As the coronavirus pandemic forces people around the world to stay home, coming out of lockdown knowing a new language – even one of the hardest to learn in the world – is possible, experts say. For native English speakers the Arabic language is considered one of the most difficult to learn, with the US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) rating it as “exceptionally difficult.” But with the right resources, one can yatakallam al-arabiya (speak Arabic) by the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Types of Arabic Before starting to learn the language, a beginner should pick which type of Arabic to start studying. Unlike English, there are three main categories of Arabic: Classical or Quranic Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and regional dialects. Most language courses teach Modern Standard Arabic, while others focus on regional dialects such as Levantine, Egyptian, and Gulf. Choosing between learning the standard and dialect will depend on your goal in learning Arabic, accor...