Customer Reviews

Intermediate Arabic: An Integrated Approach (Yale Language Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent book for the post-beginner learner of Arabic (Year 2 of a University course). It covers Modern Standard Arabic but includes Levantine structures to augment its usefulness. It's a comprehensive, well-integrated book i.e listening, speaking, reading and writing skills are developed equally (a collection of tapes is separately available). It is not dry and dull, but very well illustrated. As a student I found it a joy to use.

Okay, so the book has a few drags. Yes, the CDs have to be ordered separately from Cornell University Language Center, and yes, it will cost you extra. And for those of you who are thinking of learning Arabic by yourselves, this is not the book to use.

I was taught using this book (in fact, by the author himself), but I have both volumes of al-Kitab and I've studied with it as well. I would say al-Kitab has better layout and overall a better looking production, but a pretty book isn't necessarily a good book. I have been a language teacher myself, and in my opinion Dr. Younes' book is the right approach to learning languages. If you study with al-Kitab, you will know by heart inane grammar rules that Arabs themselves don't bother with much of the time, but you will not be able to sustain a conversation with a taxi driver for more than half a minute should you ever find yourself in the Middle East.

This book, on the other hand, has the right mixture of written and spoken Arabic, and the content is closer to what you will encounter in real life. There is a reason why the first book of the series is called "Living Arabic." It's a little thin on grammar, but you'll learn enough to be able to read and speak without problems. Anyway, I'm of the opinion that focusing on grammar more than what is necessary impedes language learning.

I heard that the author is preparing a new edition, so hopefully he will make some improvements there.

First of all, if you want to get this book, I would make sure to get it used to save money, because the CD doesn't come with the book. You need to go to the Cornell store website and order it for 42 dollars. I ordered the CD and put it on my memory stick. It's vital to have the CD. The CD has both the dialogues, the reading of the stories, and the stories.

You may ask yourself why should you spend a total of 70 dollars for this?

If you are somewhat advanced and like a book where the vocabulary is connected between the chapters, then get this book. However, make sure you find a Levantine tutor (Someone from Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, or Syria). A non-Levantine person could also be fine if the person is from the Gulf or Egypt. Since it doesn't have the CDs and what not, if you want something that is classical oriented, then get Alosh's book called "Ahlan Wa Sahlan". It has the CDs. I like Munther's first book, but he dives into colloquial too quickly. I prefer going into the colloquial after giving them a lot of exposure to classical Arabic. It would be okay to go that route if you first introduce them to Alif Baa in a previous semester and some basics.

You could just buy the book and then get the CD afterwards. I like having it as part of my collection. I taught using this book and my students liked it a lot. I wish the CD was with the book.

I really love this book. The dialogues are authentic and humorous, the listening for stories are so funny and not dry at all. I hope my review was fair.

I think Munther is a good author and person. You just have to know what you are doing, have someone comfortable with navigating between colloquial and classical. I am somewhat comfortable with that, so his books are fine with me.

The audio tapes do not come with this book order. I was disappointed because that's why I placed the order. The CDs cost $48 and the cassettes are $32. They can be ordered from Cornell University Language Resource Center.

This is a great program. HOWEVER it does not come with the audiotapes or CDs and cannot be used at all without them, AND Amazon does not sell them or tell you where to get them. AND the CD set costs $48 from Cornell University, so this is one expensive textbook.

The book was in great condition (no writing or marking inside, solid binding) and was sent and delivered on time, and also very cheap in comparison to others. Very pleased!