Using Arabic: A Guide to Contemporary Usage by Mahdi Alosh
Click on image to browse a Limited Preview online version
Posted by MD on April 29, 2008
Using Arabic: A Guide to Contemporary Usage by Mahdi Alosh
Click on image to browse a Limited Preview online version
Posted in Books/Magazines, Grammar, Language REALIA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by MD on February 16, 2008
The Arabic Program at Brigham Young University is developing various internet based learning resources to supplement Arabic Language Learning.
In conjunction with Prof. Muhammad Eissa and the NMERLC, BYU is developing an Egyptian Spoken Arabic program to expose students to real spoken Arabic situations through internet video.
The segments, filmed in Alexandria, expose students to progressively more complicated social situations.
This short video clip presents different types of greetings in colloquial Egyptian Arabic.

Watch the video
Source of realia:
National Middle East Language Resource Center

Find out more
Egyptian Arabic – Wikipedia
Colloquial Egyptian expressions
For more information on this project/resource, please contact us at nmelrc-research@byu.edu
Posted in Communication, Greetings, Language REALIA, Video/TV/Films | Leave a Comment »
Posted by MD on February 9, 2008
This is an interesting video containing footage of Lulu – an Arab-speaking parrot with a native-like accent!
It was trained by a Arab person from Abu-Dhabi, in UAE over a period of four years.
His trainer taught the parrot to greet visitors to his home with “Assalamu Alaikum السلام عليكم ” and to bid them farewell with “Massalamah السلامة”
Lulu knows some Ayahs (verses) from the Qur’an namely “Surah Ikhlas” and how to make dua (i.e. prayer) for Muslim men and women – specifically asking for them to have forgiveness from God.
He also knows how to say “In the name of Allah, the most gracious the most beneficial بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم ” and “God is Great الله أكبر “
What other words/expressions can you recognise?
How does he greet and bid farewell to his trainer’s guests?
What is the Arabic for “guests”?
When does LuLu usually offer his prayers?
How did LuLu pray for the deceased?
This second video clip shows another parrot who speaks Arabic with an asian accent. His owner, who is from Pakistan, trained the parrot to recite the Qur’an, especially Sura Al-Fatiha ( الفاتحة ) and Al-Ikhlas ( الإخلاص )
What other words/expressions can you recognise?
Posted in Greetings, Islam, Language REALIA, News, Spoken Dialects, Video/TV/Films | 3 Comments »
Posted by MD on February 8, 2008
The first of its kind, the documentary film on Arabic heritage speakers “I Speak Arabic” is a timely contribution to the field of heritage language teaching and learning.
The film was created by Diana Scalera, who teaches Spanish to heritage students in New York City.
It features a diverse group of East Coast Arabic heritage language speakers, parents, instructors and two experts in the field of heritage language teaching and learning.
This film’s balanced combination of interviews with members of the community and teachers of Arabic heritage speakers on the one hand, and specialists in the field of heritage language on the other, makes it a valuable resource for both groups.
While the film is rich with personal stories, it also presents a coherent and accessible theoretical basis for understanding how heritage speakers learn.
Short clip from the movie
Watch the movie
Find out more
To purchase the film
Posted in Documentary, Language REALIA, Spoken Dialects, Video/TV/Films | Leave a Comment »
Posted by MD on February 8, 2008
Posted in Language REALIA, Video/TV/Films | Leave a Comment »
Posted by MD on February 4, 2008
Masculine Plural
In Arabic there are certain rules to follow when forming masculine plural.
Fortunately, you have ArabicPod to help explain these rules and make it simpler.
It’s not as easy as changing mu3alim (teacher) to mu3alims, but it’s not difficult either.
If you’re at an intermediate level then join the discussion.
Listen to the podcast – Masculine Plural (Arabic Pod)
Feminine Plural
In this intermediate lesson we teach you how to form feminine plural.
There is a lot of grammar in this lesson and we teach you the rules to follow when changing singular feminine to plural feminine, so tune in and learn how to make Sayara (car) plural.
Listen to the podcast – Feminine Plural (Arabic Pod)
Find out more

Posted in Audio/Music/Radio, Grammar, Language REALIA | Leave a Comment »
Posted by MD on January 24, 2008
Lesson #1 – Thank You!
Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to Morocco.
Today’s Survival Phrase is شكرا, the most common way to say thank you in Arabic. To learn more about Moroccan culture and phrases be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip!
Duration: 6:55
Download the PDF Guide
Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.
Download the PDF Guide
Lesson #4 – Basic Greetings
Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the North Africa.
Hello and السلام عليكم (Peace be Upon You). Today will be learning basic greetings in Arabic. For more information on Arabic language and culture, be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip!
Lesson #5 – Parting greetings (Goodbye)
Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.
Previously we covered basic greetings in Arabic, and today we’ll learn how to say goodbye. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip, and be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com and leave us a post!
Lesson #6 – Where is the Bathroom?
Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Morocco.
Today we will be learning how to ask “Where is the bathroom?” in Arabic! Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip to Morocco, and be sure to leave us a post!
Lesson #7 – I Don’t Understand.
Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to Morocco.
Today we learn how to say “I don’t understand.”, a phrase that will certainly prove useful if you are a tourist in an Arabic speaking country. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip to the Arab world, and be sure to leave us a post!
Lesson #8 – Can You Speak English?
Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.
Today we learn how to ask “Can you speak English?”, a question that will certainly prove useful traveling through North Africa or the Middle East. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip, and be sure to leave us a post!
Lesson #9 – Can You Say It Again?
Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to Morocco.
Today we provide you with a linguistic tool to help take your Arabic language skills to the next level. Today we will be learning how to ask the speaking party to “say it again”. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com and leave us a post!
Lesson #10 – Apologies(I’m Sorry)
Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.
As you are traveling and speaking a foreign language, you may need to ask forgiveness or apologise for something. For this reason and many more, today we’re learning apologizing in Arabic. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com and leave us a post!
Find out more:
Posted in Audio/Music/Radio, Language REALIA | 1 Comment »