I think Malaysians can identify with this.
Even though we get to learn more than one language in school, we do not share the same proficiency level for all of them.
Sometimes, it's the middle ground and average comments that make us either too complacent or too discouraged.
"Ah, as long as I can read and write simple sentences, I am good."
"Why is my grade in this language not improving after studying it for more than five years?
Sounds familiar?
Similarly, if you have been learning a foreign language like Arabic for quite some time and find that you are facing a plateau in your learning curve, you are in the right place.
In this article, we will be looking at ways to improve your Arabic learning consistently so that you can progress from a beginner to an intermediate learner and even an advanced learner.
Is Arabic Hard To Learn? How To Foster Ongoing Interest To Learn Arabic?
First things first. Let's start with a positive mindset.
At times, lack of motivation and diminishing interest are the reasons why you stop putting in extra effort when you are learning a new language.
When these thoughts set in, you'll naturally feel that it is so difficult to carry on.
Rest assured, we got you covered.
Continue reading to find out what are the three tips to cultivate a strong passion for Arabic learning.
Tip 1: Find an Arabic cultural/historical topic that interests you
Fancy learning about Arabic literature or modern Arabic architecture?
Start by browsing some relevant information about your areas of interest and note them down in a separate notebook or folder. For example, you can begin by memorizing the name of the stories, characters, places mentioned, and components of the buildings and slowly build up your momentum from there.
Photo by Florian Wehde on Unsplash
Tip 2: Use a variety of learning materials
At times, you could start to feel bored if you are constantly reading the same thing over and over again. It's important to diversify your Arabic learning materials.
For instance, you can switch to watching animations or short clips where you can learn new Arabic words or even listen to Arabic songs in between.
Tip 3: Reward yourself once you unlock a new achievement
Don't forget to give yourself a treat from time to time when you are studying Arabic. Let's say after you have successfully memorized 50 new Arabic words in a week, you can relax and watch a movie.
In a way, you will treat the learning process like a challenge and game where it's more fun and motivating to continue.
You can learn more about the history of the Arabic language here.
Practical Ways To Remember Arabic Vocabulary Better
Looking for ways to build your Arabic vocabulary consistently?
Read up on these three tips to learn new words effectively.
Tip 1: Set a feasible goal (number of words or phrases that you want to learn)
Keeping a goal helps you in two ways. Firstly, it helps you to stay focused on your learning goal. Secondly, it helps you to track your progress and motivates you to improve naturally.
Tip 2: Use all your senses to actively learn the new words (listening, writing)
When it comes to acquiring new words, your brain will be able to absorb and retain them when you are fully immersed and engaged in the process. Instead of reading new words once or twice, it helps if you write them down or review them using flashcards or short videos.
That way, you are maximizing the act of repetition through reading (eyes), listening (ears), writing (hands), and speaking (mouth). It'll be hard to forget a new word when you are exposed to it at least four times.
Photo by Syed Hussaini on Unsplash
Tip 3: Try to create a new sentence using the words that you have learned
The best to know if you have completely memorized and understood the word is to see if you can use it in the right context of a sentence or conversation.
Don't be afraid to use a new word and remember to actively seek feedback from your Arabic tutor or Arabic-speaking friends.
Discover these learning resources for Arabic learning.
How To Improve Your Arabic Pronunciation?
Sometimes we may feel embarrassed if we mispronounce a new word and end up feeling afraid of speaking again to avoid the same scenario.
Always remember that it's normal to not sound perfect on your try. The key is to keep practicing until you get it.
Follow these three tips to develop confidence and competence when you're speaking in Arabic.
Tip 1: Pay attention to the accurate pronunciation of each Arabic alphabet as you form the syllables
Don't rush when you are learning the Arabic alphabet. You can make your own notes to help you pronounce the alphabet or word according to the sounds that you are familiar with.
Tip 2: Record yourself speaking in Arabic
Sometimes you may not realize your own speaking habits or pronunciation mistakes. Recording yourself will allow you to listen to yourself in an objective manner. Furthermore, you can even send the recording to your Arabic tutor so that he or she can give you some comments on how to improve.
Tip 3: Mimic a native speaker/converse with a native speaker
Remember what we mentioned earlier about recording yourself speaking in Arabic?
You can take this tip to the next level by recording a native speaker and listening to it over and over again too. You could even record your favorite dialogues from an Arabic movie or listen to an Arabic podcast and repeat what the speakers were saying throughout the session.
That said, it would be great to directly converse with a native speaker too. If you have any Arabic friends, this is certainly your sign to improve your Arabic speaking skills.
Don't miss out on the benefits of learning Arabic.
Why Should You Invest In An Arabic Tutor?
Some of you may plan to self-study Arabic or are self-studying Arabic now. While there's nothing wrong with this choice, we think that having an Arabic tutor will grant you extra benefits.
Here are three reasons why you should start looking for an Arabic tutor.
Reason 1: Master the language from all four components equally
Having a tutor will enable you to be equally good at your listening, speaking, reading and writing components because you will be monitored by someone who is experienced in teaching the language.
Reason 2: Learn at your own pace (flexible time and place according to your level)
If you are looking for a home tutor or online tutor, we highly recommend you to find an Arabic tutor via Superprof.
Through this platform, you can enjoy flexible Arabic lessons in the comfort of your home and even arrange your own tutoring schedule. Not only that, you can also choose an Arabic tutor that fits your preference in terms of your maximum budget, teaching methodology and teaching mode.
Learning has never been so easy!
Photo: Xframe
Reason 3: Receive consistent personalized feedback on your learning progress
Last but not the least, having an Arabic tutor will grant you clarity and confidence throughout your learning process. You will receive the right feedback on your actual performance and solutions to take your Arabic skills to the next level.
Also, You don't have to worry about feeling stuck or demotivated along the way.
What Is The Format Of The Arabic Language Proficiency Test (ALPT)?
Putting your language abilities to an actual test is one of the best ways to push yourself forward. In the context of Arabic learning, you can register to sit for the Arabic Language Proficiency Test (ALPT).
The Arabic Language Proficiency Test consists of 5 sections and each section evaluates a language skill.
Section 1: Listening
The listening section has a total of three parts:
Part A: Candidates will listen to a short sentence and based on the sentence heard, they will need to answer the question.
Part B: Candidates will listen to a short dialogue between two people, followed by a question to test their understanding of the dialogue.
Part C: This part consists of a long piece that is similar to a lecture given by a speaker. It will evaluate the candidates’ comprehension skills.
Section 2: Reading Comprehension
In this section, one or two passages are given. Candidates are required to read those passages and answer a few multiple-choice questions based on the reading and understanding of the material given.
Section 3: Structure
Part A: This part consists of a sentence with a missing word. Candidates are required to finish the sentence by choosing the right word from the given options.
Part B: A sentence is given and different parts of the sentence are underlined. Candidates are required to identify the wrong part in the given sentence.
Section 4: Writing
Candidates can sit for this section if they have finished the previous sections, which is the first, second and third section of the ALPT.
In this section, three topics are given and candidates are required to answer one. In terms of the grading scheme, the writing component is graded based on the correct usage of vocabulary and grammar, spelling, clarity and coherence, and punctuation.
Section 5: Speaking
This section will be evaluated by an examiner(native speaker of Arabic) who meets the candidates online (where he or she would ask a few questions and candidates are required to answer those questions in Arabic.
That said, sitting for the ALPT is not mandatory. This test is extremely useful if you plan to further your studies in Arabic or work in an Arabic-speaking country one day.
If you are an absolute beginner, this is what you should know about the Arabic language.
Now that you have read about these ways to boost your Arabic learning, we hope you will put them into real practice and upgrade your Arabic skills soon!
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