Fantastic experience learning the Arabic language, from reading and writing to speaking and being able to order food and drinks in an Arabic restaurant. Learning this language has opened doors to places and to people, whilst creating some amazing friendships. With people from all over the Arab world. From walking through the door at NEALA I knew I was in a professional and friendly environment. A professional service was still provided out of college hours. When I needed additional support with work I was able to email my tutor and got a positive and in depth response with excellent explanation. I am still enjoying my time at NEALA, I look forward to move onto level 4. ان شاء الله كريس
To learn a new way to communicate comes with privileges, as well as responsibilities. Arabic has long been part of culture, society and religion – and this is not just about Islam. Through learning and teaching others, I think preserving Arabic by carrying the line over the generations is a privilege; not simply a responsibility. As well as currently studying Arabic and French, I also understand Indonesian. There is a sense of warmth and joy when someone greets me in Indonesian (despite them intending to do it in Malay). Nelson Mandela once said: "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart" I think it can't be corrected! When it comes to learning any new languages, be it Arabic or not, it is not just about gaining new skills. It helps me understand and see things I would have never realised. In the future, I hope to teach a new generation, preferably the young, youthful of kids, eager to continue the string of one of the oldest of the modern languages.
Experience in Arabic- beginner (ability to recite from a young age, but unable to understand recitations) Attended 5 levels Alhamdullilah NEALA, for me, was the beginning of my personal connection with the Qur'an. By the end of level 2, I could understand the majority of my salah- something I'd been striving for a while. The course gave me the foundations needed to understand Arabic holistically rather than depend on memorising translations. After five levels of basic grammar, interesting insights and tafseer, I was able to continue my own journey independently with the aim that one day, I'd be able to read and understand The Book like the books collecting dust on my shelf. Looking back on the progress I've made, I'm grateful that NEALA gave me the motivation and knowledge to pursue Arabic further. Right now, I can honestly say that there is nothing sweeter than being able to read the stories of Musa (AS) and Sulieman (AS) directly from the Qur'an itself. I still have a long way to go and in shaa Allah, I'll get there.
I am at Year 3 Arabic now and I have been studying Arabic for almost 2 years now. The way I study Arabic is that I split up my days and do a certain amount work every day with my mam. I do at least an hour or 30 mins on some days. The reason I want to study Arabic is because when I have learned a lot of Arabic, I am hoping to read the Qur’an properly and understand what all of it means. In my class, we study at least four hours of Arabic in each lesson, at home altogether I do about 3/4 hours weekly with my mam. When I am older I am hoping to get a job in an Arab country. The reason I want to do this is because it will be easy for me to understand people and listen to them. My advice to the beginners is that they should study every day and always try their best when in class and when at home.
I joined NEALA recently and found learning Arabic quite hard. But as I revised and learnt at home, it became easier and easier. Learning and revising at home makes everything easier and it really helps. I enjoy learning Arabic a lot and I really want to take it for my GCSE.
I have learned basic Arabic in France in Toulouse for one year within a local association and obviously with NEALA during various sessions. Therefore before attending the courses I did not have a long experience nor a deep knowledge of the Arabic language. I have attended 3 courses with NEALA : Quranic Arabic Level 1,2,3. The courses are very well structured and suitable for beginners as well as more advanced students, it provides essential grammar tools and information to get closer to the holy book. I highly recommend these courses for those who want to improve the quality of their relationship with the Quranic language. I suggest that everybody should at least follow and master the Level 1 in order to start becoming familiar with the Quran and its language.