Introduction to Arabic

What you start with

This is a two-week lead-in to a longer Open University short course on Arabic language and culture. It concentrates on the groundwork: the alphabet, the vowel system and the way the script is written, so that later study of vocabulary and grammar has solid footing.

Beyond the alphabet

Alongside writing practice, the material touches on spoken dialects and on how the language has developed over time. It also traces the influence Arabic has had on other languages, which gives the letters a wider context.

Who it suits

Anyone curious about a script that many learners find unfamiliar, or someone deciding whether to commit to the fuller Open University course. Listening to the audio and practising the letters by hand are both built into the approach, so it rewards a patient, regular pace.

• Reading and writing the Arabic alphabet with its vowels.
• Recognising how dialects differ from one another.
• Seeing where Arabic has shaped other languages.