Arabic at U of T

Arabic belongs to the family of Semitic languages (which also includes Aramaic/Syriac, Hebrew and Ethiopic). It has two major forms:
- the many different Arabic dialects, which are used for informal, everyday conversation;
- literary or Standard Arabic, the principal language of the media, of literature, religion, education, and commerce.
Arabic is sixth among the world's most-spoken languages. It is the native language of nearly 200 million people in 22 Arab countries and beyond.
Arabic is the language of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, and of many of the other texts of classical Islam.
This makes Arabic a language of great religious, academic, political and commercial importance. High proficiency in Arabic certainly paves the way to fascinating job opportunities.
Modern standard Arabic is based on classical Arabic, with the Arabic of the Quran being its finest example and model. Since the differences between them are small, it is possible for educated users of Arabic to read and understand classical Arabic texts.
Acquiring a solid knowledge of Arabic would help students gain direct access to the exciting and dynamic world of modern Arabic literature and culture, as well as to the rich treasures of classical Arabic-Islamic scholarship.
In recent times, numerous opportunities for employment using Arabic have been opening up in North America, but also for English speakers with a knowledge of Arabic throughout the Middle East.

Visit the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations for more information.
Consult the A&S calendar for specific course offerings.

There are also many possibilities for study and work in the Middle East. Summer courses in Cairo, Damascus, Rabat or Tunis are particularly popular. Although students will need to make their own arrangements, the department can advise you on doing so.
See also:
- International Exchange Programs
- Summer Abroad Programs

Is it hard to learn the Arabic script?
No! Many students are surprised when they realize how easy it is to write and read in Arabic. The Arabic alphabet consists of 29 characters; 26 consonants and 3 vowels. Arabic is written from right to left.
I have heard that the Arabic grammar is rather difficult. Is that true?
It is true that learning a language such as Arabic does require hard work and initiative on the part of the students. However, we at U of T are using highly sophisticated teaching materials (including excellent textbooks, interactive multi-media, and the language lab). Our four-level Arabic language and literature courses are designed for students who are non-native speakers of Arabic and who want to learn and study modern standard Arabic or, at a more advanced stage, engage in classical Arabic. The language of instruction is English.
Do you also offer courses in colloquial Arabic?
No, at this point we do not yet offer courses that would train students in one of the many Arabic dialects (but this might change in the future). Students in our current Arabic language courses are familiarized with major differences between Standard Arabic and some major Arabic dialects, however. Yet, it might be worth emphasizing here again that Modern Standard Arabic is understood throughout the Arab world.