Resources for Beginning Students: Learn to Read and Write Arabic Script
Welcome! Do you want to learn to read and write Arabic script? Then this is the Arabic Learner resource page for you!
Is is hard to learn to read and write Arabic script?
It is not hard to learn to read and write Arabic script. The Arabic alphabet is phonetic. There are 28 main letters of the Arabic alphabet. These 28 letters are comprised of the consonants and long vowels in Arabic. Later, after you master these 28 letters, you will also learn the short vowel markings as well as some additional grammatical markings. In English, we use capital and lower case letters. Arabic does not use capitalization. However, the letters of the Arabic alphabet are written in four different ways depending upon if they are written independently or if occur in the beginning of a word (initial), the middle (medial) of a word, or the end (final position) of a word. Old fashioned flash cards are helpful for drilling and reviewing the letters of the Arabic alphabet. Later, students will also learn that the shape of some letters can vary depending upon the type of font or calligraphy being used. Also, handwritten Arabic can be a challenge to non-native readers because short-hand-like techniques are often used to speed writing by hand.
Arabic is written and read from right-to-left; nevertheless, most learners quickly adapt to this. Arabic also contains some consonant sounds that can be unfamiliar and challenging to English-speakers; however, the most important thing is for learners to maintain a relaxed and positive attitude! Also, learners must patiently and consistently practice new language sounds because their speech muscles will need to develop the strength and dexterity to produce these new sounds.
Learning the Arabic Alphabet online can be fun as well as FREE! There are many useful Youtube videos for learning the Arabic Alphabet. In fact, you can sing the sounds of the consonants of the Arabic Alphabet and learn the three long vowel sounds (alif, wow, and yah) with the following Youtube video.
For more analytical learners, the following Youtube video teaches the Arabic Alphabet and demonstrates with animation how the sounds are made with muscles in the mouth.
Once you want to begin typing in Arabic, you will need to enable Arabic script on your computer. This is very easy to do with Windows Microsoft.
Click here for Microsoft's Help on how to add support for Right-to-Left languages (such as Arabic) to Windows XP.
Below is a picture of the Arabic 101 keyboard that you will need to use once you activate Arabic on your computer. You can view a larger printer-friendly image of the Arabic 101 keyboard at on Washington State University's webpage at http://www.forlang.wsu.edu/help/keyboard_arabic.asp
Here are some helpful online resources that are FREE!:
Free Access Online Multimedia Websites
1.
Arabic alphabet at Arab Academy online
Description: This is a link to an online flash program that allows students to practice learning the basic 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet. It is not fancy, but it is helpful to use as an online flashcard program for drilling or reviewing the Arabic alphabet.
2.
Fun with Arabic!
Description: This multimedia website allows students to practice, learn, and quiz themselves on the basic 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet. There is even an alphabet song that you can memorize! This is a GREAT site for beginning-level students of Arabic of ALL ages.
3.
4.
Stanford University's Arabic Alphabet Tutorial for letters written in the initial, medial, and final position of a word. Visit this website after you visit link #3 for letters written in the independent position.
5.
BBC's Language Guide to Arabic Alphabet.
This is a very helpful FREE site!
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