Who studied Arabic in Morocco or other Arab country?

[ButtyBoy]

Some day - when I'll have the time and money :rolleyes: - I'd like to start learning the Arabic language, in an arab country that is. I'd prefer to study Arabic in Morocco because I think I wanna learn Colloquial Moroccan Arabic (CMA) instead of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). I'm not really 100% sure about that yet though. Even if I would decide to study MSA I'd still prefer to do so in Marocco I think. I'd love to stay/live in Morocco for a longer period of time AND learn Arabic. With a longer period of time I mean about 2 - 3 months, for starters, ahahaha.

I'm don't know exactly how big of a difference there is between CMA and MSA but I think there's quite a difference. I like Morocco a lot, I'm interested in the country and the culture and I'd like to be able to understand and speak the language, even if it's just a little. On the other hand, MSA is spoken in many countries and CMA only in Morocco (right?). I don't know how much people who speak CMA understand from people who speak MSA and vice versa. Is there someone here who can tell me more about that?

I have searched the internet for Arabic courses in Marrakech, but wasn't able to find any in that city. If there's one city where I'd want to live for a while then it's defenately Marrakech. I did find some other Arabic language centres in other cities, for example this one in Fes: http://www.alif-fes.com. I haven't been to Fes yet, so I don't know what it's like to be there for a longer period. I don't think there's much of a gaylife in Fes so I think I'd prefer to stay in Marrakech. Does anyone know about Arabic language courses in Marrakech? If so pleaseee DO let me know.

I'd like to read stories and experiences here from people who already took Arabic language courses in Morocco or another arab country. If you're one of those people; please tell me all about it. Where did you study, for how long, what's your level now, why did you want to learn Arabic, how much did it cost you, did you rent an appartment of did you live with a Moroccan family or on a campus, did you have a good time? Etceteraaa.. Etceteraa.. :)

Chokran bazaf :)

[lebnani]

hi buttyboy,
ummm i think it would be better if u learned MSA because even many arabic speakers who were born and raised in arabic speaking countries find the moroccan dialect difficult to understand. if u are looking to learn arabic and use it while going to different arabic countries u r better off with MSA.
but if u plan to live in Morocco, it makes more sense to learn CMA.

and if ur looking to learn basic arabic quickly, u can buy cd-roms that teach u arabic in like 10days or something

[ButtyBoy]

Thanks lebnani. You said that even many arabic speakers who were born and raised in arabic speaking countries find the moroccan dialect difficult to understand. Can you give me an estimate in a percentage of how much they understand from the Moroccan dialect? I honestly have no idea.. And a silly question perhaps, but do Moroccans understand as much of the standard Arabic as vice versa?

Thanks for the cd-roms tip. I do have an Arabic course on cd-rom and I also have a good book (it's known as the best Moroccan Arabic course book available overhere, it's for Dutch people) written by Jan Hoogland (see pic).

http://www.gayamateurs.org/pics/jan-hoogland.jpg

I just found some interesting links with Google. The author of the book I just mentioned also has a blog site (in Dutch though): http://janhoogland.blogspot.com. It has some nice pictures of Morocco. I just read that Jan Hoogland also gives summercourses in Moroccan Arabic, at the NIMAR in Rabat: http://www.ru.nl/nimar/nederlandstalige/info_voor_studenten/zomercursussen/

It might be interesting for me, especially because he's Dutch originally too, and people are REALLY enthousiastic about his book.

[amalli2006]

hello

i am from jordan, i am ready to teach you the arabic language.

[ButtyBoy]

Thanks for the offer but I guess that means that I will have to come to Jordan? :)

[amalli2006]

sure you have to come to jordan. why not? it will be a good chance to meet each other. by the way i am tourist guide in jordan. i met many tourists from netherlands.

[ButtyBoy]

Sounds good. I've always wanted to visit Jordan. I've seen a documentary about Jordan on tv once. The king rocks :)

But.. where would I stay?? And for how long?

And I suppose you speak MSA Arabic, right?

[amalli2006]

yes i speak MSA arabic. and as lebnani said you have to learn the MSA arabic to understand the others and so that the others can understand you.

[BZUtop]

Hi buttyboy
hope you are doing well

the difference between standard Arabic and Moroccan accent is quite big and if you learn the Moroccan accent then only Moroccans will be able to understand you, it is better to learn Syrian or Palestinian ones
if you are interested Google the "PAS birzeit university" it is in birzeit university ramallah Palestine, and we will have many experiences and many unique ones with the Israeli occupation, and we have a diversity of international students there so give it a shot and check it out ^^

[nevertoolate]

I think the best place to learn Arabic is Damascus. The Damascene dialect is widely understood in other Arabic-speaking countries. Most Arabic-language students stay in the Old City and you can rent accommodation in one of the wonderful historic courtyard mansions. You can have an active social life, as there are bars and many restaurants as well as shops which people use as meeting places. Restrictions on social life are an important consideration if you are learning the language in a stricter Islamic environment, such as the Yemen. Jordan is not a good idea - it's very boring compared to Syria.

[imdead123]

hey
well my teacher is from Morocco he teaches me french he speaks good arabic and i asked him dont people in Morocco have a weird dialect? why don't you?
he told me that the is becasue people mix Arabic with french and Berber and that people there will understand u if u speak MSA but it will be difficult me for to understand them
so yeah go for MSA they will understand u and they can replay with MSA if they are slightly educated that is