Arabic
"Learn Arabic, it will sharpen your wisdom." — Umar ibn Al-Khattab
At a Glance
- Live online course
- Various levels
- 2 hours a week
- Timetabled 18:00 - 20:00
- 20 weeks: October to March
- Fees from £230 to £420
- Imperial College attendance certificate (T&Cs apply)
Learning a new language is one of the most rewarding activities you can do. Not only does it open up new possibilities for travel and employment, but it can lead to new insights into cultures from all over the world.
Learning a language is enjoyable too, with new friendships formed at our classes bringing together people from a wide variety of backgrounds with a shared interest in the language you are studying.
With our expert tutors on hand to guide you, you will soon find yourself developing new language skills that will open up a world of possibilities.
| Mondays | Tuesdays | Wednesdays | Thursdays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 - 20:00 | -- | 18:00 - 20:00 | 18:00 - 20:00 |
| Arabic Beginners (90012) Souad Baameur Online course |
Arabic Beginners (90012) Sherifa Khairy Online course |
Arabic Lower Intermediate (90152) Souad Baameur Online course |
Course delivery
This is a live-taught online course which means you will be taught alongside other students on the course by a tutor at a specific time. To take part in the course you will need a suitably equipped and internet-enabled device. Please find full details and instructions below under 'Course delivery'.
Attendance certificate
Those who attend at least 80% of the course sessions will receive an attendance certificate from Imperial College London upon completion of the course.
Arabic course descriptions
Beginners
This 20-week Beginners course for students with no prior knowledge of Arabic 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
Lower Intermediate
This 20-week 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
Course Information
Course Materials
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
Level advice
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
Your Tutor
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
Course Delivery: Live Online Taught courses
All our online courses are taught live which means you will be taught alongside other students on the course by a tutor at a specific time. To take part in the course you must be able to attend the online session at the time stated for the course description.
All times stated are British Standard Time.
To take part you will need a computer, or laptop, or tablet computer, connected to the Internet. The device you use will also need to have a camera, microphone and speakers. Most devices now have these built in, but if not you might have to buy them from a computer shop and to connect them to your device.
Microsoft Teams
This course will use Teams as its online delivery method. Teams is easy to use. You will need to log into your existing Teams account or, alternatively, please create a free account here. Near the date of your first online session you will be sent an email with a Teams web link that will allow you to access the course. All you need do is click on the course link in the email and you will be asked to enter your name. This is the name that will be seen by your tutor and other students in the class. Once you have entered your name you might be asked to enter a password to enter the class. The password will be included in the email sent to you. Once you enter the password you will either be taken directly into the class, or asked to wait in a virtual waiting room until the tutor is ready to let you into the class.
All courses lasting two hours have a 10-minute break in the middle. For one-hour courses there is no break.
Course Fees and Rate Categories
| Hours | Weeks | Standard Rate | Internal Rate | Associate Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 20 | £420 (Early Bird Rate: £380*) |
£250 (Early Bird Rate: £230*) | £330 (Early Bird Rate: £300*) | |
| * The Early Bird rate is available for enrolments made before the end of 30 September for courses starting in October only | All fee rates quoted are for the whole 2-term course. | |||||
Rate Categories and Discounts
Standard Rate
- Applicable to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category, respectively.
Internal Rate
- 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)
- Individuals enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
- Staff of the English Chamber Orchestra
- 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 contact eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk before completing the online enrolment form
Associate Rate
- Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes
- Austrian Cultural Forum staff
- City & Guilds College Association members
- Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
- Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
- Harrods staff
- Historic Royal Palaces staff
- Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
- Members of the Friends of Imperial College
- Members of the Kennel Club
- Members of the London Zoological Society
- Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
- Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Natural History Museum staff
- National Health Service (NHS) employees
- Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
- Royal College of Art and Royal College of Music tutors and other staff
- Royal Geographical Society staff
- Science Museum staff
- Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
- Students (non-Imperial College)
- Teachers and other staff of UK schools
- Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
- Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum staff
Late enrolment
It is possible to enrol on many CLCC Evening Class and Lunchtime Learning programmes after the course has started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language Coordinator conducting level assessment. 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 Terms and Conditions [pdf] before enrolling on any course.
Term Dates
| Hours | Weeks | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term | Summer School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 20 | 18 Oct - 18 Dec 2021 (9 weeks)* PLUS | 10 Jan - 26 Mar 2022 (11 weeks) | n/a | n/a |
| * Followed by the Christmas break | |||||
Enrolment Process
Web enrolment starts 2nd August 2021
Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. Please click on the blue booking link on the relevant course page noting below instructions:
- Our rate categories are explained on the course page and your applicable rate 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 after your course choice and applicant details are collected via an in-built questionnnaire
- The following email notifications are sent:
| What is sent | When is it sent | What does it contain |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Payment confirmation | Is sent instantaneously following submission of your online application |
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| 2. Enrolment confirmation | Is sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received |
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| 3. Programme information | Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts |
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| If you need further help with the above information please ring 020 7594 8756 |
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Any Questions?
- Questions regarding the content and teaching of your course should be sent to Dr Mashail Ali (Arabic Coordinator) at mashail.ali@imperial.ac.uk
- Questions about your enrolment and payment should be sent to the Programme Administrator, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk