"El Mumtaaz teaches contemporary Egyptian Arabic (EA) language and culture, an important spoken variety in the Middle East. Though ideal for learners with one year of Arabic language study, the textbook can also be used by learners with less experience. El Mumtaaz presents learners with the keys to understanding the specific pronunciations of EA, while developing their facility to understand EA in its most common written forms. Authors Mahmoud Azaz and Ayman Mohamed build each chapter around ACTFL's world-readiness standards and focus on using the communicative method and including authentic materials. El Mumtaaz can be used alongside an MSA-based or an integrated textbook, or it can be used on its own in a course focused on learning EA. While written almost entirely in Arabic, the text is approachable for the novice learner. Strengths include thematic chapters and related dialogues about contemporary life, free streaming audio and video available via the publisher's website, culture and pragmatics (including memes and jokes) in each chapter, copious partner and group activities for speaking practice, and grammar focused on EA"--