In this Ramadan episode Jenn speaks with Besan about fasting traditions in Saudi Arabia, where she grew up, as well as celebrating the two Eids (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha). You'll hear the following Arabic words that you can discuss with your nurturer or Arabic tutor:

منسف

مقلوبة

تراويح

سنة

عيد

عيدية

عيد الفطر

عيد الأضحى

حَجّ

عُمْرَة

مُحَرَّم

صومة العصفورة

If you're interested in learning more about Shababeek's approach to Levantine Arabic acquisition and cultural adaptation, hop on over to our website here: shababeekcenter.com.

This week, Nour joins Jennifer to discuss Ramadan in Jordan. Nour describes the personal as well as communal spiritual significance of the month of Ramadan. She also speaks on the importance of interfaith respect and relationships between Muslims and Christians in Jordan.

The following Arabic words are used in this episode:

مَبْروك

الله يبارك فيك

القرآن الكريم

خير

دعاء

صَلاة

(صلاة الفجر، صلاة الظهر، صلاة العصر، صلاة المغرب، صلاة العشاء)

خمس صلوات

صومة العصفورة

تفضلوا، احنا طبخنا

قطايف

الحلويات

الحمد لله

سمبوسك

شوربة

إفطار

مقلوبة

منسف

قطايف

Learning culture alongside learning Arabic is essential if you want to interact with Arabs. If you're interested in learning more about Shababeek's approach to learning Levantine Arabic, visit our website here: shababeekcenter.com

In this episode, Anwar Nassar discusses the fasting month of Ramadan, learning to fast as a kid, fasting while pregnant, and more. You'll hear Anwar mention some Arabic words that may be new to you. This is a good opportunity to discuss these words and concepts with your nurturer or Levantine Arabic language teacher.

Arabic words mentioned in this episode:

ازمة

قطايف

رزقني

افطار

تراويح

صومة العصفورة

كفارة الصيام

عتق رقبة

زكاة

صيام متقطع

If you're interested in learning Levantine Arabic, hop on over to our website to learn more: shababeekcenter.com.

Many Arabic learners want to know how many hours a week they should commit to learning the Levantine Arabic dialect. The answer depends on what Arabic learning phase you find yourself in. In this week's tip to learning Levantine Arabic, Jenn breaks down the amount of hours Arabic learners should spend in sessions/class compared to time spent in relationships with Arabic speakers.

If you're interested in learning more about Shababeek's approach to learning Levantine Arabic, visit our website here: shababeekcenter.com.

At Shababeek, Arabic learners can choose to study one-on-one with an Arabic nurturer, with a partner, or in a small group. There are pros and cons for each of these options. This week, Jenn advises learners on a few things to be aware of when considering partnering with someone else to learn Levantine Arabic. 

If you are interested in learning the Levantine Arabic dialect and want to know more about what Shababeek offers, visit our site here: shababeekcenter.com

Learning Arabic grammar can seem daunting; and it often is in traditional classroom settings. Instead of calling it "grammar", we use the phrase "patterns of speech." This helps us be aware that what we are learning on patterns to the ways people naturally speak, and not necessarily a list of rules Arabic learners need to memorize. In this tip for learning Levantine Arabic, Jenn shares some ways that learners can work on their patterns of speech. 

If you're curious about our approach to Levantine Arabic acquisition, you can learn more on our website here: shababeekcenter.com.

Most people learn a language so they can interact with other humans who speak that language. However, building cross-cultural relationships in a new language can be quite challenging. Check out this week's tip on ideas for forming relationships and how to prepare for those relationships as you're learning Levantine Arabic.

For more information, please visit our website at shababeekcenter.com.

Moving towards something without the pressure to get there is actually really good for us. 

Some Arabic learners put so much pressure on themselves to acquire the language that they get burnt out in the process. Others may hurt relationships or hinder cultural understanding in their striving to become Arabic speakers. In this episode, Jenn discusses some hazards to be aware of as language learners strive to learn. 

If you'd like more information on our approach to learning Levantine Arabic, visit our website here: https://shababeekcenter.com

In a comprehension led Arabic program, speaking naturally lags a step behind. This doesn't mean you should be solely focused on understanding Arabic but not speaking it. This week's tip gives Arabic learners an easy formula to make sure they are balancing the speaking activities with the comprehension activities in their sessions. 

If you'd like to learn more about Shababeek's approach to learning Levantine Arabic, visit our website here: https://shababeekcenter.com

May Arabic learners want to jump into reading as soon as possible. Is this something you should be pursuing? It all depends on your goals. Check out this week's tip to learn some ways you can develop your reading ability, even as you maintain a focus on learning the Levantine dialect.