Dissertation Topic Ideas for Arabic Language Students

رِسالة root: ر-س-ل / noun / plural: رَسائِل or رِسالات / definition: dissertation I remember—back in autumn 2018, starting my final year of BA Arabic and Linguistics—I was searching for dissertation ideas. I’m not sure why I was surprised, given the general lack of specific resources for Arabic students, but I didn’t find anything helpfulContinue reading “Dissertation Topic Ideas for Arabic Language Students”

Ideas for Language Learning in a Lockdown

إغْلاق root: غ-ل-ق / verbal noun of form IV / definition: lockdown, closing Classes cancelled, study abroad plans put on hold, and your sanity left bouncing between the same four walls for weeks on end… Most of us, in this coronavirus era, are in some form of lockdown or another. Since everyone is naturally copingContinue reading “Ideas for Language Learning in a Lockdown”

Different Ways to Learn Vocabulary Through Association

عَلاقة root: ع-ل-ق / noun / plural: علاقات or عَلائق / definition: association, relation, connection There are some words in your target language that will cling on in your memory and others that will dig in their heels and refuse to go any further than the “vaguely familiar” section of your brain. For those stubbornContinue reading “Different Ways to Learn Vocabulary Through Association”

The Importance of Getting Things Wrong

خَطَأ root: خ-ط-ء / noun / plural: أخطاء / definition: mistake, error It’s happening again. A wave of fear crashes down mercilessly upon the trembling students. Eyes dart desperately, frantically, around the room. One student scrambles out of class, mumbling something about needing the bathroom. The sky darkens. Another pretends to drop their pen asContinue reading “The Importance of Getting Things Wrong”

Four Simple Tips to Improve Your Essay Writing Skills in Arabic

مَقالة root: ق-و-ل / noun / plural: مَقالات /definition: essay, article So, you’ve studied Arabic for a while now. Simple sentences are old news (i.e. you’re silently pleading for your teacher not to go over jumlah ismiyyah yet again) and you’ve got a decent collection of relevant words all memorised. So you’re all set whenContinue reading “Four Simple Tips to Improve Your Essay Writing Skills in Arabic”

How Should I Begin?

بِداية root: ب-د-ء / noun / plural: بدايات / definition: beginning, start Starting is always the most difficult part, really: whether writing a blog or learning a language. Thankfully, the days of using flashcards to learn the Arabic alphabet (and practising pronouncing ع and ح until my throat ached) are tucked away around five-years-deep inContinue reading “How Should I Begin?”