"A Playlist of Five Podcasts in the Levantine Dialect" by Xenia Makosky

Salam friends! Around a year ago, I finished my summer Arabic course and had a month off before classes at my college started. I wanted to maintain my new language skills during this break, but I also did not want to be doing homework assignments. I remembered that when I took French in high school my teacher often assigned us Duolingo podcasts in French. I became curious if the same type of resources existed in Arabic for students. I did some research and found that there are dozens of podcast channels specifically designed for students learning an Arabic dialect. I immediately fell in love with several channels and listened to every available podcast in a few weeks.

I have found that podcasts are a great way to keep up my language skills when I am on break from school and have helped me expand my vocabulary. I love podcasts specifically designed for students learning Arabic because they usually contain a list of important vocabulary words, transcripts, and the hosts’ Arabic is clear. Podcasts are also one of the best ways to practice listening, and you can listen to the same podcast multiple times and learn new vocabulary and expressions each time. Additionally, podcasts in your target dialect allow you to become accustomed to the way people actually speak, including the speed of dialogue. Oh, and the most important thing: podcasts are fun! They are not awkward textbook videos that your teacher makes you watch for class. They are real conversations happening between people and often include funny stories and cultural insights.

Below is a list of a few of my favorite podcasts that have helped ease my transition to Jordan both linguistically and culturally. This list is not at all comprehensive, but I have tried to include a list of Levantine Arabic podcasts (in no particular order) in a variety of formats with native and non-native Arabic speakers, including interviews, discussions, and fictional short stories.

Learn Levantine Arabic with Livi

This is the first Arabic podcast I ever listened to, and it is still one of my favorite podcasts. This podcast is in the Palestinian dialect and is best for intermediate Arabic students. Livi, the host, is not a native speaker, so each week the native Arabic speaker helps and corrects her. Listening to non-native Arabic speakers like Livi speak at such a high level inspires me to keep learning, and also encourages me to speak as much as possible, even if I make mistakes. Livi provides a list of important vocabulary at the beginning of each episode, and the discussion topics are always interesting and diverse.

El Bulbul

The title of this podcast refers to a saying in Levantine Arabic where if someone speaks fluently he speaks like “El-bulbul,” the Arabic word for nightingale. This podcast is challenging because the two co-hosts, Ashraf and Enas, speak in fast Jordanian Arabic, but it is extremely beneficial for high intermediate students who feel like they are stuck at their level or advanced students who want to retain their proficiency level. This podcast is also perfect for students studying abroad in Jordan because all 30 episodes are about Jordanian culture and cover a wide variety of topics, such as tourist attractions, foods and cooking, transportation, discrimination, traditional clothing, and more! There’s also a printable learning guide with activities and a transcript for each episode available for only $3.00.  

Marhabtayn

This is another podcast similar to Learn Levantine Arabic with Livi. Saira is also a non-native Arabic speaker, and in each episode, she speaks with her language partner about a different topic. Another reason I enjoy listening to podcasts with non-native speakers is that I usually make the same mistakes when I speak, so when Saira is corrected by her partner, I also fix my mistakes! 

Simple Easy Arabic

If you like fiction and short stories, then this podcast is for you. The stories are short (only 2-5 minutes long) and the narrators speak slowly. The hosts also introduce the important vocabulary words at the beginning of each episode and then there are comprehension questions at the end. The podcast also has a Patreon, a membership community, that you can subscribe to for $5 for transcripts, grammar videos, exercises, and more. This podcast also just introduced a new series where they interview people who have learned Arabic as a foreign language.

Levantine Arabic, Made Easier

This podcast, Levantine Arabic Made Easier, is hosted by the founder of Nasma of New York, Carol Haidar. It can sometimes be challenging to follow because each episode’s guest has their own unique way of speaking, but then again, so will every Arab you meet. The episodes are always worth listening to and even struggling with because the topics and stories that the guests tell are interesting and funny. The neat thing about this podcast is that Carol checks in with listeners every few minutes to recap what was said. I recommend listening to each episode at least twice as the guests usually speak fast.

Photo caption for the banner photo: Computer, Notes, and Sweets at a cafe in Amman.

All photo credits in this post: Makosky, 2022

Xenia Makosky is a student from Dickinson College participating on Amideast’s Area and Arabic Language Studies program in Amman, Jordan in Fall 2022.