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How to start learning MSA? | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| AlexL Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 7092 days ago 197 posts - 277 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Italian | Message 1 of 10 30 January 2009 at 3:12pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Hello all,
I've looked around but can't find too many good, beginner's materials for Modern Standard Arabic. How should I approach the language? Are there good books for self-study? 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Ambesa87 Triglot Newbie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5787 days ago 9 posts - 9 votes Speaks: English*, Arabic (Written), Arabic (Egyptian) | Message 2 of 10 30 January 2009 at 3:29pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum Al-cArabiyya is the standard university textbook in the United States and many places around the world for Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). The series starts with Alif Baa- which teaches reading and writing along with basic vocabulary and phrases. After that, you will encounter Al-Kitaab fii Ta callum al-cArabiyya Parts I,II and III. A lot of students that I know can't stand the book (for various reasons), however, it is the most successful/widely used MSA book I have ever seen or heard of. You definitely can reach the higher levels of proficiency with it, but it takes time, a ton of dedication, and A LOT of patience.
There is another book that I know of for MSA and its called Al-Kitab Al-Asasi. It was developed in the Arabic Language Institute (ALI) at the American University in Cairo (Where I study) and is only used for ALI students. Its not bad, and I find the vocabulary much more useful than that of Al-Kitaab. However, this book is designed to be used in conjunction with a professor, and ideally in an Arabic speaking country. I'm not aware of any other MSA textbook other than the two listed above. But I'm sure there are plenty (especially if you're considering Pimsleur,Rosetta Stone, or other computer/internet based programs). Hope this helps! 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| AlexL Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 7092 days ago 197 posts - 277 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Italian | Message 3 of 10 31 January 2009 at 8:42am | IP Logged | |||||
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Thanks for the recommendations! The books look like they would be hard to use for self-study; like you say, they are meant to be used with a professor. It seems that all of the conventional language programs (Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Michel Thomas, Assimil) teach dialects (well, Rosetta Stone teaches MSA, but it is somewhat daunting to use Rosetta Stone without some knowledge first).
If I learn Egyptian first, how hard will it be to learn MSA afterward? Is it a bad idea? 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| scootermclean Diglot Groupie United States scottmclean.net Joined 6486 days ago 69 posts - 70 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Arabic (Written), Basque | Message 4 of 10 31 January 2009 at 4:53pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Ambesa87, Thanks for the heads up on the Al-Kitab Al-Asasi, I didnt know it existed. I am currently working though the Al-Kitab fii Tacallum..etc and have been looking for an additional text.
Is this the book you refer to? http://www.amazon.com/Al-kitab-Al-asasi-Teaching-Non-native- Speakers/dp/9774162315/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1 233441404&sr=8-1 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| stelingo Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5840 days ago 722 posts - 1076 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian Studies: Russian, Czech, Polish, Greek, Mandarin | Message 5 of 10 31 January 2009 at 5:18pm | IP Logged | |||||
Is this book suitable for beginners? The excerpts on Amazon aren't very helpful at all. Mastering Arabic is quite a nice gentle introduction to the alphabet and MSA. There is also a separate grammar and script book written by the same people. Teach Yourself Arabic goes at a faster pace and is more in depth. I tried using the Al-Kitaab book but found it difficult and frustrating to use as an independant learner. At the moment I have started using a German language course book. None of these books are ideal by themselves. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| scootermclean Diglot Groupie United States scottmclean.net Joined 6486 days ago 69 posts - 70 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Arabic (Written), Basque | Message 6 of 10 31 January 2009 at 5:26pm | IP Logged | |||||
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I have just placed an order for the book on Amazon.com.
the book was allegedly released on January 23, 2009 however amazon still reports that "This title has not yet been released."
1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Ambesa87 Triglot Newbie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5787 days ago 9 posts - 9 votes Speaks: English*, Arabic (Written), Arabic (Egyptian) | Message 7 of 10 31 January 2009 at 11:00pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Sorry for not responding yesterday, but I was at a book fair trying to find a suitable electronic dictionary.
Ok, AlexL, No problem! glad to help. As far as self studying goes, I believe it can be done with the Al-Kitab series. We actually have a few students here at the Arabic Language Institute from the U.S. who had never taken an "official" college course in MSA before, but had just studied the materials from the Al-Kitab series on their own- and one of them was quite arguably one of the best MSA speakers we had in the class! So it can be done. However, I definitely believe it would be a lot easier if you had access to an Arabic speaker because you will definitely encounter concepts that are confusing and may need further explaining- but I do want to reiterate the sentiment that it can be done. I do believe that if you do decide to use the Al-Kitab books for self study, make sure to take it slow, and really pay attention to the grammar points. With regards to Al-Kitab Al-Asasi, I've never used the beginner book, so its hard for me to say whether or not you could study with it on your own. The book that I used a while back was the Al-Kitab Al-Asasi volume 2, and it was completely in Arabic (only had Arabic-English glossary in the back)- I believe that's why this book is used for ALI students only. I'm heading down to the university today (actually in two hours), so I'll ask around and see what I find in terms of good self study material. There is actually a big debate going on in Arabic teaching circles about whether its more useful to start with dialect and then MSA- or MSA and then dialect. Most people subscribe to the belief that studying MSA first is more useful and will make the task of learning dialect a lot easier down the road. To this extent, they go on to say that if you learn dialect first, it will be harder to learn MSA later because you will get confused and mix the two- I have a different take on it though. If your goal is to learn both, and sound like a native speaker, I believe learning dialect and THEN MSA is the way to go. I will further explain my position later because I don't have much time now (classes start soon). BUT to answer your question directly, learning dialect first will make MSA a little harder because you will have to develop the capability to compartmentalize the rules for dialect because depending on the dialect (like Egyptian) they can be quite different. However, it will also make MSA easier because Arabic is Arabic, and the overwhelming majority of words in dialect Arabic are obviously from MSA- just with a different twist on it. So you will be fine. I think its a great idea. I will explain my ideas more later. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| AlexL Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 7092 days ago 197 posts - 277 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Italian | Message 8 of 10 01 February 2009 at 7:55am | IP Logged | |||||
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Thanks for the detailed response, Ambesa87! I'll look into the Al-Kitab series and also the "Mastering Arabic" someone mentioned above for a gentler introduction. While I unfortunately have no access to native speakers at the moment, I do have a friend who has studied MSA who may be able to help me if I have questions, at least in the first stages of study.
If MSA proves too hard with the materials I'm able to find now, I may go ahead and start on Egyptian, then return to MSA later. I realize that I will have to unlearn some things (and keep straight which is which) but as you say, Arabic is Arabic and it will still be easier to tackle MSA with some Egyptian under my belt than it would be with no experience at all. Thanks again for your help! 1 person has voted this message useful |
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