CLASSICAL ARABIC CLASSES AT ALFIRDAUS COLLEGE
The Alfirdaus Arabic Life program aims to develop a community of classical Arabic speakers by using the most effective approach to language acquisition: comprehensible input. Students are exposed to listening and reading materials that are both interesting and understandable.
The Adults Arabic program is for students aged 16+ and is structured across three levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. In the Advanced level, once students reach strong communicative ability, core Arabic sciences are introduced. Separate classes are available for men and women.
The Kids Arabic program is also divided into three levels. Classes run for 10 weeks per term, 4 terms a year. All courses are taught by Ustadh Mukhlis Mah and a team of trained Arabic teachers under his guidance.
Alfirdaus Arabic Programs
Adult Beginner Program
The Adults Beginner Arabic program aims to provide a strong foundation for students by focusing on comprehensible input.
The program will complete the first book of the Arabic Between Your Hands series, and also includes activities such as story-listening and reading simple texts.
Classes run four hours a week (2 × 2hr lessons) to ensure students receive sufficient comprehensible input. An accelerated program of three hours a week is also available for students with previous study.
By the end of the year, students are expected to have basic competence to understand and express themselves in Arabic.
Adult Intermediate Program
The Adults Intermediate Arabic program is aimed at students who already have Arabic language ability but are not confident.
By increasing the amount of comprehensible input, the program aims to build students’ confidence and fluency.
It focuses on speaking activities, in-class listening, and reading. Students also memorise a short book of ahadith on adhkar and manners.
Classes are two contact hours per week, with guided listening, reading, and speaking practice at home (~2.5 hours weekly). Accountability measures help ensure steady progress.
Adult Advanced Program
The Adults Advanced Arabic program is designed for confident speakers who wish to progress further by developing technical knowledge in Arabic sciences.
Students study Nahu, Sarf, and Balaghah—core disciplines that open the door to deep Quranic and Shariah understanding.
Special focus is given to advanced students as future teachers and du’at. The year concludes with selected Tafsir studies that apply learned linguistic principles.
Classes are two contact hours per week with regular homework and revision. Entry requires strong communicative Arabic; students are assessed before acceptance.
Children’s Fusha Arabic Program
Our Children's Arabic program follows an immersive approach with full Arabic instruction.
Using both the Manhaj ‘Aalami series and the comprehensible input approach, we engage students in the four skills of the Arabic language: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We aim for students to reach B1 level (Lower Intermediate) by the end of Year 3.
This allows students to:
- Become comfortable with Arabic-only instruction.
- Become efficient and autonomous learners of Arabic through reading and listening/watching.
- Understand (listening and reading) texts with everyday language.
- Communicate (speaking and writing) unprepared on familiar topics.
Students are expected to complete one hour of revision or homework weekly. The program includes excursions and holiday activities. In general, there is no tajweed/Qur’an recitation or Arabic grammar theory explicitly taught to students in this program.
Quick Facts
- Target age: 9–10 years old
- Length of class: 2 hours per session (5–7pm)
- Frequency: Twice a week
- Availability: Tuesday and Thursday at Bankstown
- Duration: 9–10 weeks per term; 4 terms a year
- Course completion: 3 years (expected)
Pre-requisites
- Ability to read fluently from Juz’ Amma & Tabarak.
- Ability to read with minimal mistakes from anywhere in the Qur’an.
- Ability to write dictated Arabic words.