Arabic Language Resources

Browse our curated selection of resources for learning Arabic

Arabic, born in the Arabian Peninsula, spread across the world alongside Islam in the 7th century C.E. It is now spoken by over 300 million people, primarily in the Middle East and North Africa, in a variety of dialects. CMES supports the study of Arabic through the University of Chicago Arabic Circle (al-nadwa al-'arabiyya)

To discover Arabic-related events and programs in the Chicago region, visit the Chicago Arabic Teachers Council, hosted by CMES and suppported by Qatar Foundation International.

General Resources

FC Lang Media (YouTube) provides free Arabic grammar videos for first, second, and third-year learners. LangMedia is a resource created by the Five College Center for the Study of World Languages.

Textbooks

The Al-Kitaab Arabic Language Program (Georgetown University Press) is among the standard textbooks in Arabic programs across the United States. While ideally used in a classroom setting, it is a valuable guide through the essential components of Modern Standard Arabic (al-fusHa) and provides some exposure to Arabic dialects (al-'amiyya).

Arts & Culture

Khallina: An open source tool that helps teachers and independent learners of Arabic explore Arab culture. This website contains Cultural Modules suitable for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners, on a variety of subject matters including: music, food, politics, humor, gender issues, and much more. This project is supported by Qatar Foundation International, New York University-Abu Dhabi, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Podcasts

  • دم تك (صوت) - بودكاست بيروي قصص عن الموسيقى في المنطقة العربية

  • بودكاست فنجان - أذاعة ثمانية - في بودكاست فنجان، سنأخذ من كل مذاق رشفة. لا معايير، ولا مواضيع محددة، لكن الأكيد، هنا كثير من المتعة والفائدة