FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Starting
- I have never studied Arabic. Is that a problem?
- No — Beginner starts from the alphabet. The first unit is the script itself: which letters join, which do not, and why words appear to have gaps in them.
- I studied years ago and have forgotten most of it. Where do I go?
- That is the commonest case, and it is exactly what the placement conversation is for. People who half-remember a level usually belong at the top of it rather than the bottom of the next one, and starting too high is the fastest way to give up.
- Is there a test?
- No. A short conversation, free, with nothing to revise. We would rather hear you speak for ten minutes than mark a paper.
- How soon can I start?
- It depends on how many hours you mark as available. We form a cohort when three learners at the same level and pace are free at the same time, so the more windows you give us, the sooner that happens.
Classes
- Why only 3 learners?
- Because in a class of three you speak every session and your teacher hears every mistake you make. That is what makes pronunciation fixable. Larger classes are cheaper to run and much less effective, and one-to-one loses the people you learn alongside.
- Are classes online or in person?
- Online, with a live teacher — not recordings. Every session has a meeting link, and each one is recorded so a missed class is not a lost one.
- What if I miss a class?
- Your teacher marks you absent and the recording appears in your replays. If you know in advance, tell your teacher — an agreed absence is recorded as excused, which does not count against your attendance record.
- What if the academy cancels a class?
- A replacement is added at the end of the term automatically. You receive the full 72 hours — that is what you bought, and dropping one quietly would be a refund nobody agreed to.
- Can I change my times once the term has started?
- Individual sessions can be moved by your teacher when there is a good reason. The weekly pattern is fixed for the level, because three other people have arranged their week around it.
Progress and certificates
- How long does a level take?
- Every level is 72 hours. At four hours a week that is about four months, at three about six, at two about nine. The pace changes the calendar, never the content.
- What do I need for a certificate?
- The full hours of the level, and attendance of at least 70%. Both, because they mean different things: the hours are what you bought, the attendance is evidence you were actually taught.
- Can an employer check my certificate?
- Yes. Every certificate carries a serial that resolves to a public verification page showing the holder, the level, the hours and the date. No account needed.
- Do I have to continue to the next level?
- No. Each level is bought on its own, and finishing one is a natural place to stop.
Children
- How young do you teach?
- Children are taught one to one rather than in cohorts, and we will talk through whether the timing is right for your child before anyone commits.
- Does my child need their own login?
- No. A guardian holds the account, sees the timetable and progress, and receives the reminders. Older children can have their own login if you prefer.
Still unsure?
Apply and ask on the placement call. It is free and there is nothing to commit to.
Apply now