About Arab Academy: Learn Arabic Language Online. Arabic Language Courses and Proficiency Tests

1. What is the difference between an online class and a speaking class?

The online class is where the bulk of language learning takes place. It is a set course of study, which incorporates listening, reading, and writing activities. The speaking course is predominantly designed to complement the online course, giving students the opportunity to converse with native speakers and practice the vocabulary and grammar they are learning in the online course. This helps improve a student's conversational Arabic skills, as well as increases their confidence when speaking. The speaking class can also be taken as a stand-alone course, however. It is a great way for students who have studied Arabic in the past to practice and maintain their level of communication skills in Arabic. Students can tailor the subject matter discussed in the class to meet their own needs and interests.

2. Once I register, what do I do next?

Once you register in a speaking course, you are sent a user name and password via email. Use these to log on to our site. Select your speaking course from the menu, and then click on the "User's Guide" icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. This will take you through detailed steps on how to begin.

3. Once I have signed up for SKYPE, how do I know when my speaking course will be held?

Log on to our site using your user name and password. Select your speaking course from the menu. Select the "Personal Profile" icon from the right-hand side of the screen. From here you will need to specify the days/times that are convenient for you to have your speaking sessions. This information will be sent to a teacher, and the teacher will then call you on the days/times specified. Your teacher's name will be posted on the website next to the information on your speaking session. Be sure to enter the correct time for your course according to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). AA Instructors are available around the clock for speaking sessions.

4. Will I have the same teacher every time?

You have the option of requesting to have the same, or multiple teachers for your speaking sessions. You are able to note your preferences in the "Personal Preferences" area of the classroom page. Most students prefer to have the same instructor every time, but others like the variety that multiple teachers provide. You can always update your information/preferences as you progress through the course. We will try to take all requests into consideration, although there are some limitations regarding teacher availability.

5. I don't understand what GMT is- what is the equivalent time in my local time zone?

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is a global standard measure of time. To convert between GMT and your local time zone, please visit the following site: http://atm.geo.nsf.gov/ieis/time.html

6. Can I request to have a specific gender of teacher?

You can request to have only female or only male teachers once you have registered for the speaking course. To do this, click on your "personal profile," accessible from the classroom homepage. Here you can note whether you want a male or female teacher, or whether you have no preference.

7. What will we talk about? Will the teacher know what I am studying in my online course?

Teachers are aware of the courses that each student is registered in. Your teacher can access those courses and discuss subject material that is relevant to what you are learning. In this way the speaking course is a wonderful complement to our online courses, as it helps students utilize and solidify the vocabulary and concepts they are learning in the online class.

8. How are students evaluated in the speaking course? Is there a final exam?

Grades for the speaking course are based upon the following criteria:

1. Student Attendance (40%)
Attendance is very important, students should try their hardest not to miss class.

2. Student Preparation for speaking sessions (30%)
Students should have material to discuss with their teacher (perhaps questions about their lessons), before the session. This helps them get the most out of the speaking session.

3. Student Participation with the teacher (30%)
Students must make an effort to participate in the conversation with their teacher as much as they are able.
There is no final exam for the speaking courses.

9. If I am taking Modern Standard Arabic, am I limited to using that in my speaking sessions?

You are not limited to using Modern Standard Arabic, but we highly encourage you to use that in your speaking sessions (instead of Egyptian Colloquial, for example), so that you are able to practice what you are learning.

10. What do you mean when you say that student sessions are recorded?

Following each speaking session, the teacher prepares a written summary of the conversation that took place during the session. They make notations concerning the student's progress, problems, and comments.

11. What do I do if I cannot attend a speaking session at the normal scheduled time?

To the best of your ability, try to not miss a speaking session with your teacher. However, we do understand that things come up (as we all lead very busy lives!). There are no make-ups for missed speaking sessions. If you know in advance that you need to miss a speaking session, please let your teacher know. If you need to permanently change the schedule of your speaking sessions, this can be arranged. Please email us so that we can be sure that there are no conflicts with the requested teacher's schedule. Also, please note that if a teacher needs to miss a session for any reason, he or she will be replaced by another teacher, so it will not disrupt your schedule.

12. Are teachers available to talk every day?

Our teachers are available every day except Fridays and public holidays in Egypt. A list of Egyptian public holidays is posted on the classroom home page, which students can access once they have been registered.

13. Do you have to be enrolled as an online student in order to register for a speaking course?

Absolutely not! We offer stand-alone speaking courses for anyone who wishes to practice speaking Arabic. The teacher and student together can develop conversation topics based upon the student's level of Arabic fluency and interests.

14. Do I register to begin on the first of the month, or are starting dates flexible?

You can begin all of our courses on any date, and your month-long enrollment period will begin from that date.

15. I have never used an internet phone- what is the quality of the connection using SKYPE?

The quality of the SKYPE connection is excellent, although it is not available in some countries (like the UAE). However, this does not prevent students from being able to enroll in speaking courses. We can use an alternative internet phone such as Yahoo Voice. Just make sure that you have a reasonably good quality headset with microphone.