Studying Levantine (or Shami) Arabic is an ideal opportunity for anyone who would like to study this increasingly relevant dialect of Arabic while practicing what they have learned with other students. Shami Arabic is spoken by nearly 42 million people in four Arab countries: Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. Shami is the most easily understandable dialect for people  living in the the region of the Middle East and North Africa (the MENA region), which includes the countries of the Gulf as well as the countries situated in the northernmost areas of the African continent such as Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, and Libya. By learning the Shami dialect, therefore, you will be able to communicate with a large number of people throughout the Arab world.

Studying Levantine Arabic Online will help participants acquire Arabic language skills effectively by providing them with all the learning materials that they will need, and by pairing them with one of our experienced and highly qualified teachers.

Curriculum Used On The Course

The curriculum employed on this Levantine Colloquial Arabic course is based on a book known as “اللهجة الشامية”  – Shami dialect”. This book provides its learners with the practical and essential skills required to engage in fluid communication in Levantine Arabic in a wide range of day-to-day situations, through its user-friendly approach and thorough exploration of the language.

Through real conversations, grammatical explanations, vocabulary-building and intensive practice and review, this book will not only provide you with the necessary Arabic conversational skills, but it will also increase your knowledge of the Arabic culture that is so inextricably linked with the language itself. Among the many valuable elements of the book are the following:

• Learning units that contain different daily topics
• Grammatical exercises that are easy to understand and that are presented in a format that facilitates the memorizing of rules
• A gradual and progressive approach to the learning of basic skills such as listening, writing, reading and speaking
• Tips that will help you learn the language easily and in a shorter period of time
• Insights into the culture of the Levant and its most prominent social and cultural events
• Listening exercises that will help you to develop your listening skills by listening to various conversations
• Exams, homework and exercises that will help you to evaluate your educational performance and track your progression

Benefits Of The Course 

•  The Study Levantine (or Shami) Arabic course employs some of the most modern methods of learning a language that are in use today.  

• The Levantine Colloquial Arabic course is completely online, saving participants time and money, while also making it possible for them to attend at a time and date of their own preference.  

• The first 15 minutes of the online lesson are free, after which participants can decide if they wish to continue with the course. 
• The course is organized in such a way as to accommodate your own schedule. 

• The Levantine Colloquial Arabic Online course is very flexible, meaning that  lessons  can  be taken  sequentially  or separately.

• Participants can attend the course as individuals or as part of a group (ranging between 2 and 8 students).  

• As the course is online, it enables you to have conversations with students from around the world who are at the same level as you, thus helping one another to practice what has been learned. 

• There are four different levels of Levantine Arabic available for participants, ensuring that students are learning the language at the appropriate level while also offering the opportunity for advancement to a higher level.

• At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of completion which will be verified by the Excellence Center and by Engage in Palestine. 

What Levels Of Shami (Levantine) Arabic Are Available?

Study Levantine Arabic Online courses are available at all levels, from the Starter Level right through to the Advanced Level:

• Starter’s Course:  This Study Levantine (or Shami) Arabic course is designed for those who do not have any background knowledge of the Arabic language. From this starting point, the participants will begin to develop their skills in reading, writing, and basic conversation. This level will teach the student to understand and use basic everyday expressions and phrases that are designed for specific situations. At the course’s conclusion the student will be able to introduce him or herself and will be able to ask and answer questions about people’s personal details such as where someone lives, the people he or she knows and the things he or she owns. The student will also be able to slowly and clearly engage in basic conversations.

• Beginner’s Course: Students with only a basic knowledge of Arabic will benefit from the Beginner’s Course. This Study Levantine (or Shami) Arabic course gives students the opportunity to continue improving their writing, reading, listening and speaking skills, while developing their vocabulary. At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to understand common phrases that are used in relation to personal and family background, shopping, local geography and directions, and employment. He or she will be able to converse with people about everyday topics and will be able to describe in simple terms his or her character, their surroundings and issues concerning their immediate needs.

• Intermediate Course: This Study Levantine (or Shami) Arabic course is aimed at participants who have a solid foundation in the Arabic language, helping them to continue their progress, with a particular emphasis on conversational skills. The course achieves this by concentrating on conversations with native Arabic speakers. Besides enhancing their conversational abilities, students will also continue to develop their reading, writing and listening skills. At the conclusion of this level, the student will be able to understand familiar issues relating to work, recreation, school and daily travel, as well as being able to deal with more complicated situations which are likely to arise during travel. The student will be able to write simple texts on familiar or personal topics, and he or she will be able to describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes and aspirations while also giving reasons and interpretations for their opinions and plans.

• Advanced Course: Those with an exceptionally strong grasp of Arabic, as well as students who may have progresses through the previous three online courses, will benefit from the final online course at the Advanced Level. This Study Levantine (or Shami) Arabic course concentrates on achieving fluency in Arabic. At this advanced level, the student will be able to understand complex and specialized texts, both in the specific and in the abstract. At the completion of this stage, the student will be able to interact with a degree of spontaneity and fluency when conversing with native speakers. The student will be able to produce clear and detailed texts on a wide range of subjects. He or she will also be able to explain his or her point of view on  complex social or political topics.

Information on the Online Arabic Language Courses:

Studying Levantine (or Shami) Arabic Course Costs:

• Lesson = 45 minutes
• Registration fee: 30€/$ paid once at registration
• Study materials booklet and books: Free
• Placement Test: Free
• Certificate of completion

Do I Need To Take An Arabic Placement Test? 

If you are having difficulty deciding on which course to enroll in, we offer a free placement test to evaluate all of our students’ Arabic language skills in four crucial areas: speaking, reading, writing and listening. We will of course be very happy to consult with you if you have any questions regarding course levels.

The Placement Tests will only be taken by students who already have Arabic language skills, or who have studied the language previously. Those who have no prior knowledge of the Arabic language will be placed automatically on our Starter course. Whether taking a placement test or not, it is worth noting that all of our courses focus on the four language skills of speaking, reading, writing and listening.

Who Teaches The Levantine Arabic Online Courses? 

The Study Levantine Arabic Online course is taught by teachers who hold  bachelor’s degrees in either Arabic or English Studies.

• Beginner Students are placed with teachers who speak good English in order to facilitate the learning process.

• More advanced students and those with a reasonably good understanding of Arabic are also placed with teachers who speak English, although the primary language of communication between student and teacher will be Arabic in order to further develop the student’s abilities.

Who Would This Program Be Suitable For?

In general, the Study Levantine Arabic Online Course would be suitable for:

• Individuals aged between 12 and 75 years, from any country in the world.
• Students who want to learn or improve their conversational Shami dialect.
• Those who are interested in immersing themselves in the culture of the Levant. 
• Those who want to work or volunteer with one of the many NGOs that are based in the region.  
• Those who want to work or study in an Arabic speaking country.  
• Students of Arabic Literature, Middle Eastern Studies, Islamic Studies, Journalism, Political Science, Languages and other related subjects. 
•  Employees who work in jobs that entail the use of Arabic, and who would like to improve their Arabic language skills.

What Material Will Be Provided For Participants Of The Course 

The course book “اللهجة الشامية – Shami dialect” will be sent as a PDF file to every participant. You will also be provided with all the online exercises, quizzes and exams as well as any pictorial or video material related to the topic.

What Is Needed In Order To Enroll On This Course? 

In order to enroll on this course, you will need the following : 

• A functional laptop, smartphone, iPad or similar device.  
• The devise must have a fully functioning camera, microphone and speakers or headphones.  
• Good internet connection. 
• Ideally you will need to be in a quiet place where you will not be interrupted or disturbed.

What Don’t You Need? 

• Knowledge of languages other than English. 
• An academic degree.
• No need to be a current university or school student.

How To Apply

If you are interested in participating in the Study Levantine Arabic Online course, please write to us at Info@ecpalestine.org. In the subject line of your email write “Study Levantine Arabic Online.” We should be able to respond to your initial enquiry within 1-2 business days.

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