"My teacher, Israa, is amazing, I am very happy with her."
Jumell Jones
Arabic course in Bedford.
Arabic Lessons in Sydney
In recent years, the number of Arabic immigrants in Sydney hass increased dramatically. In fact, most of the estimated 194,051 Arabic speakers in the city are foreign-born and come from countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. As a result of these high levels of immigration, the presence of Arab communities can be seen in many neighbourhoods of the city, but mainly in Lakemba, which according to the 2016 census has the highest concentration of Arab residents in the city. And if your intention is to get closer to the diverse Arab communities that live in Sydney, the best thing you can do is learn their beautiful language. Although there are many dialects that are worth exploring, you can start by learning Modern Standard Arabic, which will help you communicate with a vast array of people that come from different countries. What’s more, if you become a fluent Arab speaker, you’ll find amazing job opportunities that are exclusive to bilinguals, and you’ll see Sydney with different eyes as you get immersed in the wonderful Arab culture.
Why Study Arabic in Sydney?
Learn Arabic for Work and Travel
Arabic is the second most commonly used non-official language after Mandarin, so there are many unique positions available in Sydney for fluent speakers. If you’re trying to land a job, you should consider applying for positions like Arabic-speaking Business Development Manager for EB Recruitment, Bilingual Cross-Platform Journalist for SBS and Arabic-speaking Central Investigations Analyst for Facebook. On the other hand, if you have a local business in the city, learning Arabic would be a smart move to start building professional relationships with members of the Arab community that could potentially take your career to the next level.
On top of this, if you’re planning on travelling to some of the top cities in the United Arab Emirates like Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Fujairah City, speaking Arabic will help you appreciate the local culture more deeply and open the door for you to get to know the section of locals who don’t speak English. Additionally, if want to get some of the well-paid jobs for native English speakers and move there, speaking the language is key to feeling at home and understanding their traditions.
Learn Arabic for Social
The Lebanese community is the biggest Arab group in Sydney, so there are many restaurants in the area where you can try some of their delicious dishes. If you want to taste traditional Middle Eastern food with a modern take, you have to visit Zahli, located at 529 Elizabeth Street. Named after one of the most iconic regions of Lebanon, this elegant restaurant offers a candlelit atmosphere that will make you feel like you’ve been transported outside Sydney and an extensive menu that includes well-known Lebanese dishes like tabbouleh, fattoush salad and baba ganoush. It also has a great selection of wines you should check out, and delicious desserts that include mhalabiye, baklava and Lebanese premium mastic ice cream.
Another restaurant that you simply can’t miss is Nour Sydney, located at 490 Crown Street. Voted as the best Lebanese restaurant on TripAdvisor, this restaurant presents classic Lebanese flavours in a fresh, exciting way. The first thing that will catch your attention as you step into Nour Sydney is the beautifully decorated, contemporary interior and the pleasant smells of aromatic herbs. One of the hosts will take you to your table where you can check out the varied menu that includes dishes like freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters, market fish sayadieh and yellowfin tuna nayyeh. You should also try some of the mouth-watering desserts, like Pistachio mafroukeh and Chocolate and tahini mahalabia, which will make you fall in love with Lebanese cuisine.
Learn Arabic for Culture
Are you looking for a great meetup where you can socialize with native Arabic speakers? Then you shouldn’t miss the weekly events organized by Sydney Lingual Mingle, a language group that aims to connect locals with people from all around the world. They meet every Monday at The Noble Hops, located at 125 Redfern, and the way these language exchange events work is the organizers will give you flag stickers that indicate the language you speak and the language you want to practise, and then you simply look for other people in the bar who speak your target language. If you’re feeling shy, you can wait at the front desk and one of the hosts will introduce you to some of the Arabic speakers that regularly attend the event. This meetup welcomes learners of all levels and you don’t need to register, just show up, pay the $3 entry ticket and get ready to make new friends.
Where to learn Arabic in and around Sydney?
Fortunately, Sydney has great public libraries where you can find all sorts of books to explore the fascinating Arab culture. If you visit the Amos Memorial Public Library, located at 230 E North Street, you’ll find great cookbooks that will turn your kitchen into a truly Arab kitchen. The Little Moroccan Cookbook, by Murdoch Books Test Kitchen, features more than 80 recipes and many beautiful pictures that will inspire you to make delicious Moroccan traditional dishes. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a general guide to Middle Eastern cuisine, you should read Arabesque by one of Australia’s most innovative chefs, Greg Malouf, which will take you on a wonderful journey as you discover the unique flavours of different Arab countries.
If cooking is not your thing, the library also has a great collection of Arab literature and useful books to work on your Arabic like Your first 100 words in Arabic: beginner's quick & easy guide to demystifying Arabic script by Mahmoud Gaafar. However, if you truly want to read and write in Arabic quickly, your best choice is to start a language course at Listen & Learn. Send us a quick enquiry today, and we’ll pair you up with one of our excellent native tutors who will tailor an Arabic course based on your interests and language level!
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Arabic
This set of Arabic tutorials are less specific and more targeted for those who want to get a range of different things from learning Arabic. Even though all novice students will cover survival Arabic: as well as Arabic to visit somewhere abroad to make solid contacts with the locals, what do you do from there? It depends on your needs. Those who have benefited from these lessons have been those moving or investing overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people who love to travel all over the world, those interested in Arabic culture and those who just want to pass a specific examination in Arabic. Enquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Arabic
These Arabic lessons are driven towards people who have a requirement to learn Arabic to bolster their work output. For novices, you will find it useful to learn basic greetings and business etiquette. Once you have become more proficient, then reading and writing will come to the fore. Typical students include those concerned with imports and exports, those seeking work in multinational companies, international negotiations and anyone working with international colleagues or administration. Even in our most rudimentary lesson for beginnners, students can expect to finish with decent telephone and e-mail Arabic, as well as a good enough grip on the language for a short trip to the country where the language is spoken. Enquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Arabic
Lessons in Arabic are also accessible for 2 or more studying in tandem (Two-to-One Arabic Lessons or Small Group In-Company Arabic Lessons). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs for areas of proficiency, and must be able to work at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, although In-Company Taster Arabic sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. 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
Two or more people can benefit studying Arabic together as these Arabic lessons are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Arabic Lessons or Small Group In-Company Arabic Lessons). Every student must have the same degree of knowledge of the language, the same business or language needs and the ability to study at the same time and place as everybody else. The booking has to be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn does not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Arabic Lessons can be experienced by 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
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I would absolutely recommend Listen & Learn to others. I am sure that if someone has a flair for languages and is committed, they could learn the language fairly quickly
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