Course Description

This course covers everything you need for reading and writing Arabic, starting from the basics and progressing to a slightly more advanced level. It contains reading practice, tests, detailed videos on how to produce all sounds, and written examples from Arabic literature and the Quran. 

The course is designed in a step-by-step approach. Each step is connected to the next, first focusing on understanding the rules and then moving on to practice.

The aim of the course is to make you confident in reading Arabic. After completing the course you will be at ease with the Arabic alphabet and able to read and write over 400 Arabic words. Best of all,  you will be able to read from any book, including the Quran.


What will you learn in this course?

  • 1

    Introduction

    • Welcome and Introduction Message
  • 2

    Letters and words with short vowel Fatha

  • 3

    How to produce sounds

    • 3.1 How to produce the sound أ

    • 3.2 How to produce the sound ب

    • 3.3 How to produce the sounds ت and د

    • 3.4 How to produce the sounds ث and ذ

    • 3.5 How to produce the sound ج

    • 3.6 How to produce the sound ح

    • 3.7 How to produce the sound خ

    • 3.8 How to produce the sound ر

    • 3.9 How to produce the sounds س and ز

    • 3.10 How to produce the sound ش

    • 3.11 How to produce the sound ص

    • 3.12 How to produce the sound ض

    • 3.13 How to produce the sound ط

    • 3.14 How to produce the sound ظ

    • 3.15 How to produce the sound ع

    • 3.16 How to produce the sound غ

    • 3.17 How to produce the sound ف

    • 3.18 How to produce the sound ق

    • 3.19 How to produce the sound ك

    • 3.20 How to produce the sound ل

    • 3.21 How to produce the sound م

    • 3.22 How to produce the sound ن

    • 3.23 How to produce the sound ه

    • 3.24 How to produce the sound و

    • 3.25 How to produce the sound ي
  • 4

    Letters and words with short vowels Kasra and Damma

    • 4.1 How to read letters with short vowel Kasra

    • 4.2 Practise reading words with short vowels Kasra and Fatha

    • 4.2 PDF: Practise writing words with Fatha and Kasra

    • 4.3 How to read letters with short vowel Damma

    • 4.4 Practise reading words with all three short vowels

    • 4.4 PDF: Practise writing words with the three short vowels
  • 5

    Words with Sukoon

    • 5.1 Learn silent vowel Sukoon and practise reading two-letter words

    • 5.2 Practise reading words with Sukoon and the three short vowels

    • 5.2 PDF: Practise writing words with Sukoon and the three short vowels
  • 6

    Long vowels

    • 6.1 Learn and practise the long vowels with the Arabic alphabet

    • 6.1 PDF: The three long vowels

    • 6.2 How to differentiate between long vowels and the normal letters
  • 7

    Tanween and Shaddah

    • 7.1 Learn about the three types of Tanween and how to pronounce them

    • 7.2 Practise reading words with Tanween

    • 7.2 PDF: Practise writing words with Tanween and other vowels

    • 7.3 How to pronounce sign of emphasis Shaddah with all vowels + practice
  • 8

    The definite article

    • 8.1 Learn and practise Al-Qamariyah with the moon letters

    • 8.1 PDF: Al-Qamariyah (moon) letters

    • 8.2 Examples of Al-Qamariyah in the Quran

    • 8.3 Learn and practise Ash-Shamsiyah with the sun letters

    • 8.3 PDF: Ash-Shamsiyah (sun) letters

    • 8.4 Examples of Ash-Shamsiyah in the Quran

    • 8.5 Test on Al-Qamariyah and Ash-Shamsiyah
  • 9

    Rounded ة , long Alif ا and short Alif ى

    • 9.1 Learn how to write the rounded ة and practise reading

    • 9.1 PDF: Practise writing words with the round (TA)

    • 9.2 When to use long Alif ا and short Alif ى at the end of words

    • 9.3 How to distinguish between the letter ي and short Alif ى in the Quran
  • 10

    The two types of the Hamza

    • 10.1 The forms of the Hamza ء at the beginning of words

    • 10.2 The forms of the Hamza ء at the end of words

    • 10.3 The forms of the Hamza ء in the middle of words

    • 10.4 Examples of how the Hamza ء is written in the middle of words in the Quran

    • 10.5 Test yourself on the different forms of the Hamza ء in the middle of words

    • 10.6 How to write and pronounce the second type 'Hamzatul Wasl'
  • 11

    Stopping at words

    • 11.1 How to stop reading at sentences

    • 11.2 How to stop reading at verses in the Quran

A Message from your Tutor

Senior Instructor

Hicham Elmahr

I congratulate you on taking the first step in learning the Arabic language! You are about to access Level 1 of a course series that I have personally developed. I am equipped with a BA in Linguistics (2001), an MA programme in Language, Culture and Communication (2004), Foreign Language Teacher training, and years of teaching experience. I am a native Arabic speaker with an unwavering interest in exploring better methods in teaching languages, and especially Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha). Whilst having professional knowledge and years of experience are essential to creating a course that works, the most important component of this course has been the contribution of my students through their advice and feedback. It is thanks to their help that this clear and easy approach is now available to you, enabling you to master a language that is often perceived as difficult to learn. I am here to assist you with any queries you may have and I look forward to hearing how you get on! Welcome to my classroom!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does this course teach?

    This course will teach you how to read and write Arabic and it also shows you how to produce the sounds. We do not teach grammar or vocabulary in this course, though in the last chapters we introduce you to some vocabulary either by showing a picture or providing translation

  • How do I know if this course is suitable for me? Can I try it for free?

    Chapter 2 is available for free as a sample, with 5 lessons for you to see whether the style of the course is suitable for you. This course is perfect for beginners who want to establish a strong foundation in learning Arabic, but also suitable for learners who realise they are still struggling at reading and now want to benefit from this complete course

  • How long does the course take to complete?

    You can take this course in your own time. There are 58 lessons with over 5 hours of total content, plus lesson notes. We recommend spending 15-30 minutes a day over 2 months. After completion you may use the course as a point of reference. Improving your pronunciation, reading and writing is a long process but it can be immensely rewarding. The more time and effort you put in, the more your skill will improve

  • For how long do I have access to the course?

    After signing up you will have access to the course for 18 months across any devices you own. So you can start anytime, go at your own pace, and re-watch as often as you'd like. After 18 months your subscription will expire.

  • Is this course live or recorded?

    All lessons are recorded and available to you on this platform. There are no live lessons. You can take this course at your own pace, 24/7

  • Is this course suitable for children?

    The course has an easy flow, starting from the basics and moving on to the advanced. The first eight chapters of the course are suitable for all school-age children. However, the last 3 chapters are more elaborate so we believe they are suitable for children aged 10 and above

  • What if I realise that it isn't right for me? Can I change my mind?

    The fee for this course is non-refundable. To avoid disappointment, read through the information provided and try Chapter 2 which is available for free. Also thoroughly check the content of the curriculum so that you know exactly what to expect before you purchase

  • How do I pay?

    You can pay online via credit card or PayPal, both are secure and trusted payment systems

  • Can I share my login and password with friends and family?

    The hosting platform monitors the sign-in counts and IP addresses you use every time you interact with the course's content in web and mobile applications. Login sharing will result to Thinkific unenrolling you and deleting your account

What students say

Clear and concise

Mujahid from the UK

The lessons of the course are relatively easy to understand as the tutor used some good analogies to relate to the lessons. The structure of the course was very well laid out, with good examples to assist us to think logically. Nothing was particularly confusing about the course as all my questions were answered. Highlighting the main part of the lesson made me focus better. As a tutor Hicham is clear, concise and patient. The resources provided were more than adequate. Thank you for your understanding and support

Great teacher

Reinis from Latvia

Everything in the course is well explained, Hicham made it easy to understand. Because it is something completely new, it takes time and willingness to absorb the new information, and the way it's presented is helpful. It makes complete sense how the course has been constructed, it is easy to follow. I can't think of anything that needs changing, there is enough information and resources to support learning. For every lesson, specially-selected examples are given to see them in a practice. Hicham is a great teacher, his attitude and willingness to teach is inspiring to students

100% Modern Standard Arabic

Anisah from the UK

Learners like me cannot distinguish between classical Arabic and other Arabic dialects, and it is awfully discouraging having to unlearn and relearn Arabic after discovering that you have not been learning the Arabic you want - in my case the Arabic of the Holy Qur’an. So what I first liked about this course was that it comes with a 100% Modern Standard Arabic guarantee; it is the Arabic that is understood in all of the Arab world, spoken on Al Jazeera and written in newspapers. The progression of the course is smooth, with each lesson building up the student’s confidence with just the right amount of information. Mr Elmahr’s course demystified Arabic for me and that gave me a great feeling of achievement!

Make your introduction to Arabic EASY

Enrol to this course and complete it at your own comfort