Reviewed by Irene Theodoropoulou, Qatar University

This textbook, accompanied by a DVD, is designed to enable students to communicate effectively using Moroccan Arabic (MA) through the use of multimedia content-based material. It presents the basic structures of the Arabic language, including the letters and sounds in both Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and MA. As an Arabic dialect (al amiyya), Moroccan Arabic is rarely written or used in formal communication, but is used extensively in everyday conversation. In light of this, the textbook focuses on developing speaking and listening skills.

The thematic units covered in the book include realistic circumstances, where MA is used for communication purposes: greeting people, introducing oneself, asking and replying to simple questions, using days and numbers in context, ordering food, shopping and bargaining, making appointments and reservations, giving directions, talking about future plans, and using idiomatic expressions. Each of the fourteen chapters includes the following components: cultural introduction to social, religious, or cultural aspects of Moroccan society, listening comprehension exercises, vocabulary exercises, dialogues and texts, conversation practice, grammar instruction on how native speakers structure their speech, and interactive and video materials to support cultural understanding, listening, speaking, and grammar explanations.

The cultural introductions are designed to develop an ability to produce culturally appropriate forms. The listening exercises, which avoid localisms in order to be comprehensible in the Arab world and especially in the Maghreb (i.e. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania), consists of three texts (dialogue and narration), each one composed of five parts: vocabulary with English translations, various drills for the classroom and beyond, questions related to the dialogue or text, fill in the blank exercises and oral role play or practice. The grammatical component of the textbook is designed to help learners understand how native speakers structure their speech, so as to construct their own utterances in MA.

Finally, the cultural element provides learners with some background information about Morocco, which is essential in the learning and understanding of the linguistic peculiarities of MA. The book uses Romanized transcription alongside Arabic script for the first three chapters and thereafter only the Arabic script. It also includes a glossary and an answer key. Approximately 120 contact hours, plus 180–240 additional hours of preparation outside class, are required. According to the book’s description, ‘a novice student should reach the intermediate-mid level of proficiency by the end of this course’ (xiii).

The comprehensive DVD that is included offers a user-friendly interface with drop-down menus focusing on the sociolinguistics of MA, Moroccans’ perception of their language, and the use of Arabic in the religious context. In addition, it contains a number of historical, geographical and cultural information on Morocco (primarily family, food, religion, clothing, music, public bath, and major events, like Ramadan) given through interactive maps.

Overall, this textbook is well structured and informative. It not only gives a brief and concise description of the basic linguistic peculiarities of MA, but it also offers a multidimensional picture of the Moroccan society. As such, it should appeal to anyone interested in Moroccan Arabic dialect and culture.