FSI Saudi Arabic Basic Course (Urban Hijazi Dialect)

As the official language of 26 states and with over 300 million native speakers, Arabic is one of the world’s major languages.

Speaking Arabic is a defining feature of Arab identity, it is the language of the Qur’an and down the centuries, its speakers have made important contributions to fields as diverse as philosophy, literature, science, and many more.

Learning Arabic will introduce you to a rich and vibrant culture as well as facilitating travel and business across the Arab world – and this FSI Saudi Arabic course is the perfect way to get started.

Course Details

What is the FSI Saudi Arabic Basic Course?

The problem for the learner is that Arabic is not a single language but rather a language continuum.

There are at least 30 distinct forms of Arabic, with many dialects being mutually unintelligible. If you learn one version, you may not understand or be understood in other parts of the Arabic-speaking world.

The standard form, Modern Standard Arabic, is widely used in printed matter and for formal education, but it is not actually spoken by anyone in their daily lives. Different regions all have their own versions, so which one should you learn?

Although Egyptian and Levantine Arabic are two of the most popular dialects, the version you choose depends largely on what you need it for, and if you plan to do business in Saudi Arabia, learning a Saudi dialect is preferable.

The FSI Saudi Arabic course teaches the Hejazi dialect of the Jeddah region, one of the most widely spoken and understood in the country.

If you need to travel to Saudi Arabia or converse with Saudi people, this version would be a good choice.

How was FSI Saudi Arabic Basic originally used?

This FSI Saudi Arabic course was first published in 1975 and was intended for use by US diplomatic staff who were preparing for postings in Saudi Arabia.

It was designed for intensive study, with students taking around six hours of classes each day, supplemented by a further two hours of individual learning.

As early as possible, they were encouraged to speak only Arabic in class, and even outside of lesson time, they were supposed to speak Arabic among themselves. In this way, after a period of only six months, they were able to achieve a relatively high level of proficiency in the language.

How can you use FSI Saudi Arabic?

Although you won’t be able to recreate the perfect learning conditions enjoyed by US diplomats, this free Saudi Arabic course is a rich source of material.

If you adapt it to your needs, you can benefit greatly from the lessons and audio it includes, and there are several ways you can do this.

If you are using another coursebook to study Arabic, these materials can supplement your learning while allowing you to focus on the Hejazi dialect. Alternatively, you can use FSI Basic as your primary source of learning materials, supplemented by whatever else is available to you.

For further details on how to make the best use FSI Basic courses, please check out our accompanying post here for more study tips and advice.

Taking it further

Student Text

Unit	Audio
Pronunciation	Tape
Lesson 01	Tape
Lesson 02	Tape
Lesson 03	Tape
Lesson 04	Tape
Lesson 05	Tape
Lesson 06	Tape
Lesson 07	Tape
Lesson 08	Tape
Lesson 09	Tape
Lesson 10	Tape
Lesson 11	Tape
Lesson 12	Tape
Lesson 13	Tape
Lesson 14	Tape
Lesson 15	Tape
Lesson 16	Tape
Lesson 17	Tape
Lesson 18	Tape
Lesson 19	Tape
Lesson 20	Tape
Lesson 21	Tape
Lesson 22	Tape
Lesson 23	Tape
Lesson 24	Tape
Lesson 25	Tape
Lesson 26	Tape
Lesson 27	Tape
Lesson 28	Tape
Lesson 29	Tape
Lesson 30	Tape
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Lesson 32	Tape
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Lesson 34	Tape
Lesson 35	Tape
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Lesson 37	Tape
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Lesson 40	Tape
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Lesson 43	Tape
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Lesson 45	Tape
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Lesson 48	Tape
Lesson 49	Tape
Lesson 50	Tape