Arabic Language — Read, Write and Understand
This course builds Arabic from the alphabet upward, weighted towards the vocabulary and grammar that appear most often in the Quran, so students begin to follow meaning while they recite rather than waiting years for fluency.
Who it is for
Children from age 8, teenagers and adults, from complete beginners to students continuing school or madrasah Arabic.
How long it takes
Beginner level takes about 6 months at two classes a week. Reading the Quran with basic comprehension typically takes 12 to 18 months.
Course levels and entry requirements
Beginner
You can join if: No Arabic needed.
Alphabet, writing, greetings, nouns, pronouns, and 300 high-frequency Quranic words.
Elementary
You can join if: Reads and writes Arabic script.
Verb patterns in past and present, singular and plural, the idafah construction, simple sentences.
Intermediate
You can join if: Forms simple sentences.
Verb forms, cases, particles, and reading short Quranic passages with a dictionary.
What the student will be able to do
- Read and write Arabic script confidently, including joined handwriting
- Recognise the most frequent Quranic vocabulary by sight
- Identify verbs, nouns and particles in a Quranic verse
- Translate simple Quranic sentences without help
- Continue to advanced Arabic or tafseer study
What happens in a typical lesson
- Vocabulary review from the previous lesson
- New grammar point explained with Quranic examples
- Guided practice: building and breaking down sentences together
- Reading a short passage and translating it aloud
- Written homework, marked before the next class
Quranic Arabic first
A small number of words make up most of the Quran. Teaching those first means students feel progress quickly: within months they recognise words in the surahs they already recite, which is far more motivating than abstract grammar drills.
How progress is measured
- Placement test in the free class for students with previous Arabic
- Short written exercises marked each week
- Monthly report on vocabulary, grammar and reading progress
- End-of-level test and certificate
What this course costs
The same monthly fee covers any course, so you pay for how often you study rather than which subject you choose. Billed monthly, cancel before the next billing date, no registration fee.
- 2 days a week — 8 lessons a month — £20 a month
- 3 days a week — 12 lessons a month — £28 a month
- 4 days a week — 16 lessons a month — £35 a month
- 5 days a week — 20 lessons a month — £42 a month
- The first lesson is a free level assessment. No card details are taken.
Common questions
Do I need to read Arabic before starting?
No. Complete beginners start with the alphabet, and can take Noorani Qaida alongside if they also want to read the Quran.
Is this Modern Standard Arabic?
The grammar is classical and Modern Standard, which is what the Quran and formal Arabic use. Everyday speaking is covered in the Arabic Speaking course.
What is the difference between Quranic Arabic and spoken Arabic?
Quranic Arabic is the classical register of the Quran and the books of the religion. Spoken Arabic is what people use in Cairo or Amman today, and the two differ enough that fluency in one does not give you the other. This course teaches the first; the Arabic speaking course teaches the second.
Can I learn Quranic Arabic online if I can already read but not understand?
That is the most common starting point here. You begin with the vocabulary that carries most of the Quran — a few hundred roots account for the great majority of it — then the grammar that holds a sentence together, so that meaning starts arriving as you read.
How long before I understand the Quran as I recite it?
Students who study twice a week usually start recognising whole phrases within three to four months, and following the sense of a short surah within a year. Full independent reading of any page takes considerably longer and depends mostly on vocabulary.
Do I need to finish Tajweed before learning Arabic?
No, they run well together. Tajweed trains how you say it, Arabic trains what it means, and students often find each makes the other stick.