One of the top language learning tips I’ve heard from friends who’ve learned a second language is to: watch tv shows / movies in the language you are learning. This blog posts whill show you three platforms I have used to help my gulf dialect arabic journey including a few shows that have been helpful on my journey!
Arabic is one of the top 5 hardest languages to learn.
Depending on the dialect you are learning, you may feel discouraged if you try to watch Arabic tv and realize you do not understand anything. That’s because each “accent” whether it be Egyptian, Moroccan, Gulf and Levant each have different words. Making you feel discouraged. The last year my husband and I have been learning the Gulf Dialect so we’ve been specifically watching tv shows in the gulf dialect. By doing this its helped us to learn new words and be surrounded by the vocabulary we hear daily.
If you are learning a language you need to surround yourself with the media, music and people who speak the language you are learning around you. I hope these tv show and movie recommendations help you on your learning journey!
Three platforms I use to find Arab Gulf content:
- Netflix
- Shahid
- YouTube
Why do I recommend these three platforms?
Netflix, has done an incredible job of hosting content from all over the world. The growing Saudi film scene has been releasing their content on netflix. So keep up that subscription to see the new Saudi and gulf Arabic content that is being released regulary on the platform. In a previous article.
Shahid, this is the platform for the MBC. The Middle East Broadcast Network. They have been releasing tv shows, movies for decades and have finally created an online platform available on phones and computers for you to be able to watch their content. The best part of this particular platform is you can find cooking shows, sports, movies, tv shows, anything you’d like in Arabic. If you are wanting to surround yourself with Arabic content. Shahid is the platform for you.
YouTube, a platform vloggers, musicians and the random person will use to share their content. There is incredible content for you to watch that will help you grow in your language journey.
On Each Platform here is my top 3 recommendations that are a 5 out of 5 chickpea experience!
On Netflix
- The exchange
- Crashing Eid
- Takki
On Shahid
- Al Maktab (the saudi version of the office)
- Sikkat Safar – a funny Ramadan show about three brothers getting ownership of a hotel with a moral at the end of each episode
- Nayerat – a saudi kids show, great for beginners about three boys stuck in a video game
On YouTube
- Omar & Hana
- Ahlan Simsim – Arabic version of Sesame Street
- Lulu Alkhataf – Kuwaiti Travel Blogger
