Modern Standard Arabic courses for adults

Applications are now open for the Centre’s Arabic classes at four levels, from Complete Beginner to Upper Intermediate. Each course is two-and-a-half terms in length (40 hours total), beginning in October 2023 and ending in May 2024. Applications are now OPEN.

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 (in-person classes only)

Cost: £390 per course (40-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 (Oct-Dec 2023), Hilary (Jan-March 2024), and Trinity (April-May 2024).

If you are applying for level 1b or higher, you will be asked to take a Placement Test to assist the Course Tutor in assessing language abilities. Please note that acceptance on any course is always subject to the approval of the Course Tutor and subject to various factors, including 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 to your chosen course level. A non-refundable payment of £130 (or £117 if eligible for the discount) should be made by the due date of the invoice or by 6 October 2023 – whichever is sooner. The balance of £260 (or £234 if eligible for the discount) will be required by 31 December 2023 in order to continue and complete the course. If preferred, you may pay the Centre the full course payment in one go by the date due shown on the invoice or by 6 October 2023 – whichever date is sooner. 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 so this option is not available for those enrolling on the online teaching version of level 1a.

Click here to apply (closing date is noon, 3 October 2023)

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 term 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 second term 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: 20 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct-Dec 2023), Hilary (Jan-March 2024), and Trinity (April-May 2024).

Timings: Either Tuesdays 12.00pm-2.00pm online; or Mondays 6.00pm-8.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.

START DATE: Monday 9th October 2023

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 (without comprehension). The first term will cover the foundations of forming basic sentences in Arabic. Term 2 will build on these skills and will 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 second term 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: 20 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct-Dec 2023), Hilary (Jan-March 2024), and Trinity (April-May 2024).

Timings: Wednesdays 6.00pm-8.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.

START DATE: Wednesday 11th October 2023

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 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 term 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 second term 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: 20 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct-Dec 2023), Hilary (Jan-March 2024), and Trinity (April-May 2024).

Timings: Thursdays 6.00pm-8.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.

START DATE: Thursday 12th October 2023

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 term 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 second term 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: 20 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct-Dec 2023), Hilary (Jan-March 2024), and Trinity (April-May 2024).

Timings: Wednesdays 4.00pm-6.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.

START DATE: Wednesday 11th October 2023

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 second term 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: 20 weekly classes spread over three terms: Michaelmas (Oct-Dec 2023), Hilary (Jan-March 2024), and Trinity (April-May 2024).

Timings: Thursdays 4.00pm-6.00pm at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Marston Road.

START DATE: Thursday 12th October 2023