This Beginners course provides an introduction to the Arabic script, everyday vocabulary, the basic grammar structures of the language and the Arab culture.

By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate in Arabic on simple everyday topics.

During the first few weeks of the course the Arabic script is introduced. The emphasis of the course is on developing the students’ communicative ability in a range of situations. Some reading and writing skills are then practised and extended throughout the course. The basic elements of Arabic grammar are introduced to enable students to understand the structure of the language.

Right from the beginning and throughout the course, the Educated Spoken Arabic is used when practising oral skills. The emphasis this year will be on enhancing the oral as well as the reading skills of the students.

By the end of the course, students should be able to read the Arabic script, have some writing skills and be able to:

• greet one another; introduce themselves and one another, provide some basic information about themselves and the members of their 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, the names of Arab countries, their main cities and locations;
• gain some cultural knowledge of the Middle East;
• describe things and people

This Lower Intermediate course is for students who have some basic knowledge of Arabic that is equivalent to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, have completed our Beginners course, or equivalent learning experience.

The course aims to further develop the students’ skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in a range of predictable situations and familiarize them with some simple grammar structures. The course materials will also broaden the students’ understanding of the culture and daily life in the countries where the language is spoken. The focus of the class activities is on improving the communicative skills through role-plays, discussions and practical tasks.

By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate on a variety of topics in a range of situations, such as:

• family, relations and friends;
• talking about the self and others;
• the weather and seasons;
• expressing likes and dislikes;
• travel and entertainment;
• work and daily routine;
• past and present activities;
• hobbies and interests;
• education, study and work;
• career choices;
• current affairs;
• advertisements;
• city life and the environment

Students are advised not to buy any course books before the start of the course. Progress through the course and textbook will depend on the group dynamics of the class.

Arabic Beginners

• Mastering Arabic by Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar, in the Macmillan Master series, Second edition 2007 (published by Palgrave Macmillan)

The book is accompanied by a set of two audio CDs which students are encouraged to listen to outside of lesson time. Students will also be encouraged to consult the following for conversation work:

• Read and Speak Arabic by Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar, GW Chinnor (2004)

Arabic Lower Intermediate

• Al-Kitaab fii Ta callum al-cArabiyya (with DVDs). A Textbook for Beginning Arabic: Part One, 3rd edition, by Kristen Brustad et al (Georgetown University Press), chapters 2-7

Choosing the right language level is very important and we aim to make the process of deciding which is the right course level for you as simple as possible.

If you are a complete beginner you should, of course, enrol on a Beginner's Course.

If you have some experience in the language you wish to study please first review our course descriptions to try to identify the course level which should be most suitable for you. Especially if you are out of practice in a language, or have been out of formal education for a while, please be reasonably sure and realistic about your level of proficiency prior to proceeding with enrolment.

Contact details for course-level advice: Dr Mashail Ali (Arabic Coordinator), mashail.ali@imperial.ac.uk

All tutors on our language programmes are native speakers with a great deal of experience in teaching languages to beginners and the more advanced. Tutor contact details are provided in the programme pack which will be emailed to you just prior to the start of term.

Contact details for questions relating to your tutor's background or teaching qualifications: Dr Mashail Ali (Arabic Coordinator), mashail.ali@imperial.ac.uk

Rate Categories and Discounts

Standard Rate

• Applicable to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category, respectively.

Internal Rate

• Applies to current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors).
• Current Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication (CLCC) staff, current CLCC PhD students, Science Communication (Sci Comm) postgraduate students, and students enrolled on an Imperial College 'Language for Science' degree programme should email evening eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk before completing the online enrolment form.

Associate Rate

• Students (non-Imperial College)
• Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes
• City & Guilds College Association members
• Members of Friends of Imperial College 
• Friends of the South London Botanical Institute
• Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
• Harrods staff
• Historic Royal Palaces staff
• Natural History Museum staff
• Science Museum staff
• Victoria and Albert Museum staff
• Royal Geographical Society staff
• Royal College of Art and Royal College of Music tutors and other staff
• Santander Bank staff (Imperial College Walkway branch only)
• Austrian Cultural Forum staff
• Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
• Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
• Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
• Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
• Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8

Late enrolment

It is possible to enrol on many CLCC Evening Class and Lunchtime Learning programmes after the course has started, subject entirely to agreement by the tutor delivering the course. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.

Applicable terms & conditions

Please read the Evening Classes & Lunchtime Learning terms and conditions [pdf] before enrolling on any course.

Web enrolment starts 1 August

Enrolment & payment are through the Imperial College eStore. Please use above booking link noting below instructions:

• Our rate categories are explained on this page and your applicable category must be selected on the eStore
• First-time eStore users please create an account by entering an email address and password. These credentials should also be used for future bookings. Imperial College users please note the eStore is not a single-signon College system
• The booking process involves entering payment details before your course choice and applicant details are queried on an in-built questionnnaire which completes the process
• The following email notifications will be sent

Contact details for questions regarding the content and teaching of our Arabic courses: Dr Mashail Ali (Arabic Coordinator), mashail.ali@imperial.ac.uk