Course Code: TAS003A

Introduction to Learning
Arabic
Saqib Hussain
Imran Fazal 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, including photocopying,
recording, Internet, or any storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the
copyright holder.
www.arabic-studio.com
Contents
Introduction: Approaches to Learning Arabic.......................................................................2
1 Introducing Yourself.................................................................................................................3
2 Masculine and Feminine...........................................................................................................4
3 Basic Questions..........................................................................................................................5
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Introduction: Approaches to Learning Arabic
The pedagogical methodology adopted in the grammar series Basic Arabic Grammar (TAS004A-
D) focuses on rigorously understanding Arabic grammar, which we believe is the most efficient and
effective way of learning any foreign language. This is in contrast to two competing ways of
learning Arabic, namely to focus on naw (classical Arabic syntax), or else by immersion.
For more details, please see the article How to Learn Arabic at http://www.arabic-
studio.com/arabic_language_about.html.
One potential drawback of focussing on Arabic grammar, as opposed to an immersion methodology,
is that the student doesn't learn how to introduce himself or herself, and ask basic conversational
questions, until much later. This text tries to deal with that by giving a few basic Arabic phrases.
However, to benefit from and gain even a rudimentary understanding of these basic phrases, the
student should at least have done the first few chapters of the course Basic Arabic Grammar: Part
A (TAS004A).
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1 Introducing Yourself
Hello (lit. peace be upon you).
.`` ` `
Hello.
.` ` ``
What is your name?
``
My name is Fatimah. What is your
name?
` `` . ``
My name is Muhammad.
.` `` ``
How are you, Muhammad?
``` ``
I'm fine. How are you?
` ` . `
I'm fine too.
.` `
Where are you from, Fatimah?
` ` `
I'm from Britain. Where are you
from?
` ` ` .` `
I'm from America.
.`` `
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2 Masculine and Feminine
I'm a (male) student
`
I'm a (female) student

You (addressing a boy) are clever
` `
You (addressing a girl) are clever
` `
He is a (male) doctor
`` `
She is a (female) doctor
`
This is a (male) teacher
`
This is a (female) teacher
`
That is a chair
`
That is a table

He went to the market
`'
She went to the market
` ' `
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3 Basic Questions
Who is he?
` `
He is the king.
.` `
Is the prince with the king?
``
No, the prince is with the queen.
. ``
Is the queen in the mosque?
`
Yes, the queen is in the mosque.
. ` `
Where is the mosque?
`` `
The mosque is on the mountain.
. ``
Why did she go to the mosque?
` `
And how did she go to the mosque?
` ` `
And when did she go to the
mosque?
` `
I don't know!
:``
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