There are many dialects in the Arabic language.  Which one is taught at the Siountri School of Foreign Language?

How many letters are there in the Arabic alphabet?

The Arabic alphabet has 28 letters and 7 different acoustic symbols which resemble accents and are written either above or below the letters. These symbols are usually left out and are written only if absolutely necessary in the case of misinterpretation of the meaning of the language or when the text is holy or literary in nature.

Is Arabic a difficult language to learn?

It is difficult in certain areas and easier in others. It is a language that doesn’t have many peculiarities in its grammar. It is easier than Latin and Greek and simpler than German. It also doesn’t have the peculiarities inherent in Greek or English spelling, as the words are written as they’re heard, with few exceptions, which do not exceed 15-20 words.

 How difficult is it to learn to write in Arabic?

Arabic writing is not difficult, it’s just different.  It is written from right to left and an Arabic book begins where a Greek or English book ends. Each letter has four shapes which closely resemble one another, and this depends on whether it is used in the beginning, middle or ending of a word or if it stands alone.  It is like the Greek ‘Sigma’ which is written in two ways – simple and final. It just requires a little practice for someone to get used to these little idiosyncrasies of the Arabic language.

 How does the Arabic language function?

 The Arabic language belongs to the family of Semite languages and functions based on a system that is different from European languages.  This system is called the ‘root system’.  In this system, every noun, verb, adjective, adverb, participle or infinitive is derived from one root that is usually made up of three letters in most cases, or four letters in others.  Each root expresses a basic idea from which we derive all the words that are associated with that idea.  An example of this would be the word ‘confide’ from which we derive the words: confide, confidence, confidant, confident, confidently, confidence-booster, etc.  This is achieved by the addition of letters before, between and at the end of the root of each word.

 What idiosyncrasies of the Arabic language help in its being regarded as easier than other foreign languages?

The Arabic language, as difficult as it appears, has many idiosyncrasies that make it easier to learn than other foreign languages.  The first is that there are no difficulties in spelling.  Words are written as they sound, except for some very few cases.  The second and most important reason is that there are no irregularities in the conjunction of names and verbs.  Names have two types and verbs have only three tenses:  past, present and imperative. The remaining tenses are derived from the former with the addition of an auxiliary verb or a particle. Antonyms and particles are generally not conjugated. The syntax resembles that of Ancient Greek, but is easier and simpler to use.

 Are Arabic lessons given by teachers of Arabic origin?

All teachers of Arabic at the Siountri School of Foreign Languages are of Arabic origin and speak Arabic, Greek and at least one additional foreign language, such as English or French.

Is knowledge of English essential to follow an Arabic language class?

It is not necessary for a candidate wishing to learn Arabic to already know English, as our teachers are familiar with the Greek language.

 I would like to start learning Arabic but the differences in structure frighten me.  Will I be successful, and how long will it take me to start communicating?

It is understandable that learning the Arabic language demands time on the part of the student.  In order to communicate with an Arab-speaker on an everyday level, approximately one year’s study is needed.  If the student is very conscientious, then less time may be needed.

 How many years will it take for me to master my knowledge of the Arabic language?

Mastering the Arabic language may take several years as it is a language with a vocabulary that is rich in history and a wonderful literary tradition.  It would take three to four years of study to achieve a level of fluency to be able to enjoy this historical and literary tradition.