We live in a world of great technological advances that were created with the promise of saving us time, and recent studies have shown that modern technology does, indeed, save the average person two weeks each year. If all that is true, which research has shown it is, then why do we seem busier than ever these days? Show
Time does seem to be one of the biggest factors when students decide to learn Arabic. Wouldn’t we all love to have 25 hours in a day and 8 days in a week to have time to improve our Arabic language acquisition? Like most people, however, both our work life and personal responsibilities seem to be at odds with that. This leads us to one of the most often asked questions we get. How long does it take to learn Arabic?. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to that question. In an attempt to answer it, this article will explain why some people learn Arabic faster than others. Different Strokes for Different FolksLearning Arabic, like learning any language, is a complex process. It is different for each individual based on several different factors. Let’s take a look now at these different factors and how they impact how fast you learn Arabic: 1. What Other Languages You’ve Already LearnedAre you already bilingual? That can help save you time learning Arabic. As studies have shown, being fluent in one language aids fluency and skills in another. Since bilinguals adapt more naturally to different languages, they find it easier to learn a third language. Just by studying another language’s grammar, memorizing its vocabulary, and listening to its different sounds, your mind already pretty much knows what lies ahead when learning Arabic. Knowing what to expect means that there aren’t as many surprises, and language learning becomes easier and faster. 2. How Much Arabic You Already Know
In turn, Arabic has loaned some words to English, as well, like:
These words are definitely helpful to know and can make learning Arabic vocabulary much easier and faster. 3. Your Learning Style
On the other hand, you can cut down the time needed to learn Arabic if you’re also exposed to it outside of classes by reading Arabic literature or eBooks, listening to the Arabic radio, finding a speaking partner, watching Arabic movies, and if you get the chance, traveling to Arab speaking countries. 4. The Amount of Time You Put Into Learning ArabicIt goes without saying that the amount of time you put into learning Arabic directly relates to how fast you’ll learn the language. In fact, if you’re willing to study just one hour a day, studies show you’ll learn considerably faster than if you only attend a weekly class. That’s why Arabic learning apps like Kaleela work so well for many Arabic learners; it’s convenient enough to study anywhere, anytime you have an hour to spare. And you know what they say about time flying when you’re having fun. The Kaleela app is so engaging and fun that the hour will fly by so fast, you’ll want to out two hours a day into your learning. 5. Your Attitude Towards Learning ArabicYour outlook also plays a very big role in how fast you learn Arabic. If you have a positive attitude regarding learning Arabic and see how fun and exciting learning the language can be, your chances of learning it faster are greater. You’ll feel like studying more and learning as much as possible, and you’ll have a much more enjoyable learning experience as a result. 6. What Motivates You
The multifaceted interaction between all of these factors decides how long it will take you to learn Arabic; however, yeah, that all sounds great, but you want an answer to your original question: “How long will it take me to learn Arabic?” The Common European Framework for Reference for Languages TimelineLinguistic studies have led The Common European Framework for Reference for Languages to use the “Guided Learning Hours” framework in order to measure the amount of total classroom time it would take to reach the High-Intermediate level (B2) in Arabic. They assume that you will spend 2 hours doing independent study for every one hour of classroom study and, therefore, conclude that it will take you somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 hours to learn Arabic. Let’s take a look at this in several different scenarios:
Based on another study that looked at a group of native English speakers between 30 and 40 years old who were studying foreign languages, researches at the Foreign Service Institute created the Interagency Language Roundtable Scale with the goal being to calculate how long it took students to reach “general professional proficiency” or higher based on the respective languages that they were learning. What they found was that, the closer a language was to a student’s native language, the faster they learned that language. The findings were divided into five basic language groups according to the languages’ similarity to English which established how long it took students to reach general professional proficiency or higher. Here is that timeline: Foreign Service Institute Timeline
As you can see, the FSI’s research found that Arabic is a Group V language and it will take you around 2,200 hours to learn. Don’t let these findings discourage you, however. You can and will learn Arabic faster than you expect. People have, after all, learned Arabic in less than a year. Yes, Arabic can be a challenging language to learn at times, but think of all the rewards you gain by learning it! But don’t be discouraged
How long will it take to learn Arabic fluently?The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) came up with an estimate for how long it takes to learn Arabic for native English speakers. According to them, you need 2200 hours or 88 weeks to reach Arabic fluency.
Can I learn Arabic in 3 months?Approximately 3 months to have an intermediate level of Arabic. This calculation neglects so many factors, however, and still isn't a very accurate way of determining how long it could take you to learn Arabic.
Can I learn Arabic in 30 days?It'll be pretty difficult to learn to speak Arabic in one month, even for the most dedicated students. However, all is not lost. With a good teacher or a good language school, you'll be able to walk through some of the basics, including learning to write the Arabic script and reading the letters of the Arabic alphabet.
Can you learn Arabic in 6 months?So to put things into perspective, say if you spend 2 hours a day for Arabic (this is the total time you spend for the language and can include activities like reviewing grammar, practicing with a native speaker / tutor, listening to the language, reviewing vocabulary etc) you can achieve level 2-2+ in just 6 months.
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