Thinking back to our New Year’s resolution at this point in the year might bring forth mixed feelings. Wishes and goals we made expectantly at the cusp of a new year smell like fresh laundry on a Sunday morning. But by the middle of autumn, they sometimes get... stale.

If you’ve dedicated time this year to learn Arabic, there is no time like the present to maintain it. Whether you were dancing Dabka or listening to Chaabi music this summer, it’s important to keep the language skills you worked so hard to obtain. And remember - there’s always room to grow.

Stay connected
In Arabic, there is a saying: “معرفة الناس كنوز”, which translates to “knowing people is a treasure.” Send letters, write emails, or pick up the phone to stay connected to other Arabic speakers. This is key to maintaining your language skills - keeping social connections alive will help you maintain a lively ability to communicate. At a time when most of the world has been isolating (or continues to do so), staying connected with others is more important than ever. If you’re not in the habit of writing old-school letters nor interested in perfect penmanship sealed with wax art, try picking up the phone. Hospitality culture naturally lends itself to socialization across the Arab World, and Moroccan culture in particular creates widespread appreciation for when someone picks up the phone to catch up. Pro tip - make a calendar of the important holidays in a specific country and send a message (or schedule a call) with someone for every holiday.

2. Read the papers

If you’re a fan of politics or the arts, there are countless resources just for you. Journals - and newspapers in general - will highlight the latest happenings across the Arab World. This is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your language skills sharp: sit down with a hot cup of Moroccan mint tea and stay updated on what you’re interested in. While you’re using Arabic to process information, you’ll naturally review what you learned and gain new vocabulary along the way. Here are some citations:

You also can watch comedy news shows that discuss political issues in the Arab World:

3. Pick up a book written in Arabic

Few things in this world are more satisfying than a bookshelf of neatly arranged paperbacks, spines aligned perfectly, and a chilly afternoon in autumn. Curl up with a book of your choice (novels, science fiction, and romances are a great place to start) and you’ll learn about culture and regional features as you flip through the pages. There is also a famous competition for the best reader in the Arab world - it’s called the Arab Reading Challenge. Even if competition is not your cup of tea, exploring the books competitors read can offer some inspiration.

4. Listen

To the Quran, to music, and to podcasts. The Quran, as you may know, is not only a sacred text; it is also one of the best examples of Classical Arabic and is the most accessible source of Classical Arabic for most people in the Arab world. If you want to listen to a recording, you can pay attention to the FusHa being spoken. You can also create a playlist of your favorite songs (or find an interesting podcast) to listen to while you’re doing something you enjoy. Bring some headphones while you’re on the bus or meditating and maximize your exposure to the language. And if you’re comfortable with it, consider singing in Arabic. While you’re at it, you might even feel compelled to make your own music or content. Why not start that podcast you’ve been talking about for ages?

Here’s a link for a podcast I like: Rumuz

If you would like a music playlist to get inspired, try this: My Playlist

To stay updated about the latest songs in the Arab world, check out this Youtube channel: Arabsounds

5. Netflix and notes

Who doesn’t like movies? Many films are available in Arabic on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming sites. This is a great way to kick back and study at the same time. The next time you watch a movie, take note of the language or cultural point it highlights and use it as an opportunity to increase your social awareness. (Egyptian romances are epic, in case you haven’t seen them.) For my fellow theater fans, there are countless plays and TV shows that could spark conversation between your Arabic-speaking friends, like the Hulu series “Ramy”.

6. Start a journal

Writing in a journal can be an activity you use to destress and process what you learn simultaneously. Make it fun: you can design a collage, draw, and write in your journal regularly to maintain your language skills. Carefully curating a series of photographs and images that matter to you, alongside writing in Arabic, is relaxing and productive at the same time. You don’t always need to write 1,000 words a day; you can carry the culture or your feelings in images or poems as you continue your work.

7. Social media/tech

While you’re scrolling through your Twitter or Instagram feed, get your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the Arab world. Technology crosses borders like nothing else. For many people, talking about the latest trends and connecting with others on social media is a motivation for learning a language. Follow native speakers like معاني and الضاد for more content in Arabic. Changing your phone or computer language settings to Arabic is an additional challenge you can build into your everyday life.

8. Get a taste for language

Get into the kitchen to make delicious recipes from across the Middle East and North Africa. Many YouTubers and websites have content designed to teach you a recipe and use Arabic to do so, giving you an opportunity to practice your culinary vocabulary and finish each “lesson” with a tasty treat. From شميشة to Cooking With Alia, endless culinary adventures await and are just a stirring spoon away.

9. Volunteer

There are many NGOs who need translation services from Arabic to English or English to Arabic. Your skills are valuable - many nonprofits need people with some basic knowledge in both languages. If you are willing to help, you can choose one that has a need best suited for your skillset. During the pandemic, I personally volunteered with an organization called Shifaa, a medical nonprofit dedicated to making accurate and comprehensive information accessible to all. You can use what you’ve learned to contribute to your community or a community of your choice, using what you have for the greater good.

Youssef El Berrichi is an Arabic instructor with AMIDEAST based in Morocco.