Have you wanted to learn Arabic but found university courses too intensive or difficult to fit into your schedule? Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture online Arabic courses offer an accessible, structured introduction to the language for adults who want to learn at their own pace, with guidance from certified teachers. Designed for beginners, our three-level program builds foundational skills in reading Arabic, from learning the alphabet and recognizing words to working toward understanding short Arabic-language texts.

Each level consists of 20 sessions, meeting twice a week. Our courses are for anyone curious about Arabic: lifelong learners, travelers, researchers, professionals working with Arabic-speaking communities, and people seeking a deeper connection to Arab culture, history, and society. They are also suitable for people with Arab family or cultural connections who want to develop their Arabic reading skills, and eventually, conversational skills

Our beginner level courses are taught by Ms. Noora AlRawi, who has a B.A. in Fine Arts from Purdue University. She is a certified Arabic instructor with STARTALK Program based at the University of Maryland. Noora has taught Arabic at Penn State University for 9 years. She also was teaching Arabic at University of Delaware and UPenn.

Each course requires an additional 3 hours a week for study outside of class time to maximize your learning experience. We use the textbook Mastering Arabic 1 by Jane Wightwick & Mahmoud Gaafar, which can be conveniently purchased here.

Once registered, you'll be added to our Google Classroom platform where you’ll find the syllabus, class recordings, and your Zoom link. If you believe you have some command of Arabic and you are wondering whether to start at a higher level than Beginner 1, please attend our online info session on October 30, 2026 between 6.00 and 7.00 p.m. with Ms. Noora