Shuwayya 'An Nafsi: Listening, Reading, and Expressing Yourself in Egyptian Arabic (Shuwayya 'An Nafsi Series)

I bought this book based on the strength of the Levantine version of this book. That other booked used almost indecipherable but real Levantine Arabic. This book's audio available online uses slower and a more enunciated Egyptian Arabic which made this book quite welcome. If you have taken a few months of FusHa, and want to be able to do basic conversations in Egyptian Arabic, this book is for you. If you get through this book, there is also a part 2 book which I'm looking forward to as soon as I finish this.Quit note: This book is not meant to be a grammar guide, introduction, or a complete course, but in combination with Modern Standard Arabic after having achieved an intermediate or advanced beginner level.

The concept and design of the book is really inviting, and the variety of responses to each question is quite interesting. After listening to a chapter (multiple times) I actually find it easy to compose my own responses, and I feel like I can say something worth saying, not just repeat back a few canned phrases. As far as level, you could use this book as a beginner, but some basic familiarity with grammar (for example, at least being able to recognize conjugations for regular verbs) and Arabic script will really help a lot. Also, all of the responses are spoken at what I assume is a normal speed, so you really have to play it over and over to catch everything at times. A few of them I still can't really understand, but that's ok... I've been going through 2 chapters a day (about 30 minutes) and it has helped amazingly.

So I have to register on their website to get the MP3s, so the MP3s don't really come free with the book.

Not for the absolute beginner. Need to have some background in the grammar. However, I have no conversation skills. For me, this is a fabulous book. The title of each chapter is question you might ask a new acquaintance if you were meeting them at a get-together or a class room. Then there are 10 different people (with their pictures), who answer the question and tell you about themselves. It is written in Arabic, transliterated Arabic, and English with a vocabulary list underneath. A great way to learn how to carry on a friendly conversation. You also get a lot of cultural notes for present day Egypt and the modern generation. The book is much better than I expected. I also downloaded the recordings for free from the publisher's website.

I have several Arabic books by Lingualism and this is my favorite. It really has useful vocabulary for everyday situations, I often find myself using words that I learn from this book. It's fun to put together my own answers using parts of the native speakers answers from the book. I just wish I had the paperback version so I could write my answers where they give you space to do that in the book, but I have the kindle version. I highly recommend this book, even beginners can make use of it as they translate even basic words and it shows new vocabulary on every page.

This book gives the student the appropriate tools to begin the study of the Egyptian Arabic without any kind of burdens. It’s interesting, self explanatory, and extremely didactic in terms of learning the language. This is a must-have, and one-of-a-kind book, that any student, wanting to learn Egyptian dialect, needs to have in his/her bookcase. Top-notched. One of the best books written for foreigner students, who are learning this language.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is trying to learn Egyptian Arabic. The material is truly based on real Egyptian language. It is very helpful. I am Egyptian myself and bought it for my husband to help him learn. I am certainly planning on buying the next book in the series once we’re done with this one.

Wanted audio tape access with book so I could read and hear the lessons! Wonderful!

Me encantó éste libro. Ha sido de mucha ayuda en mis estudios 🔥

It was hard to find a book to practice Spoken Egyptian and this has proven to be of great help! Excellent to practice comprehension and vocabulary.

As usual Mathew Aldrich has delivered a helpfull and well presented study guude that is a pleasure to use... I will be purchasing the secind ofnthe series when I have completed this one

Just another good book edited by Matthew Aldrich ? No, as a mattter of fact, it is much more. I have not come across such a book yet. Though, I must admit it is not for the very beginner - in particular as far as the films are concerned. But, all in all, it is a book for those who really want to get to know the Egyptian Arabic Language - and - it is live Arabic, that you are learning with the help of this book. Besides, Egyptian Arabic is understood throughout all Arabic Countries from the Maghreb in the West to the Gulf States in the Far East.

Really enjoyed the contextual organization of the book. And the way grammatical points are aded slowly. Helps with assimilation.On the down side I wish each conversation was a separate recording.Spoken speed is very native and hard to understand. Would like to set one dialog on repeat so I can get used to the speed.