Arabic Beginners (part 1)

In part 1, we focus on helping you write and read Arabic, as well as recognise the unique sounds of each letter. You’ll also explore different grammatical structures in the language.

But there’s more to this course than learning a language. We’ll discuss the Arabic way of life and culture too. You’ll also be able to identify Arab countries and capitals, and understand colloquial Arabic.

After completing part 1, you can work towards beginners level of Arabic CEFR A1 (the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) with part 2 and part 3 of our Arabic Beginners course.

Who is it for?

Our full beginners course is made up of three parts. Part 1 is for complete beginners who want a fast introduction the language. You can join us in London for 10 weeks and then if you decide to carry on, come back for parts 2 and 3.

Timetable

This course takes place one evening a week for 10 weeks.

Benefits

• Start learning a new language without having to commit to the full beginners course or pay upfront for a full year
• Weekly classes run in the evening so you can fit study around work
• Qualified and native Arabic teachers will make every session interactive
• Fun tasks and conversations with your peers will help you develop your confidence

Join us for part 1 of our Arabic Beginners course, you’ll cover the basics and familiarise yourself with the language. We’ll start with the alphabet then teach you how to talk about yourself and everyday objects.

Part 1

For part 1, you’ll cover:

• alphabet and sounds
• greetings and leave-taking
• introducing yourself and where you are from
• professions
• everyday objects.
• Subject and predicate
• Pronouns: separate and attached
• Expressing possession
• The relative noun Nisba
• Gender in Arabic nouns.

We’ll teach you grammatical structures including:

• Diacritical marks shadda, madda, tanwin, sukun

By the end of the module, you’ll be able to:

• write and read the alphabet and recognise their sounds (phonetics)
• introduce and identify yourself and others
• greet people and say goodbye
• ask about wellbeing
• talk about what you do
• identify places of origin and Arab countries and capitals
• understand the political system
• describe everyday objects and objects in the classroom
• make polite requests and ask questions
• understand colloquial Arabic, phonological variations and different handwriting.

By attending over 70% of your classes, you’ll receive an official City certificate. Our short courses aren’t accredited – any assessment you take is informal to help you evaluate your own progress.

Teaching

To hone your listening and speaking skills in authentic situations, you’ll learn through:

• role-play
• classroom discussion
• pair and group work
• pronunciation and intonation work
• grammar in context
• listening to audio clips
• watching videos.

To get the most of out of this course, we’ll encourage you to spend time on grammar exercises and reading at home. Whenever you need support, your tutor will always be there to provide feedback.

This course will suit you if you’re new to learning Arabic. If you’ve had a go before, you might like to join part 2 or 3 of the beginners course. If you know the basics already, our Arabic Intermediate course might be a better fit for you.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.