.

Arabic is an important, useful and worthwhile language to learn in today’s world. Arabic can teach you about other cultures you may not be familiar with and it can better your employment prospects as more business is being done in Arabic speaking countries.

If you’ve found these free Arabic language resources and tools useful, take the next step and sign up for Arabic courses at Arab Academy today![/vc_column_text][/trx_content][/vc_column][/vc_row]