Becoming Fluent in Levantine Arabic
Jennifer: This is Jennifer Killpack from Shababeek Center for Intercultural Development. Our podcast is about tips for learning Levantine Arabic, and today we are joined by Reagan White. Reagan, how long have you been with us?
Reagan: About two years and four months.
Jennifer: Reagan is one of our participants who has reached near-superior level proficiency, which is quite outstanding. We thought we’d share some of his advice for new learners, why he chose the program he did, and a bit about his Arabic learning approach.
Choosing a Strategy
Jennifer: Reagan, I know you did a lot of research before deciding how you would learn Arabic. Can you tell us about that process and the strategy you’ve used?
Reagan: First, Jenn, thank you for having me. I want to start by saying that anything I share is just one opinion among many. I’ve learned through talking to a lot of people that there are many philosophies about language learning. So, my approach isn’t the only right way.
The first thing is understanding your “why” and “how.” My “why” came from advice I received in college: if you combine two unrelated skills at a professional level, you become uniquely valuable. My background is in finance and investments, and I chose Arabic as that second skill.
Knowing I wanted high proficiency, I studied how others had learned Arabic. I found that Americans who spoke Arabic well often learned it in Lebanon, Syria, or Jordan — not necessarily where they worked, like Saudi Arabia or the UAE. I discovered that Amman, Jordan, had some of the best language centers, with healthy competition improving the quality of education.
We chose Shababeek because of its strong program. From the beginning, we committed to an 80/20 approach: 80% immersion, both in and out of class, and 20% formal study of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). We tried to speak only Arabic outside our apartment, even though it was uncomfortable at first.
Immersing Yourself in Arabic
Jennifer: Right. And even during your sessions here, you used a direct method — Arabic as the medium for learning, right?
Reagan: Exactly. From day one, classes were fully in Arabic, and outside, we pushed ourselves to engage with the community. Even when our language skills were low, those small conversations gave us motivation. We aimed for at least 5-10 hours a week in Arabic relationships outside of class.
Jennifer: How many hours were you in sessions per week?
Reagan: We started with 25 hours a week in class, plus another 15 to 20 hours of homework and study at home. And then we had about 5 hours in the community, naturally.
Jennifer: You mentioned a special relationship with someone who was very patient with you in Arabic.
Reagan: Yes. I met a man my first year in Jordan who didn’t speak a word of English. He’s become a good friend, and we still meet weekly to speak Arabic over tea. Having someone like that was huge for my growth.
Jennifer: It’s rare, but so valuable! Tell us about how you handled the awkwardness early on.
Reagan: I measured progress through experiences, not just tests. For instance, there was a security guard I greeted daily. At first, I couldn’t have a real conversation. But six months later, I was able to engage him in a real way. Giving yourself time and reattempting interactions every few months helps you see your growth.
Full-Time Commitment
Jennifer: And you treated learning Arabic like a full-time job, correct?
Reagan: Yes. Arabic takes four to five times longer than Spanish for English speakers. If it takes 400 hours to become proficient in Spanish, it takes over 2,000 in Arabic. With a 40-hour study week, that’s almost two years full-time.
Jennifer: You had a work trip to Saudi Arabia. Tell us about how your Levantine Arabic held up.
Reagan: Surprisingly well. There’s fear about different dialects, but Levantine and Gulf dialects are quite similar compared to places like Morocco. While Saudis have their own variations, we communicated easily.
Dialects and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
Jennifer: We often call Jordan the “Goldilocks Zone” for Arabic learning — affordable, stable, and a dialect that’s easily understood. You started with spoken colloquial Arabic first, not MSA. Are you happy with that choice?
Reagan: 100%. If you only learn MSA, it’s harder to have real conversations. Speaking and listening need to match. Starting with colloquial Arabic allowed real two-way communication. Later, I built my MSA for understanding the news, reading, and formal contexts.
Jennifer: And now you even enjoy Arabic entertainment?
Reagan: Yes! I follow Formula 1 races and watch them in Arabic now. It’s amazing to reach the point where Arabic is part of my leisure activities.
Staying Motivated and Avoiding Plateaus
Jennifer: Many plateau before reaching that level. What keeps you going?
Reagan: Perspective. Compared to Arabs, I’m still low in proficiency, but that’s expected. I want to contribute meaningfully to relationships and communities in Arabic. It takes time—think 10,000 hours to mastery—and patience.
Jennifer: Very true. You’ve mentioned developmental errors — things that used to be hard but have resolved over time. Can you give examples?
Reagan: Definite and indefinite articles, and prepositions. Early on, they were tough, but with thousands of exposures, they started to “feel” right rather than being consciously recalled.
Listening and Input
Jennifer: You’ve done extensive listening. How important has that been?
Reagan: Crucial. Daily listening — both active and passive — accelerated my learning. Listening comes before speaking. I still do active listening in class and passive listening with news, sports, and conversation.
Jennifer: Some beginners think they must memorize vocab lists. What’s your advice?
Reagan: Memorization is helpful but context is key. I use Anki flashcards, but I focus on full sentences, not isolated words. I now have over 8,000 cards reinforcing vocabulary and grammar naturally.
Final Thoughts
Jennifer: That’s a smart strategy. Is Arabic your first second-language learning experience?
Reagan: Pretty much. I dabbled in Chinese and Spanish before, but Arabic is the first language I pursued seriously.
Jennifer: Any final advice?
Reagan: Set realistic expectations. Know it’s a long, hard journey, but it’s worth it. You’re learning to engage people at a deep level in their own language, and that’s a beautiful thing.
Jennifer: Beautifully said. Thanks so much, Reagan, for sharing your journey with us!
