Introduction to Arabic

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for people with no or only very little prior knowledge of Arabic. The variety of Arabic taught on this course is Modern Standard Arabic. Please seek level advice if you are not new to Arabic.

Course overview

The main objective of this course for (complete) beginners is to develop your speaking skills in Arabic, using examples and role-play to explore the use of Arabic in a range of situations.

During the first few weeks we will also begin to introduce you to the Arabic script, giving you opportunity to learn how to read Arabic words and even develop some very basic writing skills during the course.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• greet people; introduce yourself and others, provide some basic information about yourself and the members of your family;
• read numbers and be able to count in Arabic, know the days of the week and the months of the year;
• ask and give directions;
• order a meal in a restaurant and read a basic menu;
• know the basic geography of the Middle East, aspects of the culture, the names of Arab countries, their main cities and locations;
• describe things and people;
• read and write a few words in the Arabic script.

Term dates

•  Summer Term: week beginning 27 April 2026 until week ending 3 July 2026

Any questions?

If not a complete beginner in the language please seek level advice. For this and any questions pre-enrolment about the content of this course please contact the Arabic Coordinator, Dr Mashail Ali at mashail.ali@imperial.ac.uk

For general programme and enrolment questions please contact the Imperial after:hours Administrator, Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class Recordings

These classes are not recorded

Attendance Certificate

Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate

Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment