In traditional Arabic learning programs it is possible to spend a full two years learning grammar, reading, and writing without the ability to form spontaneous sentences, tell a story or feel confident that you will understand someone who approaches you in this new language. Reading and writing are important aspects of language learning, but are they given at the expence of understanding and conversational ability? Make sure you are in a program that gives priority to the functions that you do most in any given day (listening and responding) while also working on reading and writing according to your personal development preferences. Make sure your institution has vast resources to surround you in language you need alongside a focus on grammar forms so that you can learn to communicate in Arabic confidently.
Learning Arabic can be an amazing and enjoyable experience that opens new relationships and opportunity and a world of thought far beyond what a mono-cultural life can yield. It can also be frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Make sure you are entrusting your journey to an Arabic learning center where entrance into this new world is being opened to you by those who are working hard to create a professional and nurturing space where classes imitate real life functions and interactions.
Interested in learning more? Click here to set up a session at our center in Amman!
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]A director or a certified language advisor with experience in linguistics or second language pedagogy is best equipped to come alongside learners to help them grow in acquisition. A director and staff that continue to develop activities and offer feedback in order to support and encourage Arabic learners is an essential ingredient. Are sessions observed occasionally to offer you feedback and suggestions for further development? The best coaches are those who have been through the process of learning the same language you are and have created strategies and resources for helping you develop communicative competence.
2. Are instructors full-time with full benefits?
A tendency some smaller Arabic learning centers have is to employ hourly staff. Being an ambassador for your language and culture is a skill that requires a considerable amount of on the job training. Is your center utilizing a full work day for job development and training beyond session time in order to upgrade skills? Is some of their time given to further enhance and develop resources used in sessions? Does everyone entrusted with instructing in the language have a university degree? Does the institution you are considering provide benefits like health insurance, social security, further training opportunities and paid time off? If not, consider a center that is working to create sustainable careers for local people and, simultaneously, provide experienced and skilled staff to invest in you.
3. Accountability and oversight?
When I was learning Arabic, occasionally I’d receive a call from my tutor while I was on my way to my Arabic class. My session had been cancelled. Not by management, but by the staff member himself. This often resulted in loss of momentum for my learning. Punctuality, professionalism, and consistent progress are all highly valued by Arabic learners. As a customer, make sure that you are getting the greatest return on your investment. Ask about what procedures are in place to ensure every session you’ve planned for takes place. Will your sessions be cancelled or is there staff on standby if your instructor is ill or has a family emergency? Your language learning progress should not rest in the hands of one person’s dedication to their work. A key factor in your success is making sure you are progressing at the pace that you have set out to grow. Consistency is needed for tackling a language like Arabic. Does the institution you have chosen have a plan in place so that you can sprint to your destination of proficient Arabic speech? Are they tracking your progress behind the scenes to ensure you are making sufficient progress to meet your goals?
4. Is intercultural development and understanding prioritized?
Language and cultural are inseparable. Your underlying motivation to learning Arabic in the first place is likely to understand people who speak Arabic. Will you be getting an education on the culture of the host people you’ve come to live among? After hundreds of hours spent learning language, will you then also deeply know and understand Arabs? The best program will build into their vision, resources, and methodology a vast amount of cultural knowledge that no academic degree in anthropology could achieve. When you isolate language from the culture that it represents, you rob yourself of growing deeply into understanding the world it belongs to. Give yourself the gift of a program that prioritizes both.
5. Is the program structured, and inclusive of audio, visual, and written resources?
In traditional Arabic learning programs it is possible to spend a full two years learning grammar, reading, and writing without the ability to form spontaneous sentences, tell a story or feel confident that you will understand someone who approaches you in this new language. Reading and writing are important aspects of language learning, but are they given at the expence of understanding and conversational ability? Make sure you are in a program that gives priority to the functions that you do most in any given day (listening and responding) while also working on reading and writing according to your personal development preferences. Make sure your institution has vast resources to surround you in language you need alongside a focus on grammar forms so that you can learn to communicate in Arabic confidently.
Learning Arabic can be an amazing and enjoyable experience that opens new relationships and opportunity and a world of thought far beyond what a mono-cultural life can yield. It can also be frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Make sure you are entrusting your journey to an Arabic learning center where entrance into this new world is being opened to you by those who are working hard to create a professional and nurturing space where classes imitate real life functions and interactions.
Interested in learning more? Click here to set up a session at our center in Amman!
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]1. Is the program being developed by someone with linguistic knowledge?
A director or a certified language advisor with experience in linguistics or second language pedagogy is best equipped to come alongside learners to help them grow in acquisition. A director and staff that continue to develop activities and offer feedback in order to support and encourage Arabic learners is an essential ingredient. Are sessions observed occasionally to offer you feedback and suggestions for further development? The best coaches are those who have been through the process of learning the same language you are and have created strategies and resources for helping you develop communicative competence.
2. Are instructors full-time with full benefits?
A tendency some smaller Arabic learning centers have is to employ hourly staff. Being an ambassador for your language and culture is a skill that requires a considerable amount of on the job training. Is your center utilizing a full work day for job development and training beyond session time in order to upgrade skills? Is some of their time given to further enhance and develop resources used in sessions? Does everyone entrusted with instructing in the language have a university degree? Does the institution you are considering provide benefits like health insurance, social security, further training opportunities and paid time off? If not, consider a center that is working to create sustainable careers for local people and, simultaneously, provide experienced and skilled staff to invest in you.
3. Accountability and oversight?
When I was learning Arabic, occasionally I’d receive a call from my tutor while I was on my way to my Arabic class. My session had been cancelled. Not by management, but by the staff member himself. This often resulted in loss of momentum for my learning. Punctuality, professionalism, and consistent progress are all highly valued by Arabic learners. As a customer, make sure that you are getting the greatest return on your investment. Ask about what procedures are in place to ensure every session you’ve planned for takes place. Will your sessions be cancelled or is there staff on standby if your instructor is ill or has a family emergency? Your language learning progress should not rest in the hands of one person’s dedication to their work. A key factor in your success is making sure you are progressing at the pace that you have set out to grow. Consistency is needed for tackling a language like Arabic. Does the institution you have chosen have a plan in place so that you can sprint to your destination of proficient Arabic speech? Are they tracking your progress behind the scenes to ensure you are making sufficient progress to meet your goals?
4. Is intercultural development and understanding prioritized?
Language and cultural are inseparable. Your underlying motivation to learning Arabic in the first place is likely to understand people who speak Arabic. Will you be getting an education on the culture of the host people you’ve come to live among? After hundreds of hours spent learning language, will you then also deeply know and understand Arabs? The best program will build into their vision, resources, and methodology a vast amount of cultural knowledge that no academic degree in anthropology could achieve. When you isolate language from the culture that it represents, you rob yourself of growing deeply into understanding the world it belongs to. Give yourself the gift of a program that prioritizes both.
5. Is the program structured, and inclusive of audio, visual, and written resources?
In traditional Arabic learning programs it is possible to spend a full two years learning grammar, reading, and writing without the ability to form spontaneous sentences, tell a story or feel confident that you will understand someone who approaches you in this new language. Reading and writing are important aspects of language learning, but are they given at the expence of understanding and conversational ability? Make sure you are in a program that gives priority to the functions that you do most in any given day (listening and responding) while also working on reading and writing according to your personal development preferences. Make sure your institution has vast resources to surround you in language you need alongside a focus on grammar forms so that you can learn to communicate in Arabic confidently.
Learning Arabic can be an amazing and enjoyable experience that opens new relationships and opportunity and a world of thought far beyond what a mono-cultural life can yield. It can also be frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Make sure you are entrusting your journey to an Arabic learning center where entrance into this new world is being opened to you by those who are working hard to create a professional and nurturing space where classes imitate real life functions and interactions.
Interested in learning more? Click here to set up a session at our center in Amman!
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]These questions may help guide you as you decide what is best:
1. Is the program being developed by someone with linguistic knowledge?
A director or a certified language advisor with experience in linguistics or second language pedagogy is best equipped to come alongside learners to help them grow in acquisition. A director and staff that continue to develop activities and offer feedback in order to support and encourage Arabic learners is an essential ingredient. Are sessions observed occasionally to offer you feedback and suggestions for further development? The best coaches are those who have been through the process of learning the same language you are and have created strategies and resources for helping you develop communicative competence.
2. Are instructors full-time with full benefits?
A tendency some smaller Arabic learning centers have is to employ hourly staff. Being an ambassador for your language and culture is a skill that requires a considerable amount of on the job training. Is your center utilizing a full work day for job development and training beyond session time in order to upgrade skills? Is some of their time given to further enhance and develop resources used in sessions? Does everyone entrusted with instructing in the language have a university degree? Does the institution you are considering provide benefits like health insurance, social security, further training opportunities and paid time off? If not, consider a center that is working to create sustainable careers for local people and, simultaneously, provide experienced and skilled staff to invest in you.
3. Accountability and oversight?
When I was learning Arabic, occasionally I’d receive a call from my tutor while I was on my way to my Arabic class. My session had been cancelled. Not by management, but by the staff member himself. This often resulted in loss of momentum for my learning. Punctuality, professionalism, and consistent progress are all highly valued by Arabic learners. As a customer, make sure that you are getting the greatest return on your investment. Ask about what procedures are in place to ensure every session you’ve planned for takes place. Will your sessions be cancelled or is there staff on standby if your instructor is ill or has a family emergency? Your language learning progress should not rest in the hands of one person’s dedication to their work. A key factor in your success is making sure you are progressing at the pace that you have set out to grow. Consistency is needed for tackling a language like Arabic. Does the institution you have chosen have a plan in place so that you can sprint to your destination of proficient Arabic speech? Are they tracking your progress behind the scenes to ensure you are making sufficient progress to meet your goals?
4. Is intercultural development and understanding prioritized?
Language and cultural are inseparable. Your underlying motivation to learning Arabic in the first place is likely to understand people who speak Arabic. Will you be getting an education on the culture of the host people you’ve come to live among? After hundreds of hours spent learning language, will you then also deeply know and understand Arabs? The best program will build into their vision, resources, and methodology a vast amount of cultural knowledge that no academic degree in anthropology could achieve. When you isolate language from the culture that it represents, you rob yourself of growing deeply into understanding the world it belongs to. Give yourself the gift of a program that prioritizes both.
5. Is the program structured, and inclusive of audio, visual, and written resources?
In traditional Arabic learning programs it is possible to spend a full two years learning grammar, reading, and writing without the ability to form spontaneous sentences, tell a story or feel confident that you will understand someone who approaches you in this new language. Reading and writing are important aspects of language learning, but are they given at the expence of understanding and conversational ability? Make sure you are in a program that gives priority to the functions that you do most in any given day (listening and responding) while also working on reading and writing according to your personal development preferences. Make sure your institution has vast resources to surround you in language you need alongside a focus on grammar forms so that you can learn to communicate in Arabic confidently.
Learning Arabic can be an amazing and enjoyable experience that opens new relationships and opportunity and a world of thought far beyond what a mono-cultural life can yield. It can also be frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Make sure you are entrusting your journey to an Arabic learning center where entrance into this new world is being opened to you by those who are working hard to create a professional and nurturing space where classes imitate real life functions and interactions.
Interested in learning more? Click here to set up a session at our center in Amman!
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]Sometimes Arabic learners end up choosing the center that is closest to where they live. Others go with the least expensive option. However, selecting the place you will spend lots of your time and energy may cost you more in the long run if you do not choose carefully. You owe it to yourself to be thorough in your process, just as I was with a new oven. After all, this is an investment in yourself. Your time, finances and emotional well being are attached to this decision.
These questions may help guide you as you decide what is best:
1. Is the program being developed by someone with linguistic knowledge?
A director or a certified language advisor with experience in linguistics or second language pedagogy is best equipped to come alongside learners to help them grow in acquisition. A director and staff that continue to develop activities and offer feedback in order to support and encourage Arabic learners is an essential ingredient. Are sessions observed occasionally to offer you feedback and suggestions for further development? The best coaches are those who have been through the process of learning the same language you are and have created strategies and resources for helping you develop communicative competence.
2. Are instructors full-time with full benefits?
A tendency some smaller Arabic learning centers have is to employ hourly staff. Being an ambassador for your language and culture is a skill that requires a considerable amount of on the job training. Is your center utilizing a full work day for job development and training beyond session time in order to upgrade skills? Is some of their time given to further enhance and develop resources used in sessions? Does everyone entrusted with instructing in the language have a university degree? Does the institution you are considering provide benefits like health insurance, social security, further training opportunities and paid time off? If not, consider a center that is working to create sustainable careers for local people and, simultaneously, provide experienced and skilled staff to invest in you.
3. Accountability and oversight?
When I was learning Arabic, occasionally I’d receive a call from my tutor while I was on my way to my Arabic class. My session had been cancelled. Not by management, but by the staff member himself. This often resulted in loss of momentum for my learning. Punctuality, professionalism, and consistent progress are all highly valued by Arabic learners. As a customer, make sure that you are getting the greatest return on your investment. Ask about what procedures are in place to ensure every session you’ve planned for takes place. Will your sessions be cancelled or is there staff on standby if your instructor is ill or has a family emergency? Your language learning progress should not rest in the hands of one person’s dedication to their work. A key factor in your success is making sure you are progressing at the pace that you have set out to grow. Consistency is needed for tackling a language like Arabic. Does the institution you have chosen have a plan in place so that you can sprint to your destination of proficient Arabic speech? Are they tracking your progress behind the scenes to ensure you are making sufficient progress to meet your goals?
4. Is intercultural development and understanding prioritized?
Language and cultural are inseparable. Your underlying motivation to learning Arabic in the first place is likely to understand people who speak Arabic. Will you be getting an education on the culture of the host people you’ve come to live among? After hundreds of hours spent learning language, will you then also deeply know and understand Arabs? The best program will build into their vision, resources, and methodology a vast amount of cultural knowledge that no academic degree in anthropology could achieve. When you isolate language from the culture that it represents, you rob yourself of growing deeply into understanding the world it belongs to. Give yourself the gift of a program that prioritizes both.
5. Is the program structured, and inclusive of audio, visual, and written resources?
In traditional Arabic learning programs it is possible to spend a full two years learning grammar, reading, and writing without the ability to form spontaneous sentences, tell a story or feel confident that you will understand someone who approaches you in this new language. Reading and writing are important aspects of language learning, but are they given at the expence of understanding and conversational ability? Make sure you are in a program that gives priority to the functions that you do most in any given day (listening and responding) while also working on reading and writing according to your personal development preferences. Make sure your institution has vast resources to surround you in language you need alongside a focus on grammar forms so that you can learn to communicate in Arabic confidently.
Learning Arabic can be an amazing and enjoyable experience that opens new relationships and opportunity and a world of thought far beyond what a mono-cultural life can yield. It can also be frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Make sure you are entrusting your journey to an Arabic learning center where entrance into this new world is being opened to you by those who are working hard to create a professional and nurturing space where classes imitate real life functions and interactions.
Interested in learning more? Click here to set up a session at our center in Amman!
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]The same careful process should be followed by those who wish to learn Levantine Arabic. True, there are lots of variables when it comes to language learning outcomes. Even with an oven, no matter how sophisticated, you can’t throw in a bag of groceries and expect it to produce a three course meal. When it comes to Arabic, a category 5 language, learners have to be driven, relentless and consistently dedicated in order to pursue fluency. However, choosing which language institution to trust with your fluency goals is perhaps the most impactful decision you will make.
Sometimes Arabic learners end up choosing the center that is closest to where they live. Others go with the least expensive option. However, selecting the place you will spend lots of your time and energy may cost you more in the long run if you do not choose carefully. You owe it to yourself to be thorough in your process, just as I was with a new oven. After all, this is an investment in yourself. Your time, finances and emotional well being are attached to this decision.
These questions may help guide you as you decide what is best:
1. Is the program being developed by someone with linguistic knowledge?
A director or a certified language advisor with experience in linguistics or second language pedagogy is best equipped to come alongside learners to help them grow in acquisition. A director and staff that continue to develop activities and offer feedback in order to support and encourage Arabic learners is an essential ingredient. Are sessions observed occasionally to offer you feedback and suggestions for further development? The best coaches are those who have been through the process of learning the same language you are and have created strategies and resources for helping you develop communicative competence.
2. Are instructors full-time with full benefits?
A tendency some smaller Arabic learning centers have is to employ hourly staff. Being an ambassador for your language and culture is a skill that requires a considerable amount of on the job training. Is your center utilizing a full work day for job development and training beyond session time in order to upgrade skills? Is some of their time given to further enhance and develop resources used in sessions? Does everyone entrusted with instructing in the language have a university degree? Does the institution you are considering provide benefits like health insurance, social security, further training opportunities and paid time off? If not, consider a center that is working to create sustainable careers for local people and, simultaneously, provide experienced and skilled staff to invest in you.
3. Accountability and oversight?
When I was learning Arabic, occasionally I’d receive a call from my tutor while I was on my way to my Arabic class. My session had been cancelled. Not by management, but by the staff member himself. This often resulted in loss of momentum for my learning. Punctuality, professionalism, and consistent progress are all highly valued by Arabic learners. As a customer, make sure that you are getting the greatest return on your investment. Ask about what procedures are in place to ensure every session you’ve planned for takes place. Will your sessions be cancelled or is there staff on standby if your instructor is ill or has a family emergency? Your language learning progress should not rest in the hands of one person’s dedication to their work. A key factor in your success is making sure you are progressing at the pace that you have set out to grow. Consistency is needed for tackling a language like Arabic. Does the institution you have chosen have a plan in place so that you can sprint to your destination of proficient Arabic speech? Are they tracking your progress behind the scenes to ensure you are making sufficient progress to meet your goals?
4. Is intercultural development and understanding prioritized?
Language and cultural are inseparable. Your underlying motivation to learning Arabic in the first place is likely to understand people who speak Arabic. Will you be getting an education on the culture of the host people you’ve come to live among? After hundreds of hours spent learning language, will you then also deeply know and understand Arabs? The best program will build into their vision, resources, and methodology a vast amount of cultural knowledge that no academic degree in anthropology could achieve. When you isolate language from the culture that it represents, you rob yourself of growing deeply into understanding the world it belongs to. Give yourself the gift of a program that prioritizes both.
5. Is the program structured, and inclusive of audio, visual, and written resources?
In traditional Arabic learning programs it is possible to spend a full two years learning grammar, reading, and writing without the ability to form spontaneous sentences, tell a story or feel confident that you will understand someone who approaches you in this new language. Reading and writing are important aspects of language learning, but are they given at the expence of understanding and conversational ability? Make sure you are in a program that gives priority to the functions that you do most in any given day (listening and responding) while also working on reading and writing according to your personal development preferences. Make sure your institution has vast resources to surround you in language you need alongside a focus on grammar forms so that you can learn to communicate in Arabic confidently.
Learning Arabic can be an amazing and enjoyable experience that opens new relationships and opportunity and a world of thought far beyond what a mono-cultural life can yield. It can also be frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Make sure you are entrusting your journey to an Arabic learning center where entrance into this new world is being opened to you by those who are working hard to create a professional and nurturing space where classes imitate real life functions and interactions.
Interested in learning more? Click here to set up a session at our center in Amman!
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]Last year I had to buy a new oven. Cooking healthy meals for my family is a high priority for me. It’s a significant part of the way I love my family. So it was an important decision as I knew it would be the oven I would use for many years and would affect every meal. Making an informed choice required that I visit multiple stores to compare brands, functions, warranties, and the reputation of the manufacturer. In the end, I did not choose the least expensive. I purchased the oven most likely to bake the best chicken pot pie. I was looking for something that would produce the results I was looking for and last for years.
The same careful process should be followed by those who wish to learn Levantine Arabic. True, there are lots of variables when it comes to language learning outcomes. Even with an oven, no matter how sophisticated, you can’t throw in a bag of groceries and expect it to produce a three course meal. When it comes to Arabic, a category 5 language, learners have to be driven, relentless and consistently dedicated in order to pursue fluency. However, choosing which language institution to trust with your fluency goals is perhaps the most impactful decision you will make.
Sometimes Arabic learners end up choosing the center that is closest to where they live. Others go with the least expensive option. However, selecting the place you will spend lots of your time and energy may cost you more in the long run if you do not choose carefully. You owe it to yourself to be thorough in your process, just as I was with a new oven. After all, this is an investment in yourself. Your time, finances and emotional well being are attached to this decision.
These questions may help guide you as you decide what is best:
1. Is the program being developed by someone with linguistic knowledge?
A director or a certified language advisor with experience in linguistics or second language pedagogy is best equipped to come alongside learners to help them grow in acquisition. A director and staff that continue to develop activities and offer feedback in order to support and encourage Arabic learners is an essential ingredient. Are sessions observed occasionally to offer you feedback and suggestions for further development? The best coaches are those who have been through the process of learning the same language you are and have created strategies and resources for helping you develop communicative competence.
2. Are instructors full-time with full benefits?
A tendency some smaller Arabic learning centers have is to employ hourly staff. Being an ambassador for your language and culture is a skill that requires a considerable amount of on the job training. Is your center utilizing a full work day for job development and training beyond session time in order to upgrade skills? Is some of their time given to further enhance and develop resources used in sessions? Does everyone entrusted with instructing in the language have a university degree? Does the institution you are considering provide benefits like health insurance, social security, further training opportunities and paid time off? If not, consider a center that is working to create sustainable careers for local people and, simultaneously, provide experienced and skilled staff to invest in you.
3. Accountability and oversight?
When I was learning Arabic, occasionally I’d receive a call from my tutor while I was on my way to my Arabic class. My session had been cancelled. Not by management, but by the staff member himself. This often resulted in loss of momentum for my learning. Punctuality, professionalism, and consistent progress are all highly valued by Arabic learners. As a customer, make sure that you are getting the greatest return on your investment. Ask about what procedures are in place to ensure every session you’ve planned for takes place. Will your sessions be cancelled or is there staff on standby if your instructor is ill or has a family emergency? Your language learning progress should not rest in the hands of one person’s dedication to their work. A key factor in your success is making sure you are progressing at the pace that you have set out to grow. Consistency is needed for tackling a language like Arabic. Does the institution you have chosen have a plan in place so that you can sprint to your destination of proficient Arabic speech? Are they tracking your progress behind the scenes to ensure you are making sufficient progress to meet your goals?
4. Is intercultural development and understanding prioritized?
Language and cultural are inseparable. Your underlying motivation to learning Arabic in the first place is likely to understand people who speak Arabic. Will you be getting an education on the culture of the host people you’ve come to live among? After hundreds of hours spent learning language, will you then also deeply know and understand Arabs? The best program will build into their vision, resources, and methodology a vast amount of cultural knowledge that no academic degree in anthropology could achieve. When you isolate language from the culture that it represents, you rob yourself of growing deeply into understanding the world it belongs to. Give yourself the gift of a program that prioritizes both.
5. Is the program structured, and inclusive of audio, visual, and written resources?
In traditional Arabic learning programs it is possible to spend a full two years learning grammar, reading, and writing without the ability to form spontaneous sentences, tell a story or feel confident that you will understand someone who approaches you in this new language. Reading and writing are important aspects of language learning, but are they given at the expence of understanding and conversational ability? Make sure you are in a program that gives priority to the functions that you do most in any given day (listening and responding) while also working on reading and writing according to your personal development preferences. Make sure your institution has vast resources to surround you in language you need alongside a focus on grammar forms so that you can learn to communicate in Arabic confidently.
Learning Arabic can be an amazing and enjoyable experience that opens new relationships and opportunity and a world of thought far beyond what a mono-cultural life can yield. It can also be frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Make sure you are entrusting your journey to an Arabic learning center where entrance into this new world is being opened to you by those who are working hard to create a professional and nurturing space where classes imitate real life functions and interactions.
Interested in learning more? Click here to set up a session at our center in Amman!
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]Last year I had to buy a new oven. Cooking healthy meals for my family is a high priority for me. It’s a significant part of the way I love my family. So it was an important decision as I knew it would be the oven I would use for many years and would affect every meal. Making an informed choice required that I visit multiple stores to compare brands, functions, warranties, and the reputation of the manufacturer. In the end, I did not choose the least expensive. I purchased the oven most likely to bake the best chicken pot pie. I was looking for something that would produce the results I was looking for and last for years.
The same careful process should be followed by those who wish to learn Levantine Arabic. True, there are lots of variables when it comes to language learning outcomes. Even with an oven, no matter how sophisticated, you can’t throw in a bag of groceries and expect it to produce a three course meal. When it comes to Arabic, a category 5 language, learners have to be driven, relentless and consistently dedicated in order to pursue fluency. However, choosing which language institution to trust with your fluency goals is perhaps the most impactful decision you will make.
Sometimes Arabic learners end up choosing the center that is closest to where they live. Others go with the least expensive option. However, selecting the place you will spend lots of your time and energy may cost you more in the long run if you do not choose carefully. You owe it to yourself to be thorough in your process, just as I was with a new oven. After all, this is an investment in yourself. Your time, finances and emotional well being are attached to this decision.
These questions may help guide you as you decide what is best:
1. Is the program being developed by someone with linguistic knowledge?
A director or a certified language advisor with experience in linguistics or second language pedagogy is best equipped to come alongside learners to help them grow in acquisition. A director and staff that continue to develop activities and offer feedback in order to support and encourage Arabic learners is an essential ingredient. Are sessions observed occasionally to offer you feedback and suggestions for further development? The best coaches are those who have been through the process of learning the same language you are and have created strategies and resources for helping you develop communicative competence.
2. Are instructors full-time with full benefits?
A tendency some smaller Arabic learning centers have is to employ hourly staff. Being an ambassador for your language and culture is a skill that requires a considerable amount of on the job training. Is your center utilizing a full work day for job development and training beyond session time in order to upgrade skills? Is some of their time given to further enhance and develop resources used in sessions? Does everyone entrusted with instructing in the language have a university degree? Does the institution you are considering provide benefits like health insurance, social security, further training opportunities and paid time off? If not, consider a center that is working to create sustainable careers for local people and, simultaneously, provide experienced and skilled staff to invest in you.
3. Accountability and oversight?
When I was learning Arabic, occasionally I’d receive a call from my tutor while I was on my way to my Arabic class. My session had been cancelled. Not by management, but by the staff member himself. This often resulted in loss of momentum for my learning. Punctuality, professionalism, and consistent progress are all highly valued by Arabic learners. As a customer, make sure that you are getting the greatest return on your investment. Ask about what procedures are in place to ensure every session you’ve planned for takes place. Will your sessions be cancelled or is there staff on standby if your instructor is ill or has a family emergency? Your language learning progress should not rest in the hands of one person’s dedication to their work. A key factor in your success is making sure you are progressing at the pace that you have set out to grow. Consistency is needed for tackling a language like Arabic. Does the institution you have chosen have a plan in place so that you can sprint to your destination of proficient Arabic speech? Are they tracking your progress behind the scenes to ensure you are making sufficient progress to meet your goals?
4. Is intercultural development and understanding prioritized?
Language and cultural are inseparable. Your underlying motivation to learning Arabic in the first place is likely to understand people who speak Arabic. Will you be getting an education on the culture of the host people you’ve come to live among? After hundreds of hours spent learning language, will you then also deeply know and understand Arabs? The best program will build into their vision, resources, and methodology a vast amount of cultural knowledge that no academic degree in anthropology could achieve. When you isolate language from the culture that it represents, you rob yourself of growing deeply into understanding the world it belongs to. Give yourself the gift of a program that prioritizes both.
5. Is the program structured, and inclusive of audio, visual, and written resources?
In traditional Arabic learning programs it is possible to spend a full two years learning grammar, reading, and writing without the ability to form spontaneous sentences, tell a story or feel confident that you will understand someone who approaches you in this new language. Reading and writing are important aspects of language learning, but are they given at the expence of understanding and conversational ability? Make sure you are in a program that gives priority to the functions that you do most in any given day (listening and responding) while also working on reading and writing according to your personal development preferences. Make sure your institution has vast resources to surround you in language you need alongside a focus on grammar forms so that you can learn to communicate in Arabic confidently.
Learning Arabic can be an amazing and enjoyable experience that opens new relationships and opportunity and a world of thought far beyond what a mono-cultural life can yield. It can also be frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Make sure you are entrusting your journey to an Arabic learning center where entrance into this new world is being opened to you by those who are working hard to create a professional and nurturing space where classes imitate real life functions and interactions.
