Elementary Modern Standard Arabic: Volume 2, Lessons 31-45; Appendices: Lessons 31-45, Appendices Vol 2 (Elementary Modern Standard Arabic, Lessons 31-45) [Paperback]

EMSA is a widely used course in modern written Arabic aimed at students of university or equivalent level.
It begins from scratch with script and pronunciation and goes on to cover the fundamentals of Arabic grammar and the most essential vocabulary. By the end of the course you will be well equipped to read Arabic newspapers, booklets and to take a crack at simpler literature (eg. Tawfiq al-Hakim), provided you have Hans Wehr's dictionary close at hand!
The course consists of 45 lessons, so it is quite feasible for a diligent student to complete it in a year, breaking the illusion that Arabic must necessarily take years to learn. The first part (lessons 1-30) covers the fundamentals of the language, whereas the second part (units 31-45) reinforces this, covers the most important deviations from the rule and prepares the student for the intermediate course should he wish to coninue with it. The course is accompanied by cassettes which are well worth getting, as they help greatly towards good pronunciation.
Strengths of the course:
Excellent explanations of the grammar, which is one of the hardest parts of the language to master. This means the bright self-student can if needs be learn without a teacher, consulting ordinary educated Arabs as and when he needs help.
The course is not too brief, giving the student enough time, explanation and exercises to assimilate the language.
There are a large number of exercises which help the student to master new material and revise old.
Vocabulary is limited and frequently repeated
meaning that it is more easily learnt.
Later lesson texts include useful and interesting cultural material and are written in an excellent Arabic style.
Weaknesses:
The course is very traditional in form: text, grammar and exercises - English teaching (as a foreign language) gave up on these methods abouut 50 years ago). Less dedicated students may get bored of this approach.
The course is fairly highbrow, students without a background in languages or of further education may find it heavy going intellectually.
The course has no "rough input" ie genuine texts (perhaps containing words and structures that the student has not yet learnt) taken from newspapers or similar. Such texts could in themselves consitute a valuable way of learning, and give more insight into the culture.
The earlier lessons' content is very much orientated towards American university students, which is boring if you don't happen to be one.
The texts are a little dated, countaining no reference to developments in the Arab world since the seventies.
Some lessons are very long.
There is some unnecessary input on phonological rules of "weak" verbs that may confuse more than help.
Recommendations for effective use of the course:
Despite its weaknesses EMSA is an effective tool for Arabic learning and is all you need apart from a dictionary (the Hans Wehr dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (Arabic -English) is highly recommended and the Oxford English -Arabic dictionary is also recommended).
Work thoroughly, especially if you are working alone, as I did. Do every drill. Read aloud every word. Try translating the translation of the lesson text back into Arabic and compare it with the original.
Complement the course with "rough input," i.e. by reading real material (vowelled texts such as children's books and the Bible may be particularly useful at first). You can also try deducing the subject material from newspaper headlines. Listen to Arabic on the radio, both passively and actively (imitating, listening for gist, or to pick out words).
If you don't have a teacher, get help from educated Arabs (uneducated ones won't be adequately familiar with MSA)in pronunciation, vocabulary and to correct the exercises. You may prefer not to ask their help in explaining the grammar since the way they learnt it is quite different from the way EMSA approaches it.

In conclusion, EMSA is a useful and self- contained course, and particularly effective in overcoming the major difficulties that a student encounters.