Should I continue learning Levantine Arabic or go learn MSA?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 05:12:46 -0500

I am currently deployed with opportunities to practice speaking to local Arabic speakers and learning a Levantine dialect of Arabic. I am 11B but want to learn a form of Arabic and upon returning, continue to be able to test out and have official proficiency. Levantine Arabic is more conversational and I prefer to continue learning it while I can practice with native speakers. However, it looks like the military primarily tests out MSA (ie DLPT5) and I was wondering if there are any acceptable tests I can take to qualify for FLPB for Arabic-Levantine? Would taking an OPI in Arabic-Levantine qualify me for FLPB pay?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2017 10:18 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 10:18:19 -0500

PFC Private RallyPoint Member, I'd investigate at DLI or your local language testing center if I were you. While there are likely a handful of linguists on RP, you're asking a policy question. DLI has courses on it, so I'd think there would be testing. http://hs2.dliflc.edu/levantine.html

Headstart2 -- Levantine

Levantine language learning program

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2017 11:51 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 11:51:50 -0500

PFC Jason Robles, if you take an OPI test in Levantine and score a 2+ and above you will earn FLBP.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2017 4:31 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 16:31:06 -0500

Try and see if your unit will send you to DLI, if not just take the courses through AKO, ive taken Pashto, Dari, basic Arabic 1 and 2 and Im going to start basic Korean.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Nov 27 at 2017 6:11 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 18:11:36 -0500

MSA will serve you better over the long run. You will be able to be understood in every Arabic country, however sometimes you'll have trouble understanding them. MSA can also be an asset to you when you leave the army as there are companies that do business in multiple Arab countries. It's really up to you as to which is more important. Bear in mind the difference is really more in slang. اتكلم is more marketable than achee. Sorry the phone won't let me write a Ch sound in Arabic.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2017 10:30 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:30:06 -0500

There is a Levantine DLPT, and Levantine is one of the few Arabic dialects that the Army will pay you for being proficient. In order to be proficient though, you would need to achieve at least a 2 in listening (Levantine) and a 2 in reading (MSA, there is no dialect reading).