Modern Standard Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic courses for adults
Applications are now open for the Centre’s Arabic course offered at five levels:
Level 1A; Level 1B; Level 2; Level 3; Level 4.
We also offer: Spoken Modern Standard Arabic, and Arabic for Academic Purposes
Each course runs over three terms, 8 weeks per term (36 hours total), beginning in October and ending in June.
Why learn Arabic at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies?
- Receive small-group tuition with a native speaker
- Discover the cultures of the Arabic-speaking world, including food, festivals, traditions, politics, etiquette and more
- Complete grammar training to develop a thorough understanding of Arabic
- Study in the beautiful surroundings of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies building, which is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture
Cost: £420 per course (36-hour course). A 10% discount is applied for current University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University students and staff, OCIS Scholars and YMLP Alumni, as well as current and former OCIS Visiting Fellows.
Tutor: Mrs Sara Youssef
Levels: Please see below for details of each level. The course for each level comprises 20 weekly classes spread over two-and-a-half terms: Michaelmas (October – December), Hilary (January – March), and Trinity (April – May).
If you are applying for level 1b or higher, you will be asked to take a Placement Test to assist the Course Tutor in gauging present competence. Please note that acceptance on any course is always subject to the approval of the Course Tutor and to various external factors such as class sizes.
Please note all timings given below are subject to change, applicants will be informed of any proposed changes before the start of the term.
Payment:
You will be invited to pay by bank transfer once the Course Tutor has confirmed your acceptance of your chosen course level. A non-refundable payment of £140 (or £126 if eligible for the discount) should be made by 7 October 2024. The balance of £280 (or £252 if eligible for the discount) will be required by 16 December 2024 in order to continue and complete the course. If preferred, you may pay the Centre the full course payment in one go by 7 October. Please confirm which payment option you would prefer once you have received confirmation of acceptance on the course.
Payments should generally be made by bank transfer. Alternatively, by prior arrangement, you may make payment by credit/debit card (Visa and MasterCard) or, if this is not possible, by cash or cheque at the Academic Office. Credit/Debit card payments cannot be made remotely at the present time.
You will be required to have a copy of the course text book (details can be found in the course description). Please note the Centre cannot obtain this book for you.
Click here to view our Privacy Statement for Short Courses.
Please contact the Academic Office with any queries:
Tel: +44 (0)1865 618543, Fax: +44 (0)1865 248942
Email: msa@oxcis.ac.uk
Level 1a – Complete beginners
Course description
This course is designed for students who have no, or very little, previous knowledge or exposure to the Arabic language. In the first term, students will be taught how to read, write and accurately pronounce the Arabic script. The second and third terms will cover the foundations of forming basic sentences in Arabic. The course will cover topics including: greetings and introductions, describing people and objects, ordering at a restaurant, friends and family, work and the workplace, and travelling. By the end of the course, students should have reached Level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Please note that once you have chosen your course delivery type – in person or online – you will not be able to change this part way through a course except in exceptional circumstances.
Course books:
Arabic for Life [Yale University Press, ISBN: 9780300233834]
Structure: 24 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct.–Dec.), Hilary (Jan.–Mar.), and Trinity (April–June).
Timings: Either Mondays 12.00pm–1.30pm; or Wednesday 6.30pm–8.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.
Level 1b – Elementary
Course description
This course is designed for beginner students who have little or no knowledge of Arabic grammar or conversation but who can write and read the script (albeit without comprehension). The first term will cover the foundations of forming basic sentences in Arabic. Terms 2 and 3 will build on these skills and introduce students to more complex ways of talking about themselves and other subjects. It will also introduce students to using an Arabic root dictionary. The course will cover topics including: greetings and introductions, describing people and objects, ordering at a restaurant, friends and family, work and the workplace, and travelling, talking about the past and present. By the end of the course, students should have reached Level A1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Please note that once you have chosen your course delivery type – in person or online – you will not be able to change this part way through a course except in exceptional circumstances.
Course books:
Arabic for Life [Yale University Press, ISBN: 9780300233834]
Structure: 24 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct.–Dec.), Hilary (Jan.–Mar.), and Trinity (April–June).
Timings: Mondays 1.30pm–3.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.
Level 2 – Lower Intermediate
Course description
This course is designed for students who have knowledge of basic Arabic grammar and have a good basic vocabulary. Students will be expected to enrich these skills and develop their written and spoken communicative abilities by exploring different subjects and topics, and various grammatical constructs. Term 1 will focus on expanding students' vocabulary relating to personal and social topics, and will introduce them to more complex ways of expressing their thoughts. The second and third terms will build on these skills and expose students to various forms of written and recorded media. Topics will include: work-life and academia, TV and media, family, hopes and dreams, expressing opinions, time and quantifiers. By the end of the course, students should have reached Level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Please note that once you have chosen your course delivery type - in person or online - you will not be able to change this part way through a course except in exceptional circumstances.
Course books:
Arabic for Life [Yale University Press, ISBN: 9780300233834]
Hans Wehr Root Dictionary
Structure: 24 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct.–Dec.), Hilary (Jan.–Mar.), and Trinity (April–June).
Timings: Tuesdays 12.00pm–1.30pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.
Level 3 – Intermediate
Course description
This course is designed for students who have sound knowledge of the foundations of Arabic grammar and have a good repertoire of frequently used vocabulary. Students will improve these skills and develop their written and spoken communicative abilities by exploring different contexts and subjects. Term 1 will introduce students to different verbal forms and their nuances and will hone students' dictionary skills, as well as aiding them in expressing their opinion about social and political issues. The second and third terms will continue with the study of verb forms and their uses, along with other more complex structures, and will introduce students to some well-known literary figures from the Arab world. By the end of the course, students should have reached Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Course books:
Arabic for Life [Yale University Press, ISBN: 9780300233834]
Hans Wehr Root Dictionary
Modern Standard Arabic Grammar by M.T. Alhawary (Optional)
Structure: 24 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct.–Dec.), Hilary (Jan.–Mar.), and Trinity (April–June).
Timings: Thursdays 12.00pm–1.30pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.
Level 4 – Upper Intermediate
Course description
This course is designed for students who have sound knowledge of Arabic grammar and are able to express themselves coherently in Modern Standard Arabic. Students will further hone their written and spoken skills and adapt them to communicate on a variety of subjects. Students will be exposed to different texts and audio-visual material through which they will acquire and explore more complex structures and expand their vocabulary on a range of personal, social, historical, cultural and political topics. By the end of the course, students should have reached Level B1+/B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Course books:
Al-Kitaab 2 (Second Edition)
Hans Wehr Root Dictionary
Structure: 24 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct.–Dec.), Hilary (Jan.–Mar.), and Trinity (April–June).
Timings: Fridays 11.00am–12.30pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.
Spoken Modern Standard Arabic
Course description
This Spoken Modern Standard Arabic course is designed to develop students' ability to communicate effectively in Arabic-speaking environments. Aimed at intermediate learners, this course focuses on enhancing oral communication skills, with particular emphasis on spoken Modern Standard Arabic. Throughout the course, students will work to improve their aural proficiency, expand their vocabulary, and increase their fluency.
The curriculum encompasses a range of themes relevant to everyday life, business, and academic contexts, ensuring that learners acquire practical communication skills for real-world situations. The course will incorporate elements of Arabic dialects where appropriate, equipping students with the linguistic tools needed to engage in diverse oral communications. Furthermore, students will gain cultural insights that are essential for living and working in Arabic-speaking countries, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the language and its use in context.
Course books:
tbc
Structure: 24 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct.–Dec.), Hilary (Jan.–Mar.), and Trinity (April–June).
Timings: Tuesdays 1.30pm–3.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.
Arabic for Academic Purposes
Course description
This course is designed for intermediate-level Arabic learners who seek to develop the skills necessary to read and analyse academic texts in Arabic with efficiency and critical insight. The curriculum focuses on a range of topics including history, politics, literary criticism, sociology, and religion, providing students with a comprehensive foundation in academic Arabic.
Through structured group work and class discussions, students will engage in the analysis of structure and vocabulary usage, allowing them to grasp subtle nuances of meaning and apply this understanding in both spoken and written communication. The course includes tailored activities aimed at enhancing students’ abilities to construct well-formed sentences and compose essays that effectively incorporate newly acquired vocabulary and structure.
Course Prerequisites:
- Completion of the OXCIS Arabic 1B course, or
- Achievement of Arabic L2 on the OXCIS placement test.
Course books:
tbc
Structure: 24 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct.–Dec.), Hilary (Jan.–Mar.), and Trinity (April–June).
Timings: Thursdays 1.30pm–3.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.