Arabic Lessons in Oxford

In recent years, the Arabic language has become more and more popular in the UK. Oxford is no exception, and in addition to the more than a thousand foreign-born speakers you can find in the city, there are plenty of English residents interested in exploring this fascinating language. If you find yourself to be part of the local group of people who want to learn this language, you’ll be glad to know that according to the 2011 census, Arabic is among the ten most commonly used foreign languages in the city. As a result, there are many events, institutions and businesses around the city that celebrate and spread the language, which means you’ll get many chances to boost your skills and get more familiarized with Arab culture without leaving Oxford. Furthermore, if you decide to become a fluent speaker, you’ll be able to get closer to the various immigrant communities that come from Arab-speaking countries, get unique opportunities in the city and get to explore some of the most captivating cultures in the world.

Learn Arabic for Work and Travel

Do you want to get a better job? If so, learning Arabic is the way to go, as you’ll be able to apply for the many great positions in the area that are exclusive to bilingual speakers such as Arabic Customer Service Representative for Ivanti, Technical Support Specialist for Lenovo and Inside Sales Representative for Splunk. What’s more, if you have your own business in the city, you’ll get the chance to build useful professional relationships with members of the local foreign-born community and others from all over the world, and even attract international clients, which will make you a much more successful businessperson. On top of that, you’ll become eligible for the many well-paid job openings for English native speakers in wealthy Arab countries like Qatar and The United Arab Emirates, which is perfect if you want to work and travel at the same time.

Learn Arabic for Social

A great way to immerse yourself in Arab culture without leaving the city is to listen to the beautiful music that originated in the Arab World. Fortunately, at Oxford, you’ll find one of the most talented bands that play Arab in the country, Oxford Maqam. This amazing group of vocalists and musicians are renowned experts in Egyptian music, especially songs of the 19th and 20th centuries, that they perform with a fresh, innovative take that will blow your mind. They regularly sell out venues both in the city and internationally, as they offer entertaining recreations of Egyptian and Arab music that have captured audiences in the UK, Europe and even in the Middle East. While the Arabic music scene is filled with groups that perform popular music, this local band stands out because of their original recovery and revival of heritage works. Whatever your musical taste is, don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience amazing live music steeped in Arab culture and tradition.

Learn Arabic for Culture

In addition to helping you get a better job and expand your horizons, learning Arabic is a great idea if you want to make new friends from all around the world. At Oxford, you’ll find social groups like the Oxford Arab Society, which organises many events that celebrate the Arab culture and language that have a great turnout. If you want to practise your language skills, you should consider attending the language exchange event they hold every Wednesday at Brick, a coffee shop located at 30 Pembroke St. In these events, you’ll be able to meet native speakers and advanced speakers who share your passion for the language and enjoy wonderful conversations with them. What’s more, because you can find people from different Arab communities at these meetups, you’ll be able to listen to different Arabic variants, which will help you boost your listening skills. On the other hand, if you can’t speak a word of Arabic yet and don’t want to attend an event where everyone is speaking in a language you don’t understand, don’t worry, there are other events held by this society where English is spoken, such as Quiz Nights, Karaoke Nights and picnics.

Where to learn Arabic in and around Oxford?

After reading about the many advantages of learning this fascinating language in the city, you probably wonder where you can learn it around Oxford. No matter how fluent you are, you should check out the Oxfordshire Public Library, located on Queen Street, which has many useful materials to develop your reading skills, work on your grammar and expand your vocabulary. A great example is A Grammar of the Arabic Language by W.Wright, a well-known book used by many learners which covers all the key points of Arabic grammar, making it the ideal reference tool for beginner and intermediate students. Alternatively, if you are looking for fiction in Arabic, you’re in luck, as the library has volumes such as Stories from One Thousand and One Nights: For Intermediate and Advanced Students of Arabic by Ghada Bualuan, which presents a selection of authentic Arabian Night stories in simplified language providing learners of Modern Standard Arabic access to this classic of Arabic literature.

However, if you are truly committed to becoming a fluent Arabic speaker as fast as possible, there’s an even better choice and that’s to study at Listen & Learn. Nowhere else in the city will you find language courses that are completely tailored to your unique language goals and interests. We even have free language tests you can take on our website to see how good your skills really are and on top of that, you can check out the many testimonials from our clients from all around the globe. To start, simply send us a quick enquiry now and one of our team members will get in contact within the next 24 hours!