Start your journey to fluency today
Speak Arabic language confidently
Arabic Level
Beginner
Learner Career Outcomes
52%
46%
Got a tangible career benefit from this course
18%
Got a pay increase or promotion
ABOUT
About this Course
Arabic is a Southern-Central Semitic language. It is spoken in most parts of the Arabian Peninsula, parts of Middle East and North Africa. In these regions, the languages with the most number of speakers are Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Kurdish and Hebrew. These languages belong to different language families. Turkish is part of the Turkic family. The Indo-European language family is represented by Kurdish and Persian. Hebrew and Arabic belong to the Afro-Asiatic language family. Aside from these major languages, people in the Middle East speak around 20 minority languages.
Arabic is a macro language that has 30 modern varieties or dialects. Literary Arabic, which is also called Standard Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), is used today in formal speech and in writing in the Arab world while Classical Arabic was used in Islamic literature of the 7th to 9th centuries. It is the language of the Qurʾān.
The basis of the Modern Standard Arabic is the classical version and the differences between the two are related to simplification and modernization in writing and speaking styles. The MSA is used in the modern versions of the Qurʾān and the modern editions of the novels and poetries from the Abbasid and Umayyad periods. Arabic is the fourth most spoken language in the world. About 315 million people in 58 countries speak the Arabic as their first language, according to Ethnologue.
Why you should choose Arabic Language:
It puts you ahead of the rest
Learning Arabic will make you stand out, as there are very few people from the West that speak Arabic. Having command of Arabic will make you appear clever and sophisticated. Learning a language is learning about the culture of the country where the language is spoken. Arab culture is rich and interesting. Learning the language will enable you to read some of the famous classic literature.
If you are a fan of Aladdin, Ali Baba and Sindbad the Sailor, imagine reading the many stories in The One Thousand and One Nights (Alf laylah wa laylah) or the poems of Ḥāfeẓ and Ahmad Shawqi in their original versions. You’ll be able to benefit economically. Natural resources abound in the Middle East and speaking Arabic will open many job positions for you.
Arabic opens up new doors
You’ll be able to experience true Arab hospitality. Arabs are very proud of their language. Unlike the Germans who are not impressed when foreigners are able to speak their language, the opposite is shown by Arabs. Once a native speaker of Arabic hears a foreigner speak a few words in Arabic, they would be very eager and happy to help you learn their language. When you learn Arabic you’ll be able to appreciate the region’s unique way of life, cuisine, literature, music and art.
You’ll open the door to their rich culture that is not often exposed to the Western world. Another benefit is that you will appreciate their cultural practices and products. You will also understand the values that matter much to them, such as hospitality, dignity and honor. Learning Arabic will also allow you to understand Islam better if you’re able to read the Qurʾān and understand its teachings.
The language can increase the demand for your skills
You’ll have an edge over competition even if you are in the West. The demand for people fluent in Arabic is quite high. In fact, only a few people from the West attempt to learn Arabic. The secret services in the U.S. need people who are fluent speakers of Arabic. There are many businesses, including translating and interpreting that are in need of Arabic speakers. Other fields that need Arabic speakers include intelligence and foreign service, consulting, banking and finance, education and journalism.
When you know Arabic, you’ll be able to have an easier time learning other languages spoken in the region, such as Farsi or Persian, Turkish, Urdu and even Hebrew. Most of the vocabularies of these languages are derived from and similar to Arabic words so you will be able to quickly grasp the semantic and grammatical concepts of the other languages.
Traveling to the Middle East will also be easier. A good number of Arabs are able to speak English but the larger part of the population only uses Arabic as their primary language. Even if you can only speak common words and phrases, it is better to speak the local language. It would help you appreciate the traditional villages and other points of interest.
Levels in Language:
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
So, what exactly are the different levels of language learning? Well, many teachers and experts around the world use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The CEFR has six levels from beginner (A1) to very advanced (C2).
A1 BEGINNER
You are at this level of ability if you:
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
Can introduce him/herself and others
can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has.
Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
A2 ELEMENTARY
You are at this level of ability if you:
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
B1 INTERMEDIATE
You are at this level of ability if you:
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
Can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken.
Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
B2 UPPER-INTERMEDIATE
You are at this level of ability if you:
Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.
Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
C1 EFFECTIVE OPERATIONAL PROFICIENCY
You are at this level of ability if you:
Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
C2 MASTERY
You are at this level of ability if you:
Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.
Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.
Different courses of Arabic
Modern standard Arabic:
The Arabic that is used across the entire Arabic speaking world in literature, journalism, academics, business, politics, administration, religious discourse, and many other areas of life. While each country or region of a country has its own local dialect of Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic is understood across all countries. It is the Arabic of literate native speakers, and is taught in school from primary levels to Advanced.
Classical Arabic:
Classical Arabic, referred to as Quranic Arabic. The Quran is the holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century. While all the revelations were not written down immediately, followers of Islam compiled all the revelations into written form soon after Muhammad’s death. The hadith is a record of the sayings, actions, and approved actions of the Prophet Muhammad that help shape the Islamic tradition, as well.
It has the key to understanding Islamic scriptures as well as centuries of beautiful poetry and literature. This intricate language is still studied by thousands of students and religious scholars around the world. Classical Arabic can be found before the development of Islam, in the period called Jahiliyyah. Much of the Classical Arabic poetry (sha’er or الشعر) studied today is Jahili poetry and is considered one of the main resources for many Classical Arabic scholars.
Colloquial Arabic:
Colloquial Arabic has many regional variants. It refers to the many national or regional varieties which constitute the everyday spoken language. They are often used in informal spoken media, such as soap operas and talk shows, poetry and printed advertising
Arabic Proficiency Test (ALPT)
The Arabic Language Proficiency Test (ALPT) is a standardized Arabic proficiency test designed by Arabic Academy and endorsed by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). There are 56 member countries under ICCI that cover all 22 Arab countries as well as 34 countries in Africa and the Far East.