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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate Introduction to Arabic language and culture short course
Have you always wanted to learn Arabic, speak the language and understand the culture? If so, this 10-unit course offers a solid introduction to the Arabic alphabet and language. Across three to four study hours per unit, you’ll learn the basics of reading, writing, speaking and listening through online activities. You’ll also discover fascinating facts and stories about the history and culture of the Arab world. By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills to understand and use simple Arabic in everyday contexts. On completion, you’ll receive a digital badge to share, display or use as a certificate.
This course gives you an introduction on how to use the Arabic language when speaking and writing about everyday topics. You’ll learn the basics in grammar, the writing system, pronunciation and how to use common set phrases appropriately. The bite-sized and user-friendly sessions of each unit consist of a variety of online-activities and of audio recordings by native Arabic speakers. Besides this, every unit consists of a dedicated culture session that invites you to engage with the history, traditions and way of life in the Arab world.
Here are a few examples of what you can learn about the Arabic language and culture.
Learning a new language such as Arabic has also been shown to enhance your cognitive abilities, so whilst learning a new script may be challenging at times, the challenge is very rewarding!
Please note that although this course is non-accredited, it can be used towards the module Making your learning count (YXM130) to gain OU credits.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
This course is designed to help you achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level A1 of the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR).
You will have access to discussion forums that you are strongly encouraged to participate in as these forums combine support from fellow students with input from a language-specialist learning adviser. Other support is available via the StudentHome website and Computing Helpdesk.
The course is made up of 10 units, with each unit expected to take about three to four hours to study. In total, you’ll need around 30–40 hours to complete the course.
You can begin at any time during the life of the course and study at your own pace. The course will be open to you for a time period of between 6 and 18 months depending on your course registration date and you will be advised of the specific time limitations upon enrolment.
All learning materials are delivered entirely online and there is no formal tuition for this course.
Your study is self-directed and you’ll have access to a course website, which includes:
You will need to download an Arabic text font for some of the activities and quizzes.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
There are no entry requirements for this course.
However, you may wish to complete this Introduction to Arabic on OpenLearn first to gain a better understanding prior to starting.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact us.
The course is delivered online and makes use of a variety of online resources. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet you are advised to contact us about support which can be given to meet your needs.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying LGXA001 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
StartEngland fee
At anytime before 31/07/2026£195
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
If this course is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could ask your employer to sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. Your sponsor just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.
The fee information provided here is valid for short courses starting in the 2026/27 academic year. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
You can start this course anytime.
You can start this course anytime.
Level info