Arabic Schools-Courses in Morocco - Learn Arabic in Morocco

Morocco has a distinct and special charm. A land of diversity, modern Morocco is an initiation into the exotic magic of the Islamic, Arabic, African world - the world of medinas and minarets, desert and mountain; yet it almost touches Western Europe and retains a taste of the European, the legacy of the French Protectorate.

The spirit of Morocco is alive in the streets of the great cities such as Fès, the ancient capital, which has a stunning array of medieval buildings. For sun-worshippers, there are miles of beaches, while inland lies Berber country where, among the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, the energetic can walk or trek. Beyond the Atlas are the fringes of the Sahara, where the caravans once stopped on their way south to trade in spice and ivory.

Whether trekking distant ridges, relaxing by the sea, bartering for exotic artefacts, gazing at ancient wonders or marvelling at the pink and indigo of a desert dawn, you will be awe-struck.

Morocco - History

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. Parliamentary elections were held for the second time in September 2002 and municipal elections were held in September 2003.

Arabic Courses in Morocco - Geography

At 172,402 sq.mi (446,550 sq.km), Morocco is the fifty-seventh largest country in the world (after Uzbekistan). It is comparable in size to Iraq, and is somewhat larger than the US state of California.

Algeria borders Morocco to the east and southeast though the border between the two countries has been closed since 1994. There are also four Spanish enclaves on the Mediterranean coast: Ceuta, Melilla, Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, Peñón de Alhucemas, and the Chafarinas islands, as well as the disputed islet Perejil. Off the Atlantic coast the Canary Islands belong to Spain, whereas Madeira to the north is Portuguese. To the north, Morocco is bordered by and controls part of the Strait of Gibraltar, giving it power over the waterways in and out of the Mediterranean Sea. The Rif mountains occupy the region bordering the Mediterranean from the north-west to the north-east.

The Atlas Mountains run down the backbone of the country, from the south west to the north east. Most of the south east portion of the country is in the Sahara Desert and as such is generally sparsely populated and unproductive economically. Most of the population lives to the north of these mountains, while to the south is the desert. To the south, lies the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that was annexed by Morocco in 1975 (see Green March). Morocco claims that the Western Sahara is part of its territory and refers to that as its Southern Provinces.

The capital of Morocco's is Rabat ; while Casablanca is its largest city and main port.

Learn Arabic in Morocco - Economy

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has actually increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's continued dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote the growth of small and medium size enterprises. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only convertible for current account transactions and Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary.

Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs is key to domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccan authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US and selling government shares in the state telecommunications company and in the largest state-owned bank. The Free Trade agreement went into effect in January 2006. In 2005, GDP growth slipped to 1.2% and the budget deficit rose sharply - to 7.5% of GDP - because of substantial increases in wages and oil subsidies. Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and raising living standards, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

Arabic School in Morocco - Food

Moroccan cuisine is often reputed to be some of the best in the world, with countless dishes and variations proudly bearing the country's colonial and Arabic influences. Unfortunately, if you learn Arabic in Morocco, especially if you're on a budget, you'll be limited to the handful of dishes that seem to have a monopoly on cafe and restaurant menus throughout the country. Apart from major cities, Moroccans do not generally eat out in restaurants so choice is generally limited to international fare such as Chinese, Indian and French cuisine.

Traditional cuisine

• Tagine, a spicy stew of meat and vegetables that has been simmered for many hours in a conical clay pot (from which the dish derives its name) is probably the best known Moroccan meal.
• F or most Moroccans, couscous, which is made from semolina, is a staple in their diet. Couscous is similar to rice or pasta in its function and is usually served with stew or tagine, or mixed with meat and/or vegetables to create a main meal.
• kaliya, a combination of lamb, tomatoes, bell peppers and onion, is popular in Morocco. This dish is Berber in origin and is served with couscous or bread.
• Pastilla is a popular dish in Morocco, it is similar to pastries, which can be found around the world and includes a sweet or savory filling

A Dh 3 - Dh 5 serve of harira or besara will always include some bread to mop the soup up and will fill you up for breakfast or lunch:

Moroccans often elect to begin their meals with warming bowl of harira (French: soupe moroccaine ), a delicious soup made from lentils, chickpeas, lamb stock, tomatoes and vegetables.

Many cafes and restaurants also offer good value petit dejeuner breakfast deals, which basically include a tea or coffee, orange juice ( jus d'Orange ) and a croissant or bread with marmalade from Dh 10.

Morocco - Climate

The climate is Mediterranean, which becomes extreme towards the interior regions where it is mountainous. The terrain is such that the coastal plains are rich and accordingly, they comprise the backbone for agriculture. Forests cover about 12% of the land while arable land accounts for 18%. 5% is irrigated.

Morocco - Interesting facts

It is said that Hercules (a hero of Greek legend) decided to pull Africa and Spain apart, using Gibraltar and the Moroccan mountain of Jbel Musa as his handgrips. They are known as "The Pillars of Hercules".

Oujda, the most eastern city of Morocco, holds the shrine of Sidi Yahya, which is said to be the tomb of John the Baptist.

Morocco is an Islamic country, but it only follows the Muslim calendar for religious purposes.

Unlike other Muslim countries, Morocco uses the Gregorian calendar for all other aspects of national life, including reserving Saturday and Sunday as weekend holidays.

The University in Fes founded in 859 AD claims to be the world's oldest university.

One of the world's most famous trade routes ran from Morocco (taking salt from the Mediterranean) through the Sahara to the market cities on the river Niger.

Date palms been important for many centuries in Morocco. It used to be unlawful to sell a tree, because it was the family's source of food.

In September of every year, the tribes of the Atlas Mountains meet for their great Marriage Festival. Young men and women coming from different clans meet, and families negotiate dowries.

One of the most spectacular of Morocco's festivities is the war exercise, Fantasias, where armed men on horseback perform acrobatic tricks and fire their muskets at a full gallop.

In World War Two it was Moroccan troops who finally stormed the German stronghold at Monte Cassino, at the end of one of the war's hardest-fought battles.

In 1975 the Moroccan army, led by King Hassan, marched to take back the Spanish colony of Western Sahara. The "Green March" is now commemorated with a national holiday on 6 November.

A giant system of sand wall defences was built in the 1980s to keep back the Polisario guerrillas (who were fighting for independence for their part of the Sahara).

Learn Arabic in Morocco - Advice

At our Arabic schools and courses in Morocco our advice can really be summed up with one simple word - practice! What kind of study materials you use is not quite as important as how or how often you use them. Your hard work and determination will be one of the biggest factors in successful language learning.

The Arabic school and course you choose in Morocco is going to be the core of your Arabic study, so make sure you choose an Arabic language course that gives you structured lessons and lots of opportunity to practice your new language skills. Our Arabic courses at our Arabic schools in Morocco, will give you the perfect opportunity to study, learn, and practice Arabic in a supportive, well planned and friendly environments.

You must work at your new Arabic language skills every day. Ideally, you should study Arabic an extra hour or more every day. If you can get at least an extra half-hour of study time, that's pretty good too. Try to at least get a little review and study, learn and practice Arabic every single day.

If you attend one of our Arabic courses in Morocco and you learn Arabic everyday, you will have a good basic knowledge of the Arabic language in a reasonable amount of time. Your knowledge and ability will increase and improve depending upon what other tools you use and what kind of experiences you have using the Arabic language.

Grammar book. A good old-fashioned grammar book may be boring but they are a great way to really get to grips with the details of the language.

Phrase Book

These are extremely helpful books that you can carry with you. They can be useful for practicing pronunciation, or for quickly finding a lot of more commonly used phrases, words and idioms. Phrase books are always a nice supplement to learn Arabic and they are convenient and cheap.

Dictionary. Absolutely necessary in the long run. You must have a dictionary if you wish to expand your vocabulary, and you will need one in order to take full advantage of many of the Arabic language learning tips set out here. Make sure you get one that translates both ways e.g. Spanish to Arabic AND Arabic to Spanish. It is also helpful to find a dictionary that contains idioms – the phrases particular to the language which you are studying – as well as phrases that are commonly used in the Arabic language, but may be difficult to translate.

Flashcards

A simple Arabic language learning tip, but a very effective way to review, refresh your memory and expand your vocabulary. There are pre-made flashcards that can be purchased, or for extra help, you can create your own. Keep them with you at all times, in your pocket or in your car, and look at them for a quick review or language lesson at every opportunity. They are very convenient.

Talk to yourself

It may be obvious, but the best way to learn Arabic in Morocco is to speak Arabic in Morocco ! This convenient method can be use at all times, as you can even talk to yourself. Even if you are in public and don't feel comfortable talking to yourself out loud, you can make it your habit to practice Arabic by thinking Arabic. Throughout the day, think of the Arabic words for everything you pass – objects in your house, things you pass when you are traveling, things you use at work or school, etc. Learn basic Arabic phrases like – ‘it is cold today' or ‘it is sunny today' and use whichever is appropriate when you first look out the window. By putting this tip into use on a regular basis, the vocabulary and phrases will become more routine and automatic.

Practice with friends

Taking it even further than talking to yourself, you can practice with your friends. Even if they don't speak Arabic, talk to the people you know by using your new language. Warn them in advance that you are practicing your new knowledge and they'll know what's coming. Even a simple 'good morning' or'see you later' in Arabic will make those phrases more natural to you. Your friends may even begin to learn a few words and join in the fun too!

Listen to music

Listen to Arabic music. You'll hear the Arabic language used in a real context and this will help you pick out the rhythm and pronunciation even better. This method will also give you a further understanding of, and appreciation for, the culture and customs of the people. Music in Arabic might be easier to find than others, but Amazon or eBay and many other global websites will enable you to find music in Arabic and many different languages.