Assalmou aleykoum
Hi Sis Yasmine! Welcome!
To answer some of your questions....
I'm a weirdo and learned the fatiha and two other surahs before I reverted. That's how much research I did before I got up the courage to revert. I already knew how to pray and everything. Yes, very strange of me...I was just a big chicken that was afraid of people so it took me 2 or 3 years to actually get up the courage to do it!
As far as how much Quran I know, since March, I have memorized 9 short surahs. I actually feel like I could've done more and learned more in that much time. I feel pretty bad about it. Right now I am focusing on learning the meaning of the words rather than trying to memorize more. What good is spouting off the words, if we don't even understand what we're saying!?
Also, I'm trying to learn 5 ayahs (lines) per week. Not very much for all of you arabic speakers, but that's a lot for me! I struggle with it! There is a good website,
http://www.reciter.org/ that could help you hear the pronunciation.
Here's what you should remember Yasmine. Different people learn at different paces. As long as you feel that you are doing your very best and pushing yourself, you are doing just fine enchalLah. Don't think that because I have learned 9 surahs in 9 months, that it is a good pace for you to memorize. Maybe you're a faster learner and have the capability to learn a lot more. Or maybe you're a slower learner and need more time to memorize. Just do YOUR best, not someone else's best.
It's also nice to have an arabic speaking husband to help me. I'm sure it's much more difficult for those that don't have access to an arabic speaker. If you don't, try that website I gave.
So Yasmine, push yourself to learn as fast as you can, but don't push yourself to the point where you get frustrated and hate learning. Remember, anything you struggle with to please Allah, you will receive a nice reward for enchalLah.
If you need anything, we're here!!!!!
Salam,
Wendy