FAQ's

1.What if I want to learn a particular dialect?

The Maliha Wehbe method teaches an Arabic that would allow you to be understood in different parts of the Arab world and the method helps you understand and be aware of other dialects.

2. Will my husband/in-laws/colleagues be able to understand me?

Of course they will.  The Arabic taught through the Maliha Wehbe method is a simplified form of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)  without the Harakaat. It is an Arabic that is understood throughout the Arab world. The vocabulary and topics covered in our programme are relevant to everyday tasks and communications.

3. How long / how many levels until I can become a fluent speaker?

Arabic is one of the richest languages in the world.  Although it is logical and systematic, it is not an easy language to learn. Having said that it depends on the individual - we have students who use the language all the time and insist on speaking it everywhere they go and so they become fluent at an early level with the vocabulary they have; whilst others reach advanced levels and still refuse to speak. Our method is based on oral communication and students are encouraged to speak Arabic in class all the time, but if that is not translated into their everyday life then it will take them longer to acquire fluency.

4. What if I already know some Arabic?

We can arrange an assessment for you with one of our senior instructors who will advise the most suitable level to join and the best course of action to pursue your Arabic studies, whether it is public tuition, private tuition or a combination of the two.  There is a nominal fee of AED100 for an assessment, but this is fully refundable aginst the cost of one of our courses, should you subsequently enrol.

5. I only want conversational Arabic – What then?

The Maliha Wehbe method is based on learning the script, as well as speaking the language. Maliha was a believer that in order to really learn Arabic you must read and write it. She believed you must know the letters to understand the 3-letter root and if you understand the 3-letter root you will then understand the concept of verb Forms. That would enable you to utilize the beauty of it being a Semitic language; and how for example all words related to studying will share the same root.

6. How quickly will I be able to speak?

Very quickly! Within the first hour of class you will cover 10 oral transactions, including: greetings, asking for someone's name and providing yours, and asking if they would like a tea or coffee.

7. Can I attend classes just once a week?

Our Arabic classes generally run twice a week.  Sometimes we offer more intensirve courses too.  It is unlikely that we will schedule a class to run just once a week because we believe it is important to keep practising the language and having as much exposure to it as possible, in order to really learn it.  Ocassionally, we may run a conversational course once a week (these are 12-class courses that run between the Beginners III and Intermediate I levels, and also between Intermediate III and Pre-GCSE levels).

8. I can read Arabic and write Arabic, will I still need to join Beginners I?

Yes, because even if you read and write Arabic there is a lot of vocabulary and grammar that is covered in the beginners I course that you need to cover before joining Beginners II. Several students, who read the Quran, face this dilemma and we always recommend that they do Beginners I.

9. Can you come to my house and teach me?

Unfortunately we do not send teachers to individual homes.  Private tuition classes are held at our premises.  This is because are teachers usually have very busy teaching schedules and would not have the time to add travelling time between each class.  Also, it increase the cost of our private tuition rates.  We do offer in-house courses to our corporate-clients arranging group classes for their staff.

10. Can I choose the nationality of my teacher?

All our teachers are Mid Eastern Arabs from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. We would definitely try and accommodate you with your choice of nationality if the teachers schedule permits.

11. I want my children to learn Arabic, do you have Arabic classes for children?

Our sister school, dar el-ilm School of Languages, teaches Arabic for children: www.dar-el-ilm.com