Additional information
by Leston Chandler Buell (Author)
Bite-Size Arabic is a textbook for absolute beginners designed for both independent learners and traditional language courses. It takes a minimal approach by introducing the alphabet gradually, with just a few letters per lesson. As you learn new letters, you also learn just enough vocabulary and grammar to put them into practice, allowing you to read complete simple sentences right from the second lesson. Everything is explained in simple language, and the book uses big, easy-to-read Arabic script with ample phonetic transcription. It contains lots of easy exercises with answer keys. The book also features a free companion website where you can listen to the pronunciation and download a free handwriting workbook. The focus is on informal Standard Arabic, the ideal basis for learning any variety of Arabic. Bite-Size Arabic has been selected as one of the five best books in Tutorful's 2018 Expert Guide to Learning Arabic. This version includes all minor corrections and enhancements made through April 2025.
Author Biography
Known simply as Dr. Bulbul to his Arabic students, Leston Chandler Buell is an American teacher, translator, and life-long language aficionado. At the age of 19 he moved from his native Portland, Oregon to Cairo, Egypt, where he lived for ten years. He has taught university courses in both Standard and Egyptian Arabic for Northwestern University and UCLA, where he received his Ph.D. in linguistics. He currently designs and teaches Arabic courses for UvA Talen, a language institute in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
