1. What is Darija?

Darija is the local dialect of Arabic in Morocco. Darija means “everyday, colloquial language” and therefore has connotations of informality, mostly used in casual conversations. Moroccan Darija shares an estimated 70-75% of its vocabulary with Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), and is, therefore, a good starting point to learn any type of Arabic. It also contains a mixture of words taken from Amazigh/Berber dialects,  French, and to a lesser extent words from Spanish and English.

2. Can I learn Darija?

Arabic may seem like an intimidating language to learn with its different alphabet and sometimes difficult sounds, but you can learn Moroccan Arabic! With our Darija program, in the first week, you'll learn words, expressions, and dialogues that you can start using right away. You will clearly notice your progress from the beginning, which will encourage you and keep you motivated for future learning.

3. Is It Important to Learn the Arabic Alphabet?

Since Moroccan Arabic is essentially a spoken language, the emphasis is on speaking. However, we believe that learning the Arabic alphabet is very helpful. It may seem to slow you down in the beginning (even though at the first level we also use phonetics), but it will help you later. Phonetics is only a limited aid that cannot do the job as well as the Arabic alphabet.

Knowing the Arabic Alphabet:

• Helps with pronunciation

• Helps you see the links between words that are based on the same root

• Allows you to read and understand written texts, even if they are in Modern Standard Arabic

• Opens up many other resources that would otherwise remain inaccessible to you

4. Is Moroccan Arabic a Language?

Moroccan Arabic has connotations of informality, and tends to be used in casual conversations and spoken discourse, but is usually not written. Because of this informality, Moroccans will often disparage Darija, saying that it is not really a language, or is just a poor language, where Modern Standard Arabic and Classical Arabic are rich. As someone who has spent three years studying and practicing Darija, those types of comments can be frustrating, because, to me, this is a real language that I have spent a lot of time trying to learn! Those of us from the West are accustomed to learning a language by hearing, speaking, and reading. Because Moroccan Arabic is usually not written, it is often difficult to find Darija courses in Moroccan that are not auditory-based. However, we have developed a curriculum that enables a learner not only to speak the language but also to read the language. Our curriculum is well-suited for the Western learner. 

5. What Language Should I Learn to Live in Morocco?

In order to interact with Moroccans from all levels of society, Moroccan Arabic (Darija) is the most helpful language. For some people, it may be sufficient to only know French, especially for those who live in Casablanca or Rabat. For those who work in higher education or interact with people who have a high level of education, Modern Standard Arabic (Fossha) will be mixed into conversation quite often. Additionally, for those who live in more rural areas, it may be more beneficial to study the Amazigh dialect of that region.

6. How long does it take to learn Darija?

The amount of time required to learn a language depends on many factors, most especially how much time you are willing to commit to learning the language. Arabic (referring to Modern Standard Arabic) is usually considered one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn, especially for native English (or other Romance language) speakers. The Foreign Service Institute has rated Arabic a Category V language, meaning that it will take 2200 hours of study to reach “General Professional Proficiency in Speaking and Reading.” However, Darija is a simplified version of the more complicated Arabic language.

In our program, a full-time, in-person student studies 15 hours per week in class and spends additional time outside of class reviewing vocabulary with the provided flashcards, listening to audio files, completing homework assignments, and practicing speaking. This rate of 15 hours per week continues for the first four months of language study, after which the student reduces to 7.5 hours per week of in-class study, with the expectation that they are spending an equal amount of time out of class practicing. To complete the entire program at this pace typically takes students one-and-a-half to two years, at which time the student will be able to engage in deep conversations about most topics. Studying Modern Standard Arabic and French at that point will assist in filling in any gaps in knowledge.

7. What is it like to learn Darija with Crossroads Cultural Exchange?

Our program has been developed over decades by the same teachers who teach the classes. We use a communicative approach where you will learn not only the rules of the language (grammar, structure, syntax) but also conversation habits (e.g. how to greet someone). We combine our structured in-class learning with written materials, audio recordings, and printed and electronic flashcards so that you can learn in the way that works for you. You can study with us in person at our center in Fes or online. Students will not only learn language, but also culture, in an immersive environment. From Day 1, students will be immersed in a classroom where only the language being studied is spoken. 

Our program starts at the introductory level with a week-long Serious Explorer course that introduces you to Moroccan Arabic and the Arabic alphabet, and gives you the greetings, words, and phrases to begin to navigate life in Morocco. After the Explorer course, you begin our Salam program, which includes five levels with various modules in each. The Salam program uses dialogues and stories to teach the language in a way that helps you begin communicating with Moroccans right away, and learn not just vocabulary and grammar, but also Moroccan culture.

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