Familiarize yourself with the background of Lebanese. While it has similarities to Arabic, Lebanese is a separate language. Many Arabic speakers also speak Lebanese, and they use Arabic script to write both languages. However, it is possible to substitute Latin letters for Arabic script, which makes Lebanese easier to learn.
Visit the Lebanese Language Institute website at lebaneselanguage.org. This site is dedicated to teaching the modern Lebanese language. Click on the "LLL Script" tab at the top of the page, and begin learning the Lebanese-Latin letters, the English pronunciations, and the sample words. From there, you can click on tabs to progress easily to the various lessons. Sections are devoted to strategy, grammar, language, downloads and more.
If you need a faster route to learning the language, due to an upcoming trip or vacation, look to websites that offer common words and phrases. ShooFiMaFi.com is one site that offers basic words in Lebanese with English pronunciations, including days of the week, months of the year, numbers, and necessary terms. The site even includes a link for a Lebanese video so you can listen to native speakers.
Aquaint yourself further with how the language sounds by seeking out online videos in Lebanese. Also consider looking for a Lebanese chat room where you can connect with someone from Lebanon to practice your language skills. It is important not just to know the basic words and phrases but also to be able to use them effectively.