Three Reasons Morocco is a Great Place to Study Language
A week of my life in Morocco rarely goes by without a Moroccan asking me about how I have learned Moroccan Arabic. People are always surprised and awed that I have learned the local language here. In other countries, local people would perhaps not be as impressed that foreigners have learned the language, but in Morocco, people are always amazed and excited by this. Their interest and excitement make it really encouraging to study language in Morocco, whether you are studying Moroccan Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, French, or Tamazight. Morocco is a great place to study language for the hospitality, rich history and culture, and diverse landscapes you can experience while you study.
Immense Hospitality
A crucial element to language learning is the opportunity to practice the language with willing language partners and friends. It is absolutely necessary to spend time talking with native speakers if you want to learn to speak a new language. It has been said that a language learner will make over 10,000 mistakes while striving to learn a language. You will discover that most Moroccans are very sympathetic to someone who wants to learn their language and will gladly listen to you and help you improve your language skills as you make thousands of mistakes. Moreover, Moroccan hospitality is legendary, and in most places in Morocco, people are quick to befriend you and invite you into their homes if you are learning their language. You will meet people in your neighborhood, at the market, and in your day-to-day life who will be quick to practice with you. Much learning takes place over Friday couscous, and through this Moroccan hospitality, you will learn not only the language, but also the culture and traditions found in every Moroccan home.
Moroccans have a special way of welcoming their guests for a meal. When the host and guests surround the table of food, host usually says repeatedly: “Kol/koli/kolu…zid kol!” This means, “Eat, eat…keep eating!” As a foreigner, don’t worry about how much you have to eat; the more they say this, the happier they are with having you with them sharing the meal. Learn more about this legendary hospitality here.
Rich History and Culture
Morocco is home to an impressive nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are sites designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance and protected by international treaties. Morocco is truly a crossroads of influences, which can be seen in the Roman ruins that date back to the first century, Arab, Berber, and Jewish cultural influences, a legacy from French, Spanish, and Portuguese colonization, and both traditional and modern life together. If you are interested in learning about history, art, architecture, or even culinary traditions, then Morocco is the perfect country for you to spend time.
Diverse Landscapes
While you may most often picture the desert when you think of Morocco, the country also has incredible mountains, beautiful beaches on both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastline, and impressive waterfalls, forests, gorges, and desert oases. If you are a nature lover, the opportunities to explore diverse landscapes in Morocco are endless. Daily and weekend excursions to beautiful locations are available from many large cities, allowing you to get a taste of both urban and rural settings. (Make sure to check out our favorite places in Morocco.) Fes is a great regional city that could be your base camp to explore Meknes and Volubilis, Chefchaouen, Taza, Ifrane and Azrou, as well as the desert in Merzouga.
There are numerous other reasons why Morocco is an excellent place to study language. It is a relatively safe and stable country, where the cost of living is lower than other places you may considering for language study. English, French, and Spanish are all common languages when you need help getting around in your early days of language study. Ease of access for international travel is also an advantage. Doing a homestay for an additional immersive experience is also a wonderful opportunity.
Study language online or in-person in Morocco. We offer flexible scheduling and a structured learning approach that focuses on communication and cultural awareness.
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The local dialect of Arabic in Morocco is called Darija (الدارجة), which means “everyday, colloquial language.” Modern Standard Arabic (MSA/Fossha), which is the international Arabic language, is used in writing and in official communication, but often feels somewhat artificial, or stuffy, because people don’t actually speak MSA.