FSI Written Arabic Course

What is the FSI Written Arabic Course?

FSI Written Arabic is made up of three modules. Before starting the first module, you should already be familiar with Arabic script and how to pronounce it, and a basic knowledge of a spoken Arabic dialect is also a big advantage.

As you work through the three modules, you deal with increasingly complex texts that highlight how the formal written language functions in terms of vocabulary and grammar.

The first two modules are accompanied by audio recordings while the third consists solely of longer Arabic texts for you to read.

The whole course consists of 96 units, and completing them all will give you a high level of competence in Modern Standard Written Arabic.

How was the FSI Written Arabic originally used?

FSI courses were originally designed for US diplomatic staff who were preparing for postings abroad. The FSI Written Arabic course would have been taken by those who were getting ready for positions throughout the Arab-speaking world and who required a knowledge of the formal written language as well as competency in the local dialect spoken where they were being sent.

Students taking the course were expected to study and prepare each lesson before class. Having mastered the new language presented in the unit beforehand, their teacher would then check they had assimilated and understood the everything correctly.

In this way, through an intensive program of study, the students would be able to reach a high level of competency in Modern Written Arabic in a relatively short time.

How can you use the FSI Written Arabic Course?

You won’t be able to recreate the perfect study conditions enjoyed by US diplomats, but if you already have some knowledge of Arabic, this free written Arabic course will be of much use if you want to begin working on the formal literary version of the language.

This course is suitable for autonomous study, and you can simply work through the units yourself, practicing the reading, repeating the recordings and reading the notes for each section.

If you are taking Arabic classes with a teacher, you will also be able to ask any questions that arise from this course, and they should be able to help you.

However, for those looking to start learning Arabic from scratch, this is probably not the best place to begin.

Taking it further

Since this is a literary or formal version of the language, it isn’t something you will be able to practice speaking so easily since it isn’t a language that people use in their day-to-day lives.

However, once you begin to make progress in written Arabic, you will be able to find plenty of texts and other reading materials that match your level, helping you to progress in Modern Written Arabic even faster.