Arabic Lessons in Washington, D.C

Residents in Washington DC are quite diverse and come from all parts of the world. As a result, there are many languages you can hear around the city, and among the most commonly used is Arabic. According to the Arab American Institute, there are around 10,821 city residents that speak Arabic at home, which makes it the seventh-most popular language among foreign-born communities in the city. If this fascinating language has caught your attention, you’ll find that there are many advantages to learning it in Washington DC. To begin with, you’ll get to expand your social circle and meet people from countries like Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, and Morocco, who will really appreciate you taking the time to learn their language and take an interest in their culture. You’ll also get to experience the different institutions, events, stores, and restaurants that celebrate Arab culture with a deeper understanding of their traditions and customs, and what’s more, you’ll be able to take advantage of the many job opportunities in the city for Arabic speakers. 

Learn Arabic for Work and Travel

Because Arabic is so widespread in the area, learning it will help you access some of the unique job positions that are exclusive for bilinguals, like Arabic Speaking Social Media Cultural Advisor for Atlas Advisors, Quality Assurance Specialist for Yorktown System Group and Senior Arabic Analyst for PAE. What’s more, even if you’re not interested in applying for a job that requires you to speak Arabic, having it as one of the skills on your CV will impress most local companies in the city like Amazon, IBM, and PwC who are always looking for candidates that can help them build successful business relationships in the Arab world. On the other hand, if you have your own business and want to attract a larger section of the local Arab community, which is among the wealthiest immigrant groups in the area, learning Arabic is key to reaching this part of the population, as it will help you understand them better and provide unique solutions to their needs.

Learn Arabic for Social

There are many ways to get to know Arab culture in the city. If you love art, you can explore a great collection of Islamic art at The Freer and Sackler Galleries, located at 1050 Independence Ave SW, that includes illustrated manuscripts, ceramics, and more than 2,200 objects from North African, Spanish, and Southeast Asia regions that were deeply influenced by Islam. Another great way to learn about Arab culture is by visiting Middle East Books and More, a local book shop where in addition to great books in Arabic for children and adults, you’ll find Arabic language toys, ingredients, greeting cards, and art. Lastly, if you’re a foodie, you can check out the many local restaurants that celebrate Middle Eastern food, like Zaytinya, located at 701 9th Street, which offers delicious Lebanese dishes such as falafel, hummus, labneh, and mujadara.  

Learn Arabic for Culture

A great way to meet other like-minded people who love Arabic as much as you do is to attend some of the events organized by Conversational DC, a language immersion social club that organizes all kinds of language exchange events in the city. They hold many Arabic meetups at The Green Zone, located at 2226 18th St NW, a Middle Eastern-inspired bar where many local language enthusiasts gather to have conversations in Arabic. In addition to making great new friends, you’ll be able to hear many different dialects and learn slang words from many countries like Lebanon or Algeria. What’s more, you’ll be able to enjoy wonderful Arabic music that includes famous Lebanese singer Fairuz and Syria's Omar Souleyman, as well as live performances by local musicians. These events are completely free and welcome learners of all levels, so no matter if you can’t hold a conversation, you still can attend to get immersed in this beautiful language.

Where to learn Arabic in and around Washington, D.C?

If you are fluent enough to read in Arabic, the Library of Congress, located at 101 Independence Ave SE, has a great collection of books in the language that ranges from poetry, religious texts, history books, and even fiction. On the other hand, if you’re a beginner, you might want to check out audiobooks like 15-minute Arabic: Learn Arabic in just 12 Weeks or Total Arabic: Effortless Learning, which can help you make your first sentences in Arabic and learn basic vocabulary. The library also has useful resources to explore the different Arabic dialects like Learn Arabic conversation (Egyptian dialect), a perfect audiobook for those who want to know what the Egyptian dialect sounds like, and Lebanese Arabic: a typological study, a very interesting book that explores the particularities of the Lebanese variant. However, as helpful as these resources can be, the fastest way to learn a challenging language like Arabic is with the help of a qualified teacher. If you’re looking for great native tutors in the area, your best choice is Listen & Learn. No matter if you’re looking for a business Arabic course to help you advance your career or a more general course to travel, one of our teachers will tailor a perfect course that fits all of your requirements. All you have to do to start learning with us is send us a quick inquiry now and one of your team members will get in contact with you as soon as possible!