"Working with an instructor, one-to-one, was very important to learn the correct pronunciations, especially since some Arabic letters are very challenging."
Emily Abdo
Arabic course in Online.
Arabic Lessons in New York
New York City has one of the most diverse populations in the world, so it’s hardly surprising that at least 800 languages are spoken in the city. Among these, Arabic is listed as the tenth most commonly used by foreign-born New Yorkers, with an estimated amount of 64,375 speakers according to the 2020 census. The borough with the highest number of Arab residents is Brooklyn, which makes it a great place to visit if you want to get immersed in the language, as you’ll find many stores, restaurants and institutions owned by members of this friendly community where you can make new friends and practice the language. Furthermore, you’ll find that the city offers unique job openings for Arabic speakers, so if you choose to study the language, in addition to expanding your social life, you’ll increase your employability.
Why Study Arabic in New York?
Learn Arabic for Work and Travel
Whether you’re trying to get a job in the city or want to expand your business, learning Arabic is a great way to advance your career. If you’re currently unemployed, learning Arabic can help you expand the range of jobs you can apply for, and get access to unique job positions that require you to be bilingual, such as Passenger Services Agent for Swissport, Community Outreach Coordinator for Memorial Sloan and Relationship Manager for Bank of America. On the other hand, if you own a business, becoming a fluent Arabic speaker can be the secret to attracting more customers in the local foreign-born community, or even reaching the international market. What’s more, speaking Arabic can open the door to a vast job market in the Arab World, which is great if you’re planning on living abroad for a while and want to take advantage of the amazing job opportunities in countries like Qatar or The United Arab Emirates.
Learn Arabic for Social
Every year in April, you have the chance to explore many events that celebrate Arab culture thanks to the New York Arab Festival. The events that are part of this festival take place at different venues across the city where you can enjoy the best live performances, art exhibitions, concerts, fashion shows and panels that highlight some of the most talented artists and creators in the Arab-American community. If you can’t make it to any of the venues, you can check out the virtual exhibition on the festival’s webpage, which showcases wonderful Arab artists from all over the world.
An additional way to experience Arab culture in the city which will appeal to local foodies is to visit some of the many restaurants that specialize in Arab cuisine. If you want to try Lebanese food, a great place you can visit is Au Za’atar. Located at 188 Avenue A, this restaurant serves family recipes from Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries that you simply can’t miss. Their signature original tableside shawarma is certainly one of the dishes you should taste, as well as the delicious mezze you can enjoy with a glass of Lebanese wine.
Learn Arabic for Culture
If you’re wondering where you can practice your Arabic skills for free and meet native speakers who can help you improve, you should consider attending some of the events organized by Servas Language Exchange. This language group organizes weekly meetings every Sunday at a local pub on 590 Madison Ave. Before you attend, you have to register in their virtual group, and then you simply show up, introduce yourself to one of the organizers, and they’ll place you on the Arabic table where you’ll be able to put your skills to the test. One of the great things about this event is that on top of working on your Arabic skills, you can also have conversations in other languages such as Spanish, French, German, and Hebrew, so if you’re multilingual, don’t hesitate to come!
Another great group to expand your knowledge of the Arabic language and get to know its culture is NYC International Arabic Language & Culture Club. In addition to holding language exchange events, they organize other kinds of activities like free Arab music lessons, tours of Arab exhibitions around New York, and meet and greets that are perfect to make friends in the local Arab community.
Where to learn Arabic in and around New York?
A fun way to expand your vocabulary and get used to the sounds in Arabic is to listen to music in the language. Fortunately, there are more than three hundred music albums you can check out at the 125th Street Library, located at 224 East 125th Street. If this is your first time listening to music in Arabic, you can start with Rough Guide To The Best Arabic Music You've Never Heard, where you can hear many different well-known artists singing traditional songs. If you’re interested in Lebanese Arabic, then you should go for Yasmine Hamdan’s beautiful album Al jamílat, which has eleven songs that will captivate you and make you fall in love with the language. However, if you want to develop other skills like reading, writing and speaking, just listening to music won’t be enough. Instead, why don’t you start a language course? Here at Listen & Learn, we have native tutors who will create a flexible course you can enjoy in the comfort of your home, office or even online. No matter what your interests or goals are, if you send us a quick inquiry now, we’ll have one of our tutors tailor interesting lessons that meet every single one of your requirements.
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Arabic
This set of Arabic tutorials are less specific and more targeted at those who want to get a range of different things from learning Arabic. Even though all novice students will cover survival Arabic: enough Arabic to make a visit to the country or make good contacts with the locals, but what do you do from there? It depends on your needs. Those who have benefitted from these lessons have been those moving or investing overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people who love to travel all over the world, those interested in Arabic culture, and those who just want to pass a specific examination in Arabic. Inquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Arabic
These Arabic Lessons are intended for people who really need to learn Arabic to help make that difference in their work. For beginners, it will be useful to learn greetings and basic business etiquette, at higher levels reading and then writing become more important. Typical students include those involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where an additional language is required, and those working with international colleagues, academia and government. Even on our most basic lesson for Beginners, students should expect to end the lesson with basic Telephone Arabic and e-mail Arabic skills for communications as well as Survival Arabic required for short visits to a country. Inquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Arabic
2 or more people can benefit studying Arabic together as these Arabic lessons are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Arabic Lesson or Small Group In-Company Arabic Lesson). Every student must have the same degree of knowledge of the language, the same business or language needs and the ability to study at the same time and place as everybody else. The booking has to be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn do not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Arabic Lessons can be experienced by up to 12 people. Inquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business Arabic
Our native speaker qualified Arabic language teachers can train you and your colleagues at your office or home at a time to suit you. Classes can be any day of the week (even weekends) in the morning, afternoon or evening. In certain circumstances, if your home or office is not suitable, you can take your classes at the trainer's office. Lesson books are provided. Inquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business Arabic
Lessons in Arabic are also accessible for 2 or more studying in tandem (Two-to-One Arabic Lesson or Small Group In-Company Arabic Lesson). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs of areas of proficiency, and must be able to work at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn do not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, although In-Company Taster Arabic sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. Inquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Top Tips For…
arabic Songs
“ألوان الرياح” (Colors of the Wind)
If you’re looking to sharpen your Arabic listening skills, there’s no better way than by enjoying music and songs. In fact, it’s even better if you’re already familiar with the lyrics and the tune from your own language, as you can decipher unknown words from the context. So, why not revisit your childhood and listen to the Arabic version of Pocahontas’ “Colors of the Wind”? Find out what her voice sounds with an Egyptian accent and pick up some new words, like shajara (tree), allawn (color), or rusim (paint), while listening to beautiful music. Listen to the song here!arabic Songs
“حوار الحجاب” (The Hijab Conversation)
This song not only has a beautiful melody and will help you fine-tune your listening comprehension skills, but it tells a story that will give you insights into the fascinating Arab culture. The song follows the story of a girl that announces to her father that she has decided to start wearing a hijab now that she’s a woman. The song is catchy, slow, and repetitive, making it a great option for beginner levels to develop their listening skills. Find the lyrics online and sing along to this beautiful piece to improve your pronunciation! Listen to the song here!“The Sea Creatures Song”
Listening to songs made for children is a great idea for students who are just starting their language journey. One great example is ”The Sea Creatures Song,” a piece designed to teach children the letters, colors, and names of animals in Arabic. You’ll also learn how to form plurals and which animals are always referenced in the singular form. Another advantage is that it’s the song uses formal Arabic and not a dialect, so you won’t get confused with slang or conversational phrases if you are just beginning your Arabic course. Listen to the song here!arabic Books
The Commandments- Adel Esmat
This amazing novel follows the story of an Egyptian family through many generations. It begins in the 1920s with the end of the First World War and concludes in 1952 with the Egyptian Revolution. Each chapter represents a year in the grandfather’s life until he dies and the son continues the story, sharing words of wisdom and passing on advice to the next generation. Due to its rich historical context, this novel is an opportunity to learn a lot about Egyptian history and culture in addition to picking up new Arabic vocabulary. Learn more about the book here.arabic Books
The Second War of the Dog – Ibrahim Nasrallah
Reading books in Arabic is brilliant for intermediate and advanced students who wish to improve their reading skills and build up their lexicon while having fun. If you enjoy sci-fi, for example, The Second War of the Dog will get you hooked. This is a futuristic novel set in an imaginary country where religious groups take control of the government with the support of the people. It has elements of fiction and fantasy, so low-level students of Arabic may struggle to know which words are invented and which ones they do not know yet initially. Click here to know more about the book.One Room Is Not Enough – Sultan Al Ameemi
If you love a good mystery, then One Room is not Enough is an exciting choice, as well as an opportunity to learn more about the Arabic language and the culture of Saudi Arabia. The novel follows a man who wakes up in a room without doors or windows. Not knowing how he got there, he explores the room, only to find out that there is another man who looks exactly like him in the cell next to his. The book is about him trying to escape this strange place while watching what his clone is doing through the keyhole of his room. Click here to know more about the book.Testimonials
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