Considering an Arabic Language Course?
It’s a great idea to learn Arabic by doing an Arabic language course. It is always beneficial to take up another language. It greatly enhances your CV and opens up your career opportunities. Not only that but learning an additional language also has many benefits. The good news is there are many Arabic language courses currently available from beginner to intermediate to advanced levels. The courses available are also very flexible in that there are options online and part-time in person.
About the Arabic Language
Arabic is the official language of around 22 countries that form the Arab League. There are over 300 million Arabic speakers across the globe, though they predominantly live in the region stretching across the North Africa and Middle East. It is also one of the six official languages of the UN. Although, in the UK, just one percent of the adult population can hold a basic conversation in the Arabic language. Arabic also has different forms depending on the context in which it is used.
Arabic is a Central Semitic language that is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. Classical or Standard Arabic – Fusha – is the distinct kind of the language used in newspapers, literature, media and other formal settings. Aamiya, which is colloquial Arabic, has various forms that are used in ordinary conversation, and it varies from country to country, and even town to town. The different kinds are used side by side to serve different functions in society.
At its core, Arabic developed through a predominantly poetic and oral tradition that flourished in the Arabian Peninsula prior to the emergence of Islam and a codified Arabic script. The Arabic script is widely used in art through calligraphy and is now common to see more contemporary and modern Arabic art being produced; some of it uses a fusion of graffiti and calligraphy, known as ‘calligraffiti’.
Why Learn Arabic?
There are many reasons to learn the Arabic language. For one thing, Arabic language is in high demand. US Governmental agencies are looking for proficient Arabic speakers now more than ever. Learning Arabic will not only get you ahead in a Government career, but it will also give you a leg up in any industry in engineering, business, nonprofit, medical and international relations. Knowing Arabic can help you to build valuable business relationships with business people in wealthy Middle Eastern countries like United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Now, the demand in the US for Arab speakers far exceeds supply. Therefore, if you are a college student, learning Arabic will help you to stand out from other job applicants. It is the native language of a region that has shaped many world events and international policies. It is spoken by 300 million people spread across the world and is one of the top 5 most spoken languages. By learning Arabic, you will gain valuable language skills in a variety of Middle East countries.
Some languages are widespread such as French and Spanish that enable you to travel and work in many countries across the globe. Other languages, such as Chinese, force you to work and communicate in only a handful of countries. However, Arabic is a blend of these. There are 20 countries in the Middle East whereby Arabic is the national language. It gives you work and travel opportunities to different countries, yet it is still specific to not be widely spoken by your peers.
What Will I Learn?
The areas of study will all depend on what level of Arabic language course you undertake. However, there are some topics you can expect in each Arabic language course. You can expect to learn vocabulary, verb conjugation, grammar, sentence structure and how to speak the language in daily life. You will also learn the Arabic alphabet, pronunciation and the different tenses.
Some courses may cover more than you read here. It all depends on the individual course. If you would like an exact list of what you will learn in your Arabic language course, get in touch with the course provider. Don’t be nervous to do this as they will be delighted to hear your interest in their Arabic language course and to help you.
Course Progression
It all depends on which course you decide to do. However, there is always the opportunity to progress. For example, if you did a beginner’s Arabic language course and found you enjoyed it, you can now move on to doing an intermediate or advanced Arabic language course. Alternatively, you can progress by doing courses in other languages, for example Spanish, French or Chinese. The more languages you do, the more benefits for you and the more it will enhance your CV.
If you’re serious about doing an Arabic language course, check out courses near you in the Nightcourses.co.uk national course finder.
