Buy a CD. If you are more of an auditory or multi-input learner, then "Dardasha: Let's Speak Egyptian Arabic" by Mustafa Mughazy is an excellent choice. Mughazy's approach starts off with basic conversational techniques (a day at the market, getting and giving directions, colors and so forth) and is easy to follow along with the CD. Because Mughazy is a native speaker, you will hear exactly how words are pronounced--advantageous as some words can be confusing or difficult to pronounce or have different conjugations.

Learn more about Egyptian Arabic for job-related activities or to communicate with Egyptian workers, businessmen or officials. Kristen Brustad, Abbas al-Tonsi and Mahmoud al-Batal collaborated on producing "Al-Kitaab fi Ta'allum al-'arabiya," a series of books with DVD-ROMS that offer not only Modern Standard Arabic, but offer comparable words in Egyptian colloquial at the end of each chapter. The story-driven learning process that occurs in the series is also told in Egyptian Arabic by native speakers, which allows the learner to hear simulated conversations and see body posture, gestures, and other visual cues which help visual learners greatly.

Learn to speak Egyptian Arabic like a native. Apply to a college or university within Egypt. Consider the American University in Cairo, an American-run and administered campus located just outside of Cairo and whose instructors are pulled from the best American and Egyptian universities. The exposure to the language through daily interaction with people in restaurants, taxis and other businesses throughout Cairo is invaluable and is the best education, hands-down. Other universities in the United States offer courses in Egyptian Colloquial (or Syrian, Lebanese, Moroccan). While many universities offer the Modern Standard Arabic, very few offer colloquial language instruction consistently. When in doubt, email the university in question.

Purchase a mini-tape recorder or a device that allows your MP3 player to record your voice. Use this when you are listening to the pronunciations outlined above via headphones. Use these recordings to compare your pronunciations and correct if necessary.

Refrain from using non-actionable conversations. Women usually fall into the trap of explaining a particular situation and expect the man to digest the situation and come up with actionable marching orders.For example, “I’m so tired, and the floor is dirty.I’ve been cooking all day and I just don’t have time to sweep and wash the floor.”That little conversation won’t get results.

Explain what needs to be done.If you need to have the floor swept and washed after a day of work and cooking, get your spouse’s attention, look him in the eyes and say, “Please sweep and wash the floor.”You stand a better chance of getting him to clean the floor if you’re direct.

Make your spouse tell you what you’ve just told them.To avoid any communication mishaps, have your spouse explain your marching orders back to you.There seems to be a calibration that occurs when the words leave the woman’s mouth and gets to the man’s ears.Make sure that you both are on the same page by having him tell you what you told him to do.

Be patient.It takes time and practice to improve communication between two people of different genders.Celebrate the victories and keep practicing direct communication.

Bone up on your history.Historical and Theoretical References:This is a collection of historical terms, groups, people, and ideas that are important for modern witchcraft.1. The First Axiom of Magick:"As above, so below". An axiom is an assumption or belief that a school of thought will adopt as a way to ground the rest of their theoretical work. In this case, the axiom is from an artifact called the "Emerald Tablet" and is the basis of all magick. It implies that the world of our thoughts and feelings is connected to the physical world of effects, and that changes in the one can cause changes in the other.2. The Wiccan Rede:"An it harm none, do as ye will". An ethical injunction believed in by many, but not all, modern witches.3. The Law of Return:"As you do, so will be done unto thee, times three". A variation on the Hindu concept of karma; asserts a form of cosmic justice governing the use of magick.4. The Charge of the Goddess:A collection of ethical injunctions attributed to Doreen Valiente, one of the first modern writers on witchcraft.5. The Charge of the God:Similar to the Charge of the Goddess. Both of these collections claim more ancient origins.6. The Traditions of Magick:The general term for the various complete systems of magick that have existed over the years. Witchcraft is a single tradition with several sub-traditions. Other traditions include Ceremonial Magick, Shamanism, Druidry, Asatru, and Chaos Magick, among many others. Traditions often overlap and bud, with different groups pursuing different agendas and techniques.7. The Burning Times:The historical period where witchcraft was a crime. While witches were penalized in many ways, being burned at the stake has become a symbol of the entire notion of witch-trials and the persecution of witches.8. The Sabbats:Eight festivals associated with seasonal transitions and celebrated by almost all witches.Samhain - October 31. Festival of the dead and the witch's New Year's Eve. Pronounced "Sow-an".Yule - Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Celebration of hope, family, and the light of life still held within the cold earth.Imbolc or Brigit - February 2. Celebration of the coming light of the sun returning with the equinox.Ostara - Spring Equinox. Celebration of the return of the sun and fertility to the earth.Beltane - May 1. Celebration of fertility, lust, and life.Midsummer or Litha - Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. A celebration of abundance and the hope of the harvest to come.Lughnasadh or Lammas -August 1. Celebration of the beginning of harvest. Pronounced "Loo-Na-Sah".Mabon - Autumn Equinox. Celebration of late harvest and the abundance of the fall.9. Moon Terminology:Esbat - A moon celebration on the full or new moons.New Moon - The moon is dark, best time for spells involving new beginnings and the dark mysteries.Full Moon - The moon is light, best time for spells of healing and manifestation, and working with the light mysteries.Waxing Moon - Moon is going from new to full, best time for spells of augmentation.Waning Moon - Moon is going from full to new, best time for spells of destruction.10. Handfasting:Marriage, often for a limited period of a year and one day.11. Patron:A specific god or goddess a witch has a special relationship with.12. Light Mysteries:The magick and mysticism of growth, abundance, love, and life. Associated with spring and summer.13. Dark Mysteries:The magick and mysticism of death, decay, war, and pain. Associated with fall and winter.14. Athame:A knife used as a focus for the witch's will while using magick. Pronounced "A-tham-ay".15. Book of Shadows:A collection of spells and recipes.

Figure out the structure of this practice.Organizational References:This is a collection of terms used by groups and communities of witches for structural purposes.1. Priest/ess:A person who has taken oaths of service and guardianship to her community.2. Apprentice:A student of a group, tradition or individual.3. Coven:A group of witches, usually numbering no more than 13.4. Order:A group of ceremonial magicians, of any number. Alternately: a group of druids.5. Circle:A protective and insulative spell. Usually used to protect people during a ritual while containing their energies. Alternately: another name for a coven.6. Warden:A member of a coven or order who is charged with protecting the circle from interruption or disruption. Alternately: guardian.7. Troth:A group of Asatru. Alternately: guild or gild.8. Lodge:See "Order".9. Initiation:The induction of an individual into a particular magickal group or mystery. Someone who has been initiated is an "initiate".

Learn the jargon.Magickal Jargon:These are terms used in the practice of magick.1. Alchemy:Magick that uses the magickal links between certain substances to cause change. Alternately: a form of mysticism.2. Sorcery:Magick that tries to cause physical changes for practical goals. Alternately: practical magick.3. Focus or Foci:A symbol, either physical or an idea, that one uses in magick.4. Invocation:To magickally call something into yourself.5. Evocation:To magickally call something into manifestation.6. Mysticism:Magick that tries to cause changes to the psyche or self. Alternately: ego magick.7. Curse:Magick that attempts to cause harm.8. Binding:Magick that attempt to limit the actions of another. Alternately: ligature.9. Augury:Magick which attempts to predict the future, such as Tarot card readings, rune-casting and the I Ching. Alternately: sortilege or divination.10. Necromancy:Magick which attempts to call upon the spirits of the dead.11. Demonology:Magick which attempts to call upon malicious spirits.12. Elemental:A spirit associated with one of the four elements.13. Servitor:An entity created by the witch for a purpose. When a group of people make a servitor together, it is called an "egregore".

Study. While this list isn't a replacement for studying witchcraft for yourself, it will allow you to understand the often confusing jargon and slang used by witches when talking about themselves and their beliefs.Good luck making new friends among the magickal people!