I want to learn a new language

[BigDH01]

As the title says, I really want to learn Arabic. I would prefer to learn it from countries in the Arabian peninsula. As far as I can tell, there are a couple of ways to do this:

1) Get formal education either in the US (not-preferred) or get an education overseas. This is an expensive proposition that I am not sure I can afford. I would think an internship would be good but I'm already in my final semester of my Master's program. They also have those month long immersion programs overseas, but I'm not sure if those are useful or just scams. Anyone here with past experiences that could help me with this?

2) Try to get a job teaching English overseas. From what I've seen, every school requires teaching certification which I do not have. I could also try to get an IT job overseas (my Master's is in InfAs) but I'd prefer to stay out of anything IT-specific if possible. Also, I would imagine IT positions would be long term and I'm looking for something more temporary (long enough to learn the language).

3) Try to teach myself through software. This is my least preferred method as I don't actually get to experience the culture with the language.

4) Get a permanent job with the State Department working overseas. However, not only are these jobs probably really difficult to get, I don't think I can choose which country to work in.

5) Join the military and go to California. Tried this one and even took and passed the DLABs. Was disqualified years ago because of kidney stones.

6) Something I haven't thought of yet.

Please, if you have any advice or past experience, chime in. What is the best and most affordable way for me to learn Arabic?

 

[Brutus04]

Rosetta Stone

 

[SVT Cobra]

Wow same here...I am going to try that Rosetta Stone software.

 

[Saint Michael]

Well, while you're waiting to figure out what to do you might as well go to one of your local libraries and get the Arabic Pimsleur tapes (or some... other way). They work really well, and take half an hour a day. You'll get a good foundation for conversation.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Get a working knowledge of Arabic through some software and then start reading Arabic literature, newspapers, popular novels, ect. Watch Arabic television (with no captions). Use the software up to the point that you can somewhat understand what you are reading/seeing and then fill in the rest through context. Use the software again to tune up the finer points of what you are learning. You'll be learning most of the language the same way you learned english, but you'll you jump starting the process because you learn the basic meanings of common words beforehand.

Meh, I don't know anything about learning languages...Just move to some middle eastern country and when you get tired of the dudes in the bazaar reaming you like a tourist you'll learn by necessity.

 

[jai6638]

Is Rosetta Stone really that great? I can read the Arabic script but suck at conversation and have forgotten most of my grammar. Would it help?

Meh, I don't know anything about learning languages...Just move to some middle eastern country and when you get tired of the dudes in the bazaar reaming you like a tourist you'll learn by necessity.

In the bazaars of a Middle-Eastern GULF country, Hindi/Farsi would probably be more useful than Arabic

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: jai6638
Is Rosetta Stone really that great? I can read the Arabic script but suck at conversation and have forgotten most of my grammar. Would it help?

Meh, I don't know anything about learning languages...Just move to some middle eastern country and when you get tired of the dudes in the bazaar reaming you like a tourist you'll learn by necessity.

In the bazaars of a Middle-Eastern GULF country, Hindi/Farsi would probably be more useful than Arabic

i've wondered that myself not specifically about arabic. what about berlitz?

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: jai6638

In the bazaars of a Middle-Eastern GULF country, Hindi/Farsi would probably be more useful than Arabic

Wait a second, aren't all those Eye-rainians a bunch of camel ridin' A-rabs too?

 

[OdiN]

Rosetta Stone is the best. I heard it on TV so it must be true.

 

[mooglemania85]

Rosetta Stone is the best. I heard about it on ATOT so it must be true.

 

[CorCentral]

Rosetta Stone is decent, but you must watch the movie TEAM AMERICA first, if you're going for the Arabic language that is.

 

[Farang]

English teaching certification is very easy to obtain and costs only a few hundred dollars. If you are serious about learning Arabic and have no real qualifications to get yourself a livable wage over there, this is definitely the way to go.

I'm sorry but I cannot imagine someone mastering Arabic through Rosetta Stone, or even through pure self-study for that matter. For the amount you spend on that software you can get yourself certified to teach.

 

[LASTGUY2GETPS2]

Pimsleur is pretty good for speaking but you'll need to find another way to be literate.

 

[George P Burdell]

Local TV channels are an excellent learning tool for any foreign language.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Local TV channels are an excellent learning tool for any foreign language.

I've been trying that myself to pick up some Spanish, but do you recommend doing it without the subtitles? It's hard when I hear a new word and have absolutely no idea what it means. I was thinking of using subtitles to start.

 

[BigDH01]

Originally posted by: Farang
English teaching certification is very easy to obtain and costs only a few hundred dollars. If you are serious about learning Arabic and have no real qualifications to get yourself a livable wage over there, this is definitely the way to go.

I'm sorry but I cannot imagine someone mastering Arabic through Rosetta Stone, or even through pure self-study for that matter. For the amount you spend on that software you can get yourself certified to teach.

There appears to be a few programs. I think TESOL is the most popular one. Do you have any experiences with these and is there anyone that you might recommend?

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Local TV channels are an excellent learning tool for any foreign language.

I've been trying that myself to pick up some Spanish, but do you recommend doing it without the subtitles? It's hard when I hear a new word and have absolutely no idea what it means. I was thinking of using subtitles to start.

Start off with subtitles. Once you become more fluent you can try it without them.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: BigDH01

Originally posted by: Farang
English teaching certification is very easy to obtain and costs only a few hundred dollars. If you are serious about learning Arabic and have no real qualifications to get yourself a livable wage over there, this is definitely the way to go.

I'm sorry but I cannot imagine someone mastering Arabic through Rosetta Stone, or even through pure self-study for that matter. For the amount you spend on that software you can get yourself certified to teach.

There appears to be a few programs. I think TESOL is the most popular one. Do you have any experiences with these and is there anyone that you might recommend?

I have not personally taught abroad, but check out http://www.eslcafe.com/ and go to the forums there, a lot of your questions have probably already been answered. I believe many Arabic speaking countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, etc.) want you to have experience first but there may be some that don't require it--for example I'm not sure what they speak in Egypt but I believe you don't need experience there.

As far as I know TESOL, TEFL, etc. they're all the same, job requirements always add "or equivalent" after naming the certification they want. I'm sure you can find some arguments about this at the forums I mentioned.

edit: Actually you have a Master's, so maybe more would be open to you in the Mideast than I say.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: CorCentral
Rosetta Stone is decent, but you must watch the movie TEAM AMERICA first, if you're going for the Arabic language that is.

Bak. Derk-derk-Allah. Derka derka, Mohammed Jihad. Haka sherpa-sherpa. Abaka-la.

Ahhh! Derka derka derka!