As the usage of phonetic transcription derived from the IPA is commonly acknowledged in colloquial Arabic classes, we are comparing the pros and cons of such a pedagogical choice with those of teaching and learning from the Arabic alphabet. In classes in which colloquial Arabic is mixed with classical Arabic/Modern Standard Arabic, the latter raises the question of the choice of spelling, between a classically-focused spelling common to both varieties but regardless to variations, and a colloquially-focused spelling displaying phonetic accuracy