Jane Wightwick

In preparation for heading out to Saudi to work, I started to teach myself Arabic. First thing to master is the beautiful script. My local library had a copy of this book which I think is a very good, succint way to start learning not only how to read but also how to write Arabic.

The strengths of this book like in the fact that they teach you not just the standard printed text but also help you master reading and writing handwriting. I probably won’t have much cause to read handwriting in Arabic but I do know that the best way to learn a script for me is to write it over and over again. Having done that, I usually remember it. This book helped me do just that.

The one thing I think I’d add is more examples for the learner to read. There are some supplementary chapters at the end which do contain examples of signs and notices and so on. But I’d rather have more of these as the book develops so that you get more of a feel that your understanding of Arabic script is actually growing.

This is a book primarily aimed at those who want to write the script though and there are plenty of good examples of reading in the companion book by the same authors which I’m currently working through: Mastering Arabic. Both this little book and the main coursebook are excellent resources for the student of Arabic. Highly recommended.… (meer)

Easy Arabic Script by Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar is similar in many ways to The Arabic Alphabet: How to Read & Write It. The focus is largely on handwriting, providing practice space in the book and "master calligrapher tips." This is great for people who are planning on doing a lot of writing in Arabic. However, I am more interested in reading inscriptions, books of poetry, etc. Easy Arabic Script also covers numbers and some ligatures, but these are toward the end of the book as more advanced topics, rather than being integrated with the other content. Similar to The Arabic Alphabet, basic vocabulary is incorporated into each section to illustrate and expand the use of the letters as they are each introduced. There are also plenty of examples via cartoons and photos for practicing reading comprehension.

Easy Arabic Script is divided into 21 units and four parts. Part 1 covers the basic letter shapes (units 1-16), with "extras" that address vowels and other diacritical signs, long vowels, hamza, and numbers. Part 2 discusses letter combinations (units 17-21). Part 3 has fun activities to practice reading comprehension and writing skills. Part 4 is the obligatory basic reference table of the alphabet. Again, a very accessible and useful book, but not quite the focus that suits my personal goals.… (meer)