When it comes to mastering Arabic, there are two main language forms: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and dialects. Whereas MSA is used in formal settings such as media broadcasts, print materials, and in the classroom, dialects are used in everyday conversations and between family and friends.

In an effort to make language learning more rewarding and enjoyable, many Arabic language learners opt to begin the process by learning a dialect first. One of the biggest advantages of learning a dialect first is that it’s more natural.

Most Arab children learn to speak the dialect of their parents from birth and then learn MSA at school. As such, mastering a dialect helps you to understand and integrate into the culture quicker and with greater ease. What's more, colloquial Arabic grammar is simpler than MSA grammar, which means students can progress faster and gain the confidence to converse in Arabic more quickly.

 

A great benefit of learning Arabic dialects is that it gives you the opportunity to practice conversation and speaking in real-world situations. Unfortunately, many students become overwhelmed by the grammar and intricacies of MSA and put too much emphasis on reading and writing. This can lead to frustration, disillusionment, and abandoning the language altogether.

By learning Arabic dialect, however, language learners don’t have to worry about the finer points of grammar and can instead focus on honing their conversational skills and putting their language abilities to use in everyday contexts.

In conclusion, when it comes to learning Arabic, one of the most effective and efficient approaches is to begin with a dialect.

Starting with a dialect is a more natural way of learning the language and it gives students the opportunity to focus on conversation and speaking from the outset. This makes the process of language learning more rewarding and enjoyable, and helps the learner to become more confident and conversational in the language more quickly

Learn more about Arabic dialects by watching this video