I honestly think I’m going about this all the wrong way. I haven’t figured out what will work for me, but I am desperately trying to learn, but I’m sinking. I’ve picked up a lot of words, a few phrases, and I realize that I’m not really moving forward, even though I know quite a bit already. I can pick out words, but I cannot even fathom putting together a sentence that would even remotely make sense.
Okay. Enough complaining. I do get disheartened, especially when I see that other people are successfully learning a language. I need more practical experience, but I am not giving myself a chance. I need to do what Nike says and Just Do It. Failure is not an option. I must succeed.
Arabic isn’t necessarily a hard language. It’s confusing at times, but not hard. I know the sounds of the alphabet, I can read things, even aloud, but I often have no idea what I’m talking about! I wonder about things like “ing” and what that is in Arabic, and that probably takes away from my focus. I get mad because Classical, or written, Arabic is so different from the colloquial languages, particularly Egyptian Arabic, which is what I actually need to learn. Well, I need both, to be honest, because that’s part of the translation that we’ll be working on.
Probably in the next few weeks, I’ll be exploring options on conversing in Arabic with native Arabic speakers (besides my husband) to get a better practical experience in the language. We’ll get there.
The Mixxer could be a place to start to find language partners via skype. Pretty cool site. Just google “the mixxer”
Hey, I have been learning arabic for about 1 year and 8 months. I started having already knew the alphabet – just about – from a young age. My vocab was pretty much non-existent however.
The best thing I ever did was to use a spaced-repetition-system. Basically flashcard software.
It will help you greatly in retaining words that you read. If you see the same word over and over you will remember the shape and will recognise the word instantly in a text. Its how we read in english (reognising the word shape, not each individual letter)
I too am reading HP and am almost done with the first book. I have also found that getting hold of the english version on my computer helps in understanding the sentences.
Good luck!
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I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt! so mcuh for sleplscchek!
The same happens to me as I’m trying to learn English. I always get confused while reading a text or anything a little longer than a sentence. Every time I stumble upon a word I don’t know the meaning, I have to go to Google Translate and figure out its meaning. As you said about the “ing” example, it happens to me even when I read in Portuguese (my mother tongue). So you can imagine how difficult it is for me to keep focused on a text in another language. The thought you have about the Arabian, I have toward English.
Sorry if I my comment is grammatically wrong or confusing. I’m trying to improve my writing.
Nice blog!