As an Arabic instructor, I find these to be the three best ways to learn new vocabulary. These methods provide quick, long-lasting results and make learning fun.
- Flashcards and Spaced Repetition Systems (SRS): Tools like Anki, Quizlet, and Memrise use algorithms to show you vocabulary words just before you're likely to forget them, reinforcing your memory over time. You can download these apps on your iPhone or Android and most of them have an autoplay function that enables you to listen to the vocabulary while you're doing other tasks, like walking your dog, driving, etc.
- Contextual Learning: Learning vocabulary in context helps you understand how words are used in sentences. You can do this by reading Arabic books, articles, and watching videos, starting with simpler contexts like children's books or graded readers. My favorite learning resource to produce for my students is transcriptions of their favorite Arabic songs. This is a really valuable way to learn because if you really like the song, it will be stuck in your head and you will sing it often. If you know the meaning of the words, just singing or hearing the song will reinforce the meaning and proper pronunciation.
- Mnemonics: Mnemonics involve creating associations or stories around words to make them more memorable. For example, to remember "كتابة" (kitābah - writing), imagine a kitty (كِتا/kita) writing a letter "ب/bah" (the second letter in the Arabic alphabet), equalling kitabah.
I hope this helps you on your path to Arabic fluency! If you like this information and my approach to teaching, then message me and we can schedule a first lesson!
