arabic

Arabic learning places and strategies (seen from a Michigan perspective in USA)

Some thoughts as someone who has spent a lot of time on another Category IV language, Japanese

1. Mindset/cultural outlook takes the most time to perceive and then in turn to express in a native-like way.

A) Cultural Literacy to know the people, places, things and events that an educated speaker of Arabic knows.

B) Social Proficiency to know the manner of expressing something - not just the words, but the timing, the body language, the tone of voice and eye-contact.

C) Linguistic Fluency/accuracy to actually produce the sounds and spellings.

In sum, put as much energy into the anthropology/literature as into the language itself: watch movies (http://imdb.com and netflix.com and maybe loans from the shelves of the U-M Center for Middle East and North African Studies, CMENAS, www.ii.umich.edu/cmenas), read famous books (in translation), memorize a couple of key poems.

Build up a vocabulary of flavors by eating the many dishes at Woody's Oasis on Trowbridge Rd =?Lebanese; or Sultan's at Hannah Plaza =?Syrian; or the one opposite -south- of Frandor Panera's).

Check out newsmedia online for alternative take on world and regional events (in English).

Browse listed famous places at http://images.google.com and maps.google.com ('show photos') and http://flickr.com (geo-tagged pictures).

Collect lists of famous music groups/tunes -both traditional (every kid recognizes...) and pop: note the listings from the http://lonelyplanet.com and http://roughguides.com websites (or the full print versions at B&N or MSU library travel shelves on main floor, east wing, south-most corner past elevators).

2. Places to tap in Michigan

-Arab American nat'l museum

-Islamic Center on Harrison Rd, www.lansingislam.com

-I'll inquire from the head of http://concordialanguagevillages.org about resources/funds, instructors/tutors

3. Upshot: use all learning channels: rote (copying texts, reciting chanting rapping), context readings and viewings, language partners (exchange 1 to 1 an hour of English; and hour of Arabic) from LCC or MSU foreign students (MSU has the Muslim Student Association events and contacts), there's an annual world festival at MSU union in middle November to browse/buy/taste/try out/meet.

Also, remember that language is like software: you learn the parts you need to start with and then add in other parts as you go along. Furthermore, it is a social engagement between people, so the strongest motivation should be more than decoding the text or spoken phrases - it should be to interact and carry out Q and A with people there (or here). Finally, unless you are a heritage learner who has an organic way to see personal identity in the lingua-culture and lifestyles, it will be important to discover at least one thing about Arabic speaking people alive or dead that you connect with; that you identify or resonate with; something you can claim as fundamentally your own - who you are. Once you have this kind of beachhead, then little by little you can add branches until you can honestly say and feel that the words you speak in Arabic are yours; it has become YOUR language.