Programme Overview

This programme enables students to make sustained and measurable progress across the four core linguistic skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, advancing towards greater precision, confidence and expressiveness in Arabic. Delivered at an upper-intermediate level, it provides a structured and intellectually rigorous pathway to advanced proficiency, equipping learners to employ the language with increasing flexibility, nuance and subtlety of meaning.

The programme moves beyond mechanical memorisation to cultivate a principled engagement with Arabic as a dynamic system of meaning and expression. Its methodology approaches grammar as an organising structure through which logic, coherence and eloquence are realised. Students engage directly with authentic classical and modern texts of varying sophistication, applying linguistic and rhetorical analysis to examine how grammatical forms and stylistic devices function within real discourse.

Instruction integrates close reading, guided analysis and critical discussion, reinforced by independent and collaborative study. Through structured peer interaction and scholarly exchange, learners develop both competence and interpretive insight, refining their command of Arabic within a disciplined yet collegial academic environment.

The primary course textbook is al-‘Arabiyyatu bayna yadayk, augmented by carefully curated classical and modern materials for classroom and independent study.

A weekly two-hour session is taught in 12-week rolling terms and is designed for blended learning, supporting both on-campus and online attendance. These are supplemented by midweek guided peer revision sessions.

Programme Aims

As students progress through the programme, they will:

• Develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing, applying Arabic language skills with increasing confidence and precision in a range of contexts.

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of Arabic syntax, morphology and rhetorical devices.

• Develop the ability to critically analyse diverse Arabic texts and deepen their understanding of Arabic-speaking cultures.

• Develop research skills through the effective extraction, analysis and synthesis of information from Arabic-language sources.

Engaging with the Programme

The programme is open to students with an existing foundation in Arabic who wish to develop their language skills through a more sustained and structured course of study. It is designed for learners seeking to strengthen speaking, listening, reading and writing while developing greater confidence in grammar, vocabulary and engagement with Arabic texts.

It will be of particular relevance to students of Arabic, Islamic studies, theology, history and related fields, as well as independent and returning learners wishing to continue developing their Arabic for academic, professional or personal purposes.

As the programme is taught at an upper-intermediate level, some previous study of Arabic is expected. Applicants do not, however, need to have reached advanced proficiency before joining; the programme is intended to support continued progression towards a more confident, precise and flexible command of the language.

Recordings and Participation

The Classical Institute does not provide recordings of its taught programmes. Our teaching is designed for live participation, and students are expected to attend classes as they take place.

This reflects the Institute’s commitment to a Socratic approach to learning, in which teaching develops through close engagement with the material, questioning, discussion and intellectual exchange between lecturer and students. In language study in particular, active participation through reading, translation, oral practice and discussion is an integral part of the learning process.

Regular live attendance and participation are therefore expected of all students and form an important part of academic progress. Materials made available through Teleia are provided to support preparation, study and continued engagement between classes; they are not a substitute for attendance.

Programme Fees

The fee is £205.00 for each 12-week period of study. The programme operates on a rolling basis and does not have a fixed end date, reflecting the cumulative nature of language learning and allowing students to continue their studies through successive periods as their linguistic competence develops.

Scholarships

Applicants are first considered for admission to the programme. Following a successful application, those wishing to apply for a scholarship are invited to complete a separate scholarship assessment form. Applicants should indicate in the Additional Information Section of the programme application if they wish to be considered for financial support.

Enrolment and Application

Applications are submitted through Teleia, The Classical Institute’s proprietary Virtual Learning Platform, developed specifically to support the Institute’s educational environment and programme delivery. Applicants will normally receive an admissions update within 14 days of submission.

New to the Application Process?
Please see our How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide for full guidance on submitting an application.

Already on Teleia?
Apply directly to this programme.

Programme Information

Lecturer: Dr Badreldeen Ismail
Department: Languages and Literatures
Format: 12-Week Rolling Programme
Delivery: On-Campus & Online
Day: Saturdays, weekly
Time: 9:00am-11:00am (UK time)