"My Arabic lessons are going extremely well. My vocabulary and understanding of grammar are growing tremendously. The pace is just right, and I am completely satisfied."
Robert Fantina
Arabic course in Online.
Arabic Lessons in Melbourne
Among the 1,8 million Melburnians that were born outside Australia, many come from Arab countries. While the majority of these people come from Lebanon, you can also find residents that were born in countries like Algeria, Iraq, Sudan and Egypt. These groups began settling in the Melbourne area after World War II but the biggest groups of Arabic speaking immigrants came to the city in the 1970s, especially after the Lebanese civil war broke out in 1975. Nowadays, according to the 2016 census, Arabic is the sixth-most spoken language in Melbourne, with an estimated number of 76,116 speakers. Being such a popular language, you might have heard it in local restaurants, cafes or maybe around some of the local neighbourhoods with high percentages of Arab residents like Meadow Heights, Fawkner, Broadmeadows, or Dandenong.
If something about this alluring language caught your attention, starting a language course is one of the best things you can do. Not only will it help you become more employable in the city, but it will allow you to build interpersonal relationships with members of the local Arab community, who will appreciate you taking an interest in the language. On top of that, you’ll get access to some of the most fascinating cultures in the world, and unique opportunities in the Arab world.
Why Study Arabic in Melbourne?
Learn Arabic for Work and Travel
Learning Arabic is one of the fastest ways to increase your competitiveness in Melbourne. This is especially true if you want to get a job at some of the city’s top companies that offer financial services like National Australia Bank, ANZ and Westpac group. Employers in this area are always looking for bilingual candidates that can help them improve their business relationships with successful companies in the finance sector in the Arab world like QNB, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Emirates NBD. But that’s not all, being able to communicate fluently in Arabic will also help you if you have your own business in the city, as you will be able to attract a larger portion of clients in the foreign-born community and meet people who can help you expand to other countries.
Speaking Arabic will also help you in your travels if you visit countries like Egypt, Morocco or Yemen, as it will be harder for you to find people that speak English outside the areas most visited by tourists. Before travelling it’s also useful that, in addition to learning the language, you study the traditions and customs of the culture you’re going to visit to avoid disrespecting the locals.
Learn Arabic for Social
One of the easiest ways to immerse yourself in Arab culture is to visit some of the many local restaurants that specialize in Arab cuisine. Sezar, located at 6 Melbourne Place, is a great place to try traditional dishes like hummus, kataifi wrapped lamb, and the delicious baklava dessert. Another great place is Dunyazad, a wonderful restaurant that is famous for its mouth-watering Lebanese dishes that include tabouleh, a delicious Lebanese salad made from burghul, chopped parsley and vegetables, labné, which is strained yoghurt mixed with olive oil, cucumber and mint and one of the restaurant’s most famous dishes, the kebab sultan, made with succulent pan-fried lamb fillets dressed in onion, pomegranate and coriander sauce. Dunyazad is located at 329 Doncaster Road and, on top of offering great food, it’s a great place to visit to feel outside Melbourne as it’s beautifully decorated with Middle Eastern ornaments and lanterns that will transport you to Lebanon. It also has a breath-taking mural inspired by Arab art and a designated dance floor where belly dancers perform each weekend.
Learn Arabic for Culture
Are you interested in meeting other people who are as committed as you are to becoming fluent Arabic speakers? Then you should attend the monthly Arabian Night event organized by Melbourne Arabic Language Meetup. This language group is for Arabic learners of all levels who want to practise their language skills in a relaxed atmosphere and meet like-minded friends. Meetings take place at Cups and Cones, located at 3 Southgate Avenue, and they are completely free. All you need to do is show up and introduce yourself and you’ll be placed in a smaller group according to your current language level to start speaking. If you’re shy, don’t worry! Members are really friendly towards newcomers and will make you feel comfortable the moment you step inside the bar.
Where to learn Arabic in and around Melbourne?
If you want to explore the different Arabic dialects, the State Library Victoria, located at 328 Swanston Street, has some great books and other resources on the matter like Sudan Arabic by Sigmar Hillelson, a great book if you’re planning on visiting Sudan anytime soon, Introduction to Insular Arabic by T. Francis and a great music album called Morocco: the Arabic Tradition in Moroccan Music, where you can listen to the Arabic variant used in Morocco. Additionally, the library has a big collection of books that can expand your knowledge of the Arab culture like Old Arabic Sayings, Similes, and Metaphors, by Saad Elkhadem, which has text in both Arabic and English, and Arabic Graffiti by Pascal Zoghbi, a perfect book for those interested in the use of Arabic script in an urban context. If you truly want to make the best use of these resources, the smartest thing would be to use them with a qualified teacher that can help you understand these texts more deeply. Here at Listen & Learn, we have native Arabic tutors that will create a completely personalised and flexible language course just for you. Whether you want to expand your skills or start from scratch, just send us a quick enquiry now and we’ll pair you up with a teacher who will tailor lessons based on your every requirement.
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Arabic
These Arabic lessons are more general in nature and are targeted at students who have a whole range of different needs. While all beginners level students can expect to cover Survival Arabic—required for short visits to a country where English may not be spoken and/or the intention is to make good contacts with the local population—students then generally progress in different directions depending on their needs. Typical students include those buying property overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people about to set off on that long-awaited world trip, Arabic-culture enthusiasts and those who are keen to pass a particular Arabic examination. Enquire now about our Arabic Courses or Take A Free Arabic Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Arabic
These lessons in Arabic are meant for those who feel that learning Arabic would make a change in their work. For starters, it is expedient to learn how to say hello/goodbye, as well as basic business protocol; once the basics have been mastered, reading and writing come to the fore. Students who have greatly benefited have been involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where another language is required and those working in the international academia and government circuits. Even in our most fundamental beginner's lesson, students can anticipate ending the lesson with basic telephone Arabic and e-mail Arabic skills for communicating, as well as survival Arabic if a short visit to 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
Those wishing to learn Arabic in groups of two or more together (Two-to-One Arabic Lessons or Small Group In-Company Arabic Lessons) can sign up for our group classes. All students must be at nearly the same level of Arabic proficiency, have the same needs from the language and must be able to study at the same time and place as the others. Bookings must be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn does not suggest group sizes of more than 6-8 people, but In-Company Taster Arabic Lessons can occur with up to 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
Those wishing to learn Arabic in groups of two or more together (Two-to-One Arabic Lessons or Small Group In-Company Arabic Lessons) can sign up for our group classes. All students must be at nearly the same level of Arabic proficiency, have the same needs from the language and be able to study at the same time and place as the others. Bookings must be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn does not propose group sizes of more than 6-8 people, but In-Company Taster Arabic Lessons can occur 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
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