"My lessons with my teacher are going great. He is friendly and approachable and I look forward to my lesson every week."
Peter Hoare
Arabic course in Exeter.
Arabic Lessons in Canberra
If you find yourself in one of the local cafes in Canberra, you might be surprised to hear people speaking in Arabic. This, however, is fairly common, since Arabic is one of the most commonly used languages in the city. In fact, according to the 2016 census, there are 1,629 estimated city residents who speak Arabic at home, which makes it the third most spoken language in the city after English and Chinese.
As the official language of more than 20 countries, which include Iraq, Morocco, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, Arabic has spread throughout the world. Because of that, there are many different dialects you can study. However, most learners go for Modern Standard Arabic as it is understood in every Arabic-speaking country, where it is used as the language of the news, diplomacy and the media.
Learning this captivating language will improve your experience in the city and open the doors to the Arab world. In the process of becoming fluent, you’ll make many friends around the globe and in the local Arab community while also finding unique job opportunities that will take your career to the next level. What’s more, you’ll learn all about the amazing cultures where Arabic is spoken, which will make you see the world with different eyes.
Why Study Arabic in Canberra?
Learn Arabic for Work and Travel
If you want to become more employable, learning Arabic is one of the smartest things you can do. This is especially true if you live in a big city like Canberra, where international companies like Accenture, KPMG or IBM are constantly looking for bilingual speakers of different languages like Arabic for positions like Business Analyst, Product Designer and Application Developer.
What’s more, if you own a business in the city, being able to communicate in Arabic will allow you to build professional relationships with foreign-born residents who speak the language, which can land you unique job opportunities in the area. It could also be the secret to expanding your business abroad, as you’ll be able to connect with people from growing economies like Qatar or the United Arab Emirates that can help you take your business to the next level.
Learn Arabic for Social
One of the most interesting things about learning a language is to immerse yourself in the cultures where that language is spoken. If you’re an Arabic learner in the city, you should visit some of the Lebanese restaurants in Canberra where you’ll get to taste traditional food and meet natives. One of them is Tabouli Tabouli, where you’ll get to try some of the most delicious Lebanese delicacies, such as shawarma, tabouli, kibbeh and falafels. The moment you step into this friendly restaurant, located at 34 Garema Place, you’ll no longer feel like you’re in the heart of Canberra, thanks to its exotic and eclectic décor and the wonderful traditional music that will transport you straight to Lebanon.
Another great restaurant in the area is Bar Beirut, located at 25 Garema Place, a cocktail bar and kitchen inspired by the Lebanese capital. They serve great traditional Lebanese food and also modern interpretations of traditional dishes that you can’t miss, like smoked baba ganoush, hummus with Lebanese bread and fattoush salad. In addition to that, you’ll be able to enjoy drinks, Lebanese music, and fun events like Belly Dancing and Burlesque Nights, a new party in town especially created for Canberran fun-lovers.
Learn Arabic for Culture
An important part of the learning process is getting together with other language enthusiasts to put your newly acquired skills to test. If that’s what you’re looking for, you should attend one of the meetings held by Language Exchange - Canberra. This language group is one of the biggest in the city, and they organize weekly meetups at a local bar called Pjs in the city, located at 52 Alinga St. Here you can find native speakers of many languages, including Arabic. These meetings work when you get to the bar, pick some of the flag stickers from one of the tables to indicate which languages you speak, and simply start chatting!
Where to learn Arabic in and around Canberra?
The Islamic Society of ACT is a great local organization that offers many online resources on their website that can be of great interest even if you’re not religious, like grammar books, Arabic course books of all levels and a whole list of online dictionaries that will come in handy when you’re learning new vocabulary.
However, these online resources will only take you so far. If you’re truly serious about learning Arabic, you should consider one of our courses! Whether you want to study Business Arabic to build lost-lasting professional relationships or a General Course that will help you communicate in all sorts of situations, Listen & Learn is the best choice. Here we have fully-qualified Arabic tutors that will tailor a completely personalised lesson according to your needs. You can choose between face-to-face or online lessons that can be individual or group lessons if there are two or more of you. All you have to do to get become a fluent Arabic speaker is to send us a :text and one of our team members will contact you within 24 hours.
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Arabic
Arabic lessons of this type are broader and are aimed towards students with a variety of requirements. While all beginner level students will cover survival Arabic—needed for short visits to countries where English isn't widely spoken, or if you wish to 'go local'—those studying Arabic usually go in different directions at this point, depending on what they need. Those who have benefited from these Arabic classes have been those investing in or buying property overseas, those married to overseas nationals, people setting off on a round-the-world trip, enthusiasts for Arabic culture and those hoping to pass a specific exam in Arabic. Enquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Arabic
Arabic lessons of this type are aimed towards those that need to learn Arabic to aid them with their employment. For those just starting out, it is integral to learn basic greetings and business etiquette. Reading and writing can be adopted once the simple precepts are out of the way. Success has come from students who are involved in the import/export business, international negotiations and acquisitions, those seeking jobs in multinational companies and those working with foreign colleagues, academia and bureaucracy. Even our most basic lesson for beginners will have the student finishing the lesson with basic telephone/e-mail skills in Arabic, as well as survival Arabic should a short stay in the country is needed. Enquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Arabic
If there are 2 or more of you with the same level of Arabic, the same goals sought for the language and be able to study at the same time and location, then you'll be happy to know that these Arabic lessons can also be made available with Two-to-One Arabic Lessons or Small Group In-Company Arabic Lessons. Listen & Learn does not generally recommend classes with more than 6-8 people, though Taster lessons in Arabic can run with up to 12 people. Bookings must be made for all participants at the same time. Enquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business Arabic
Our native-speaking qualified Arabic teachers can instruct you and your group at your work or at home at a time most convenient for you. Classes can take place on any day of the week—even weekends—morning, afternoon or evening. If meeting at your office or home is not suitable, you can take your lessons at the trainer's office. Study materials are supplied for you. Enquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business Arabic
The Arabic lessons are also available for two or more people studying together (Two-to-One Arabic Lessons or Small Group In-Company Arabic Lessons). All participants must have the same level, the same business or general language needs and be able to study at the same time in the same location. The booking must be made for all participants at the same time. Listen & Learn does not recommend group classes of more than 6-8 people though In-Company Taster Arabic Lessons can be run with up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Top Tips For…
arabic Songs
“آه ونص” (Yeah and a Half)
“Yeah and a Half” is a song that follows the story of Nancy, a girl who tries to convince her lover to visit her. Put your Arabic into practice by listening to this song and see how the language is used in a real-life context. For example, the song features a lot of pronouns, such as ده (this—masculine), دي (this—feminine), and كده (like that), which are essential elements when communicating in Arabic. You’ll also become familiar with different Arabic varieties and pronunciations: one of the singers is Lebanese and the other one is Egyptian. Listen to this catchy tune here.arabic Songs
“نور العين” (The Light of the Eye)
Want to fine-tune your listening skills and increase your understanding of the Egyptian dialect? Then, listen to ”The Light of the Eye”. This is a religious piece that praises God and His endless love, so you can acquire religious vocabulary, such as pray (salaa), the Qur’an (al-quran) or faith (al'iiman). Also, the tune is very catchy and the lyrics are easy to follow, so you’ll soon find yourself not only remembering the song but singing along to it using your new Arabic skills! Listen to this catchy tune here.“The Sea Creatures Song”
If you’re just starting out with your Arabic course, it’s a great idea to listen to children’s songs to improve your vocabulary, comprehension and understanding of different accents. “The Sea Creatures Song”, for example, is meant for kids and helps them acquire simple vocabulary, like colours, letters and animals. This way, you’ll become familiar with terms like shark (qarash), blue (azraq) or octopus (akhtubut). Furthermore, as this piece is sung in formal Arabic instead of a particular dialect, you’ll be sure to recognise terms and expressions you learn in your lessons with Listen & Learn. Listen to this catchy tune here.arabic Books
Al-Kitaab
This is one of the most well-known textbook series to teach Arabic in the USA. While some of the vocabulary items selected by the writers seem a bit arbitrary, they don’t exclusively rely on rote memorization. Instead, the book includes a variety of tasks and activities based around real-life materials, like recipes, newspaper articles, or famous TV shows, to teach grammar and vocabulary. At the end of each unit, you will also find a “featured” section, where you will learn strategies to communicate with native speakers in different situations, such as holding a debate or writing a business email. Click here to know more.arabic Books
Media Arabic
This is a great textbook for intermediate-level students looking for a challenge to improve their skills. The book follows an integral and communicative approach, using real-life resources and materials to help you learn Arabic. For example, reading comprehension activities usually revolve around short stories and newspaper articles, which are useful not only to learn formal aspects of the language but also cultural ones. Plus, you will find plenty of advice about grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, with clear explanations and even English translations, as well as fun activities, such as crosswords or word searches. Buy the book here!Alif Baa
Beginner students will benefit greatly from Arabic textbooks, such as Alif Baa. This introductory book that focuses mostly on how to read and write the Arabic alphabet. For example, you will find an array of dictation exercises for you to start associating pronunciation with each letter, including those characters and sounds that do not have an English counterpart. One reason this book is unique is that it does not only teach Modern Standard Arabic, but also some dialects, like Egyptian and Shami, so you can expose yourself to different varieties of the language from the very beginning. Click here and purchase the book.Testimonials
From our clients all over the world
Client case studies
Have a look at successful and satisfied clients.
Julie Butterworth
Turkish in Canberra
As I have a very busy work and home life, I needed them to be flexible and was looking for an organisation that offered one-on-one home tuition – Listen & Learn provided that
Our Clients Include
From our clients all over the world
DKM Group
Language learned: English in Brisbane.
Ferrero Canada Ltd.
Language learned: Italian in Hamilton.
