How do I learn to speak Arabic fluently?

It is common to hear foreigners who live in different regions of the Arab world say “how to learn Arabic speaking?” for different reasons and objectives:

-      To facilitate life obligations, as they will eventually meet people who do not speak English.

-      Have small talks with colleagues. 

-      Build personal relationships.

-      Learn more about the culture through engaging with natives.

And the list goes on. So, is it possible to learn how to speak Arabic fluently, especially if you have no interest in other skills such as reading and writing? Yes! 

First, what is Conversational Fluency?

It is the ability to hold conversations in any given topic in a specific language, with very minor to no grammatical mistakes or misuse of vocabulary and phrases within a context. You might be interested in simply being “Conversational” which indicates the ability to communicate but at a lower level than being fluent or reaching native-level fluency in Arabic. So, how can you achieve that?

One-on-one personal Arabic coach/tutor:

I believe that general Arabic teaching courses with multiple students involved might be tricky. It can be useful so you will get the chance to speak with your classmates, however, with +20 students, you might not get the focus you need to reach the proficiency you desire. You will avoid the frustration of not getting the chance to express yourself in class or the limited time you get to participate. Your preferably native-Arabic tutor can help you stay motivated, break the fear of initiating, and gain more confidence through very focused feedback. 

Arabic focused content:

Some people find it hard to learn speaking a language because of the amount of pressure they feel to see the results. Instead of focusing on “learning” Arabic, you can start learning how to speak Arabic through your interests and hobbies: For example, if you enjoy biking or hiking, you can push yourself to do these activities with Arabic native-speakers, or use social media to reach out to people who share that interest with you. In that case, the subjects of communication can revolve around these interests you share, you will learn not only vocabulary but also idioms and how they are used within the context while still be interested in what’s being said. Don’t shy from asking questions and expressing your desire to learn how to speak Arabic! 

Practice speaking Arabic as much as you can!

Try to set a specific amount of conversations you aim to hit regularly. We are creatures of habits, the more you speak Arabic, the easier it gets. You might lack the confidence, I understand, you can start by listening to Arabic audios and imitating and shadowing everything the speaker is saying. Get more used to decoding the words and absorbing Arabic consonants and vowels, how are they pronounced, how words are used in context. The more you shadow, your brain will start programming itself into moving to the next step: having real-life conversations! 

Learning to speak Arabic fluently is possible even if you have no interest in reading and writing. Many foreigners in the Arab world seek to learn Arabic to facilitate daily life, communicate with colleagues, build relationships, and engage with the culture. Wishesfusion provides guidance on learning Arabic speaking.