Modern Standard Arabic (also known as MSA), is one of 6 official languages of the United Nations, and is the official, or one of the official languages, of 16 countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It is a language frequently used in magazines, newspapers, books, and official documents, and in many films and on TV. There are many benefits to learning Modern Standard Arabic:

• Modern Standard Arabic is almost entirely based on Arabic from the Quran, which was penned in the 7th century, with the addition of new words commonly used in the world today. It combines the best of both worlds, the ancient and the new, and thus is useful for scholars of the old world, and dwellers in the new world. If you’re an aspiring business person in a big city such as London, taking one of the many Arabic classes in London is a great way to get ahead in today’s global age of business. Lower registers of MSA are much more informal, and have been mixed with local dialects to some degree in each of the 16 countries noted above. Higher registers are mostly used in more formal settings, and resemble Classical Arabic in both vocabulary and structure.

• Modern Standard Arabic is used in all news broadcasts, including Al-Jazeera, and are an important way for English speakers to really understand what is going on in Arabic speaking countries, without having to learn a multitude of different dialects. Arabic courses are available for all levels, from beginners to intermediate and advanced. Students are taught using present day Arabic books, textbooks, and media articles.

• In the past 20 years, there has been a veritable explosion of people who are interested in learning Arabic. Because there is a dizzying number of dialects to choose from, the plan to study Modern Standard Arabic first is a good one. After taking an Arabic course in London students can go on and learn the dialects of the particular country that they will be living or working in. Dialects are important in order to travel, make friends, work, or purchase items in a selected country. The combination of learning Modern Standard Arabic and several dialects is a win-win situation.

• The economy of the Middle East as a whole increased by roughly 120% in a five year time span from the middle of 2003 to mid-2008, and that growth has only increased in the following years. Knowing Arabic gives business people much better insight into the many aspects of business prevalent in the Arab world. By understanding Arabic, it’s possible to build relationships based on a common language and mutual trust.

• Did you know that approximately 255 million people worldwide speak Arabic, or that Arabic is fifth on the list of most spoken world languages? It is also the third most popular official or co-official language in the world, following English and French.

• Arabic is the language of Islam and the Quran, and every one of the 1.5 billion Muslims are strongly encouraged to learn some Arabic.

• Students who are able to speak some Arabic will find traveling in Arab countries easier and more satisfying.

• Business men, other professionals, and diplomats will be left out of important conversations if they don’t have the deeper comprehension of the Arab populace that only learning Arabic will give them.

• MSA is essential for delivering formal business speeches, reading Arabic poetry and literature, writing formal letters, and writing and reading legal documents.

• MSA can be a stepping stone to learn one of the three largest Arabic dialects – Gulf Arabic, which is spoken throughout the Gulf region, Egyptian Arabic, spoken in Egypt, and Levantine Arabic, spoken in Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria.

• Learning Arabic is easier than you think! Arabic is a phonetic language, and is pronounced exactly the way it is written, unlike many English words that are spelled very differently from the way they are written or pronounced.

These are just some of the many benefits of learning MSA, and as with any language, learning MSA will open up a wide range of opportunities to you, be it travel, business or a greater understanding of the Arabic culture. To begin your journey into the Arabic language get in touch with London Arabic Tuition today.