Are you looking for an honest review of TalkInArabic? Well, you’re in the right place!

***Disclaimer: I was given full access to TalkInArabic. This post does contain affiliate links. That means that I may receive a small commission for purchases made through the links at no extra cost to you.  All views are my own. 

**UPDATE: Especially for readers of theLevanTongue, use the code LEVANTONGUE to receive 20% off any membership price on TalkInArabic 

An Honest & In-Depth Review of TalkInArabic

Here is the breakdown of this review post:

1. What you can expect from TalkInArabic
2. Who I think TalkInArabic is good for
3. My concerns with TalkInArabic
4. Which pricing plan you should choose + Is the All Essential Arabic Verb Packs worth it?
5. Final thoughts

1) What You Can Expect From TalkInArabic

Firstly, what is TalkInArabic?

TalkInArabic is an online resource portal that contains video and audio learning materials accompanied with downloadable PDF lesson notes/transcripts and MP3 files catered for Spoken Arabic (dialects) learners.

What TalkInArabic is NOT?

• TalkInArabic is not an online course
• Lessons do not have a linear structure

It is important to know what TalkInArabic is NOT in order to avoid disappointment should you sign up with them.

Not having a linear structure is, of course, unfortunate and I’ll be talking about this in more details in Section 3 where I’ll discuss the ways in which TalkInArabic could be improved.

TalkInArabic offers lessons in various dialects such as Egyptian, Saudi, Moroccan and Sudanese Arabic. Should you sign up with TalkInArabic, you’ll have full access to lessons from all dialects.

But for this review, I’ll be focusing on the Levantine Arabic section. 

So this is what you’ll see once you login into TalkInArabic.

On the left sidebar, you’ll have access to a variety of Arabic dialects. If your plan comes with the Verb Pack or if you have purchased it separately, then you can access it at the bottom of the left sidebar.

When you enter the Levantine Arabic section, this is what you’ll see:

If you click on the ‘navigation’ on the left sidebar, you will see that each of the three sections is sub-divided into more sections.

The lessons ultimately form the main bulk of TalkInArabic.

Although TalkInArabic has a forum where learners can interact with each other, the engagement within the community is lackluster and you’re better off participating in various Facebook groups available that discuss Arabic dialects.

Now let’s take a look into what you can expect from the three main sections (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced).

**All lessons contain downloadable PDFs to help you follow along with the audios and videos.

Beginner Level:

• Audio lessons where a native speaker explains simple topics such as “telling the time”, “directions in Levantine Arabic” and “introducing yourself”.
• Video lessons by a native who talks about simple topics such as “travel”, “my house” and “favourite food”. She speaks slowly and enunciates every word carefully to cater to beginners.
• Bite sized grammar lessons

Intermediate Level:

• Video lessons by a native talking about more advanced topics
• Audio lessons based on short texts written in Levantine Arabic, songs and snippets of TV shows
• Audio lessons that teach useful phrases that are used in various situations such as “at a beauty salon”, “renting an apartment” and “clothes shopping”.
• and many more

Advanced:

The bulk of lessons from the advanced section consists of audio lessons where a native will walk through and explain snippets from various TV shows.

Every PDF contains the Arabic transcript, English translation and a short vocabulary table.

2) Who I Think TalkInArabic Is Good For

Have you ever browsed through the TalkInArabic’s site and find yourself asking, “If TalkInArabic worth it?” or “Will I be getting the most bang for my bucks?”

After spending a few weeks going through the content available in TalkInArabic and reflecting on my own Levantine Arabic journey, the following is what I feel about who will benefit the most from signing up with TalkInArabic.

TalkInArabic is good for high beginners and low intermediate independent Levantine Arabic learners.

Why TalkInArabic might not be an efficient language resource for absolute or low beginners?

Since TalkInArabic acts more like a trove of useful lessons rather than a step-by-step course, absolute beginners may find the organisation of lessons a bit overwhelming in the sense that they won’t know where to even begin.

For example, some beginners prefer starting out with a textbook that has a linear structure that covers the basics and takes you from point A to B in your language journey.

However, TalkInArabic does not do that and the onus is on you to pick and choose lessons in order to fill the gaps in your Levantine Arabic knowledge.

And that is why I feel that TalkInArabic might not be a good fit for absolute beginners.

Although lessons from the ‘Beginner’ section are bite-sized and could be useful for beginners, learners must be prepared to clarify any doubts outside of TalkInArabic.

Engagement in the TalkInArabic forum is lackluster and not all comments are attended to promptly. Therefore, the lack of support and avenue for clarification might make the learning process not as efficient as it could be.

Furthermore, there are no quizzes or extra exercises to reinforce learning that could be beneficial for learners at the beginner level.

Why TalkInArabic might not be a good fit for high intermediate level learners and beyond?

While it is definitely possible that high intermediate level learners and beyond can still benefit from the lessons available under the Advanced section, you may not be getting the most bang for your bucks.

This is because I feel that for high intermediate level learners and beyond, it would be much better to improve your Spoken Arabic proficiency via conversations with natives via Skype through sites such as Italki, Verbling or NaTakallam.

High intermediate level learners should instead invest money in having consistent Skype lessons (if face-to-face is not an option) and having tailored lessons with experienced natives teachers focusing on the areas that require improvement.

One way to improve proficiency when you already reach an almost conversationally fluent level is to spend time with native teachers to develop your ability to discuss a wide range of topics in-depth.

Why TalkInArabic is good for high beginners and low intermediate independent learners?

I remember during the last few months of studying in Jordan, my lessons revolved around watching snippets of various shows with my teacher.

Watching shows with a native speaker right next to me allowed me to clarify the words I couldn’t catch and the meaning of words I couldn’t understand.

And I believe that this type of activity was what really brought my Spoken Arabic proficiency to the next level.

Once you’re done with the basics, you should look towards shows as the main bulk of your learning materials.

The ability to follow along with the plot and grasp 70% of what is said can be a good indicator of how far along you are in the intermediate range.

(Of course, that being said, you’ll still need to practice speaking with natives.)

And lessons under the Intermediate and especially the Advanced section in TalkInArabic is the next best thing that you can have to an actual native speaker sitting beside you and guiding you as you watch shows.

You’ll get access to PDF transcripts to snippets of selected shows accompanied by mp3 audio files where a native speaker will explain useful phrases that are used in everyday conversations.

And these are especially valuable for high beginners and low intermediate learners looking to advance their Spoken Arabic to the next level.

If you’re an independent learner feeling stuck within the high beginner and low intermediate range, I recommend signing up for TalkInArabic.

Furthermore, videos of a native speaker discussing various topics at a nice pace (neither too slow nor too fast) will help you train your listening skills and expand your vocabulary.

I recommend watching the videos without subtitles to see how much of the content you’re able to grasp and then turning on the subtitles (both English and Arabic are available) to check what you’ve missed.

Finally, ensure that you’re able to comfortably catch everything the speaker said in the video (without subtitles) before moving on to the next lesson.

Do this type of activity repeatedly and over time, you’ll find your listening comprehension improving and the frustration of not being able to understand reduced.

And if you want to be even better, talk in front of the mirror (or to another native speaker) about the exact same video topic and see how comfortable you’re discussing the topic.

Naturally, you’ll encounter difficulty in expressing some thoughts and that’s when you will need to seek help. Think: friends, tutors, FB groups, Reddit subs, language exchange apps…do whatever it takes.

The various topics that are discussed in video lessons by a native speaker

So my point is, TalkInArabic’s materials can be valuable for independent learners currently at the high beginner to low intermediate level.

That said, you need to be smart about how you go about utilising these materials and ensuring that you’re learning effectively. 😉

Last but not least, it is useful to note that while TalkInArabic’s Levantine section covers Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese Arabic, the majority of lessons leans towards Jordanian and/or Palestinian Arabic.

If you’re interested to sign up for TalkInArabic, you can do so here (affiliate link).

3) My Concerns with TalkInArabic

You got to give credit when it’s due.

TalkInArabic does help to fill the gap in the market where resources are overly concentrated towards Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and less so for Arabic dialects.

But of course, anything good can always be better.

With that, I will address two main concerns that I have with TalkInArabic.

#01: The lack of linear structure available (at least for beginners)

Without a linear structure available, beginners may get overwhelmed when they enter the site. Where do you even begin, right?

Click on a lesson and you might find that it is still a little too advanced for you.

And this is the reason why I do not think that TalkInArabic might be a good fit for absolute beginners or those who are only a few months into their language journey.

However, Donovan Nagel, the founder of TalkInArabic, stated that the lack of linear structure was intentional at first and is aware that it is one of the common feedbacks received by users.

I did let Donovan know about my feedback and he told me that he’s currently talking with developers about upgrading the site and adding a learning path element.

So I guess we’ll have to wait and see!

#02: Content update frequency

Levantine Arabic and Egyptian Arabic are TalkInArabic’s stronger dialects and are ones with the most content available.

If I were to consistently log into TalkInArabic once a week and do around 2  lessons from the Intermediate/Advanced level each time, I find that the content currently available would be sufficient to last me for at least 5 months, if not more.

Well, that is, if I’m disciplined and consistent in my commitment to TalkInArabic…

The accurate length of time will naturally depend on your schedule and the amount of time you’re able to dedicate to the portal.

However, a major concern that potential users may have is the content update frequency of TalkInArabic.

After all, most monthly subscription services or courses promise regular content update in order to retain customers.

However, with a site that deals with 8 different dialects, I would think that the ability to post regular content update for all dialects is a no easy feat.

When I emailed Donovan about my feedback, he replied that his goal is to get all the dialects to the same exact level and amount of content. He has since hired natives to speed up the content available in Saudi, Sudanese and Moroccan Arabic.

Therefore, I strongly suggest if you’re thinking of signing up with TalkInArabic, do so without expecting any content update to the Levantine Arabic section. 

~~~

I won’t be going deep into how TalkInArabic can address these concerns.

I’m probably thinking along marketing the various dialects as separate bundles that can be priced differently. I mean, would a non-native be interested in learning all 8 dialects…?

Anyhoo, whatever Donovan chooses to do, it remains crucial that he addresses these concerns in order for TalkInArabic to be able to reach its fullest potential.

If you have suggestions for improvement, why not share them in the comment section below. 🙂

4) Which Pricing Plan You Should Choose + Is the All Essential Arabic Verb Packs Worth It?

**UPDATE: Especially for readers of theLevanTongue, use the code LEVANTONGUE to receive 20% off any membership price on TalkInArabic 

Click here to see the entire pricing table

If you’re keen on signing up with TalkInArabic but you’re outside my recommended learner profile (i.e you’re not a high beginner or low intermediate learner), I would suggest starting out with 1 month first and see how it goes for you.

But if you’re keen on signing up with TalkInArabic and you fit my recommended learner profile, I would suggest going for a one year plan.

A one year plan that costs $126 is actually not too bad of a deal.

• $126 is equivalent to $10.50 per month
• $10.50 is cheaper than a one hour Skype lesson with a native speaker
• $10.50 is probably less than what you spend on coffee in a week

You can study the Levantine Arabic content at your own pace and still dabble with the content from other dialects within the course of a year.

Because as I mentioned earlier, once you get past the low intermediate stage, you’re better off focusing on having conversations after conversations with experienced native tutors.

That being said, if your financial ability allows you to fork out an additional $71 without burning a hole in your pocket, I say why not sign up for the lifetime membership?

Learning a language is a lifelong journey and furthermore, there is no question about Donovan’s passion and interest in Arabic dialects.

He has just recently launched TalkInArabic’s first paperback book (Egyptian Arabic – Easy Stories With English Translations) and has hired natives to speed up content for the other dialects in TalkInArabic.

Therefore, although TalkInArabic has not reached its full potential yet, I feel that it is just a matter of time (yes, it may take more than a year) before better-curated content is being pumped into the portal.

And when it does, you’ll be glad that you purchased that lifetime membership.

A quick word about the All Essential Arabic Verb Pack

If for whatever reasons, the All Essential Arabic Verb Pack is the one factor that causes you to be undecided between the one year plan or lifetime plan, then here are my thoughts about the verb pack.

I feel that the verb pack does little to benefit learners because it contains 45 pages of purely conjugation tables of more than 100 verbs.

Although the pack comes with audio files, I still find it hard to believe that it is worth $80.

For examples,

• The pack does not come with sample sentences on how to use the verbs
• The verbs are listed in alphabetical order of their English meanings (the first verb is to “add” and the last verb is to “yell”)

In my opinion, it would make more sense to categorise the verbs according to their forms.

Because then, there won’t be a need to draw up conjugation tables for ALL of the verbs. The conjugation pattern is, after all, the same for verbs from the same forms.

Therefore, don’t let the All Essential Verb Pack be a deciding factor should you decide to sign up for TalkInArabic.

5) Final Thoughts

In summary, I feel that the materials on TalkInArabic are definitely valuable for those in a specific range of proficiency level.

And especially so for students who learn better through audios and videos.

But while it’s a great portal, there is always room for improvements.

Also, remember that you’ll need to take all you’ve learned in TalkInArabic and apply them in your conversations in order to become a better Arabic speaker.

There is no big secret hindering you from becoming conversationally fluent.

You will have to do the actual talking.

1. Learn from TalkInArabic (+ whatever resources you got)
2. Get out there and converse
3. Repeat 

And so that’s it for now, folks.

You’ve finally come to the end of my absolutely honest and in-depth review of TalkInArabic (Levantine Arabic).

If you want to sign up with TalkInArabic, I’ll appreciate it if you can do so via the sign-up link here.

It’s an affiliate link which means that I may receive a small commission for purchases made through the link but at no extra cost to you, of course. 

**UPDATE: Especially for readers of theLevanTongue, use the code LEVANTONGUE to receive 20% off any membership price on TalkInArabic 

Don’t forget to let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!

Take care and I’ll see you around in the hosh,

Lyn