Several years ago I had the idea of learning Arabic. I talked with someone and that person discouraged me from doing that. I wish I hadn't listened to her. But now does seem like the right time for me to do this, not only because I'm preparing for a six-month sabbatical but also because I'm turning 50. Rather than a mid-life crisis (yes, I'm hoping to live to 100 like my paternal grandmother), I'm trying to create a mid-life opportunity for growth.

One of the best things that happened was coming across the book Alif Baa in the library. During a week's vacation I studied through that book and the accompanying DVD. I think it helped me to get a good start with recognizing Arabic letters, how to write them, and how to pronounce them properly. I've tried to go on to the next book in this series Al-Kitaab, but it is not working well as a text for learning on one's own.

My wife, bless her heart, let me spend the money for a subscription to Rosetta Stone online. I've been working on that about two or three hours a day in the evening. It's great for what it's intended to do. But I don't know what it would be like if I weren't also studying vocabulary and grammar with other resources.

I'm finding Amazon.com extremely helpful, as always. It's great to be able to read reviews of people who have worked with the available books and software. For the level I'm at, the Arabic Practical Dictionary is just what I need. I'm using Arabic Verbs & Essentials of Grammar by Wightwick & Gaafar. I also bought a used copy of what seems to be a concise, classic text on Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Literary Arabic by Cowan. I've also just ordered two books with audio CDs. These are intended to help me develop abilities with conversation in the dialect of Arabic spoken in Palestine: Teach Yourself Arabic Conversation (3CDs + Guide) by Wightwick & Gaafar and Instant Immersion Arabic. In a few months I will want to get The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic.

I looked for software to help me study vocabulary. I downloaded the trial versions of Verb Clinic and Vocab Clinic. Both have extensive databases of information with really good sound files. But there isn't much there for helping a person to study terms like one would with a flash cards. The program Before You Know It has a really good interface and well-designed program for studying vocabulary words. I spent the money to get the full version so I can add my own vocabulary words. My problems with BYKI for Arabic: One is the voice of the Arabic speaker in the sound files that come with the program--really difficult to listen to; the other is that when you type in new Arabic words the tops of the letters are not visible. It's still a good program. And it comes with mp3 files with the Arabic word and an English translation.

I'll mention one more type of resource. These are social web sites with the focus on language learning. I haven't actually used one of them yet. I have registered in iTalki. The other is VoxSwap. I really like the premise of Myngle as a way to get language tutors and students together. For some unknown fee per session with a teacher, Myngle provides the audio/video technology for learning a language online. There are only a few who advertise teaching Arabic and only one who looks professional. Right now it's more than I want to spend for language instruction. Eventually I'll give iTalki a try and spend time teaching someone English in exchange for teaching me some Arabic. God willing إن شاء الله

Note: One of the most difficult aspects of learning Arabic is the print is always so tiny. I spend most of the time with my glasses on the end of my nose trying to read the small letters. I've even been using a magnifying glass.

One other thing. I got my laptop computer set up in Windows so I can very easily switch to typing Arabic. It's fantastic. God bless unicode. One problem. I can't seem to get the diacritical marks to appear when typing in Microsoft Word. Very strange. The irony is, after all my resistance to adopting OpenOffice, I've discovered typing Arabic in OO works very well.

No, one more thing. I've found mp3 files of the recitation of the Qur'an. There's one set in which the Arabic is given (chanted) by phrases with an English translation following. Very meditative. Beautiful.

I've found a ton of resources on the Internet. Here are my bookmarks of Arabic resources. The order is the order in which I have discovered the web sites.

How to learn Arabic

LookLex / Course / Arabic

Free introductory language course. Includes 18 lessons, writing lessons, full sound and word lists

LangMedia: Arabic in Jordan (Palestinian Dialect)

Arabic2000.Com - Learn Arabic Online

Welcome To Arabic2000 - your guide for Arabic teaching software, Arabic web index, HTML in Arabic and global business directory

Arabic Online

Advanced Reference of Arabic Grammer and Free Lessons Online

Arabic Online

Advanced Reference of Arabic Grammer and Free Lessons Online

audio and video on the religion of islam

Arabic_N181

Syrian Arabic Language Course

Syrian Colloquial Arabic Course: with complete FREE downloadable manual

Quran Books, Holy Quran Audio - Almuhaddith FREE Quran Downloads

Download Quran books, Quran translation, Holy Quran Tafsir (with search software). Listen to Quran audio and download Quran mp3. All Free !

Al Quran with English Translation - Recitation by Imam Al Sudais and Shuraim - Quranenglish.com

ART Online - برامج القنوات اخبار رياضة اخبار ترفيه افلام عربية نتائج الفرق اخبار ممثلين منتديات طلباتك أوامر لقطات فيديو نتائج مباشرة ارشيف الصور

بوابة راديو و تلفزيون العرب - أفضل موقع عربي يهتم بأمور الرياضة و الفن و الترفيه

Arabic Bible with MP3 Audio Scripture

Arabic Bible. Available in pdf, online searchable with a European co-location, MP3 audio and Real Audio.

Fun With Arabic-Learn arabic language online, the arabic alphabet, grammar, and short phrases.

Learn arabic online in a fun and interactive way. Study the alphabet its grammar how to form short arabic phrases and basic arabic language vocabulary. Frequently used words for the traveller to the Middle East or just for the curious.

Arabic alphabet

letter, sound, description

Resources

Arabic Links

Arabic New Testament - Van Dyke Translation.

Arabic Bible devotions authored by various Arabic Christian writers. These articles are published in the Arabic Christian monthly magazine -the Voice of Preaching the Gospel. Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry is dedicated to further the message of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Internet among Arabic speaking people.

Arabic Conversation: Teach Yourself -- Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar

<I>Arabic Conversation</i> is a three-hour, all-audio course which you can use at any time....

FSI Arabic

Free FSI language courses on the web! Downloadable version of Arabic courses from the Foreign Service Institute.

Arabic Language Course - Homepage

Free Arabic language course for the beginner with vocabulary, grammar and examples. The is a section for the advanced learner too.

al-kitaab Flashcards

ALKITAB.COM - Dar Al Kitab Al Arabi in California, USA - The Source for Arabic & Islamic Books! كتب عربية

Dar Al Kitab Al Arabi, usa - America's Source for Arabic Books. Our bookstore offers the largest selection of Arabic Books in the United States. We carry titles in English and Arabic of interest to those wishing to expand their knowledge of Arabic language, Islam, or the culture, literature or history of the Arab world. Our selection of Islamic books (Muslim books) in Arabic or English is extensive. In addition, we carry Arabic Audio and Video products and lots of children's Arabic books and other items. We ship world-wide. For great service, selection, and availability call us toll free today at 888-88kitab or 877-99-jarir.

Al-kitaab Homepage

| Project Root List | Quran Concordance, Grammar and Dictionary in one!

free Lane Arabic English Lexicon / Dictionary

al-Kitaab Supplement (modern standard Arabic)

LangMedia: Arabic Resources on LangMedia

LangMedia: Arabic Materials and Resources

Arabic Class

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

The social network for learning languages - VoxSwap

voxswap

italki - Language Exchange and Learning Community

Find everything you need to learn a foreign language including online language exchange, reviews of educational resources, and a community of students from around the world.

Arabic_Language_Course

Myngle

Rosetta Stone: Online Subscription Login

Rosetta Stone is the world's #1 language-learning software. Our comprehensive foreign language program provides language learning for individuals and language learning for organizations.

Learn Arabic For Free

Our website Speak7 helps you learn Arabic for free, our Arabic lessons are available to anyone who wants to speak Arabic, from grammar, vocabulary, expressions, phrases and more, about Arabic grammar, vocabulary, and expressions with Salim

Learn Arabic

Unicode fonts for Arabic transliteration

Unicode fonts, MS Word template and instructions to type diacritic characters

الفضائية

Syrian Studies Association ~ Study in Syria

Syrian Studies Association webpage

عربي : دليل المصطلحات | Arabic: Vocabulary Guide

Learn Arabic Online. Internet lessons using articles taken from the Arab press.

We teach Arabic through topical news stories taken from Arab newspaper websites such as Asharq Alawsat and Al-Hayat. Our internet lessons are updated weekly encouraging you to keep studying and learning Arabic and to stay up to date with the latest events from the Middle East.

Learning Arabic- Audio visual

The American University of Beirut, AUB, is a private, non-sectarian institution of higher learning, founded in 1866, which functions under a charter from the State of New York. It is administrated by a private, autonomous Board of Trustees.

DOWNLOADS \ Arabic Language

Welcome to Fatwa-Online - The Most Comprehensive Fatwa Page, Online! Fataawa from the Major Scholars of the Muslim World

Index of /Arabic_Lessons/Book_1

Index of /Arabic_Lessons/Book_2

Learn Arabic Online. Learn Arabic language Online. Online Arabic language courses and Arabic language proficiency test (ALPT). Modern Standard Arabic Language Courses, Colloquial Arabic Language Courses. Courses for children and adults. Arabic Language Online School, Arabic Language Online University

Learn Arabic Online. Learn Arabic Language online. Online Arabic Courses for children and adults. Online Arabic language proficiency test 'ALPT'. Learn Arabic language: Modern Standard Arabic.

Learn Arabic Online. Regisration: Online Arabic Language Courses, Arabic Language Distance Learning, Online Arabic Language Tests, Arabic Proficiency Tests, Arabic Language Courses for Adults and children

The Arab Academy presents online Arabic Language courses and tests for children and adults. Courses in Modern Standard Arabic, Colloquial Arabic, Business Arabic, Quran, Hadith and Sirah.

ARABIC

Arabic

Arabic Present Tense – Arabic Verbs

We offer courses in many languages including Arabic, in this page you will learn Arabic Present Tense, grammar, and you can also learn more about the Arabic language, such as vocabulary and more!

Syrian Arabic Dialect Course Samples

Free Arabic lessons: sample two courses for free in the Syrian dialect of the Arabic language.

Learn Arabic For Free

Our website Speak7 helps you learn Arabic for free, our Arabic lessons are available to anyone who wants to speak Arabic, from grammar, vocabulary, expressions, phrases and more, about Arabic grammar, vocabulary, and expressions with Salim

ArabicPod - Learn Arabic with ArabicPod!

Learn Arabic online with free podcasts, transcripts and downloads. Download lessons to your pocket. Everything you need to learn about the Arabic language at your own convenience and pace.

Arabic Online Resources - National Middle East Language Resource Center

Arabic Without Walls

Brummana High School

Brummana High School, Lebanon, was established by the Quakers in 1873 and is a well-reputed international day and boarding school providing education for students from 3-18 years old. It offers the Lebanese Baccalaureate, a High School International Programme, and IGCSE and GCE AS and A levels. The School aims to provide all-round excellence in academics, the arts, and sports.

Learn Arabic with TELL ME MORE Arabic - language learning software

TELL ME MORE Arabic - The Global leader in language learning software

Arabic School Software - Learn Arabic Educational Products

Learn Arabic: Arabic Learning Software, Learn Arabic Fast and Easy

User Login

أهلاً و سهلاً في موقع الوراق

Learning Arabic- Audio visual

The American University of Beirut, AUB, is a private, non-sectarian institution of higher learning, founded in 1866, which functions under a charter from the State of New York. It is administrated by a private, autonomous Board of Trustees.

Learn Arabic Language Online - Gulf Arabic .com - Phrases w/ Audio - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Basra Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE

Arabic Streaming Audio for Alif Baa

Arabic Phrases

Our website Speak7 helps you learn Arabic phrases, expressions, Arabic conversation and idioms, words in Arabic, greetings, survival phrases, and more about Arabic grammar, vocabulary, and expressions in Arabic with Salim