We teach Modern Standard Arabic, but references are made to the differences between Arab dialects.

Find out why Arabic is a great language to learn in this blog: 5 great reasons to learn Arabic.

Courses

Our language courses aim to develop your linguistic skills and intercultural competence. You can find out more on the general information page.

The following Arabic courses are available for members of the public and University of Bath staff:

The cost for each course is £144 per semester.

University of Bath staff receive a 10% discount. Staff will be invoiced for the cost of the course after they have enrolled on MySkills.

Course descriptions

Complete Beginner (Semester 1)

This level is suitable for you if you have never studied Arabic before or if you know some basic phrases. 

Post Beginner (Semester 2)

Enrol on this course if you have completed the Complete Beginner course with us, or if you:

• have mastered the Arabic alphabet and sound system
• can distinguish and pronounce all Arabic sounds and write accurately from dictation
• can use basic structures and basic vocabulary related to greetings, introductions, family, jobs and professions
• can follow simple conversations and understand simple texts on familiar topics
• can engage in simple conversations and write short texts on familiar topics

Lower Intermediate Part 1 (Semester 1)

Enrol on this course if you have completed the Post Beginner course with us, or if you:

• have knowledge of vocabulary covering topics including: around the house, my city, countries and nationalities and at the market
• can use grammatical structures such as: there is/there are and prepositional phrases
• can engage in simple conversations and express basic opinions on a range of familiar topics
• can understand texts about the mentioned topics
• can write short clear, well-structured texts on various subjects

Lower Intermediate Part 2 (Semester 2)

Enrol on this course if you have completed the Lower Intermediate level Part 1 with us, or if you:

• have knowledge of vocabulary covering a range of topics including: the number 0-100, days of the week, saying the time, giving directions, ordering food and drink, clothing and colours.
• have some knowledge of the past tense and plural forms
• can engage in longer conversations and express opinions on a range of topics
• can understand longer texts
• can write clear, well-structured texts on various subjects

Course dates and times

All courses consist of 10 weekly interactive sessions delivered on our Claverton Down campus in person (IPL = In-person learning).

Semester 1 courses will run on the following dates and times:

Dates and times for Semester 2 courses will be published in January 2024.

Student experience

"I started learning Arabic a few years ago because it is a language that has always interested me and it is spoken by millions of people. Arabic is also the door to a fascinating culture. I do some voluntary work with refugees from the Middle East. I can now hold an everyday conversation with them and they are very appreciative of the fact that I make an effort to speak a bit of their language." (Silvia Vercher)

Outside the classroom, we also share cultural events organised by Arabic language associations in the UK such as the British Council's Arabic Language and Culture Programme and Qatar Foundation International with our students. These events offer additional opportunities for you to develop your knowledge of Arabic language and culture.