Arabic Language Courses in Fez, Morocco

SACAL - Subul Assalam Center for the Arabic Language:
SACAL - Subul Assalam Center for the Arabic Language located in Fez, Morocco was set up to offer Arabic courses, cultural courses and Islamic studies primarily to non Arabic speaking people from all over the world. Through its academic and cultural activities, Subul Assalam’s unique programme strives to provide a good understanding of Islam and Moroccan culture.

SACAL offers a complete curriculum of Standard and Moroccan Arabic language courses, as well as a complement of English-language courses on Morocco and Islam. Each Arabic course has a standard length of four weeks. Students are welcome to take several language courses in sequence.

SACAL can also design custom programmes for groups, including study schedules that combine Arabic instruction with field trips and cultural courses. Teachers or administrators wishing to tailor a programme for their students are encouraged to contact SACAL administrators to discuss their wishes.

Core Courses:

Modern Standard Arabic:
All students beginning Modern Standard Arabic use Alif Baa (Georgetown University Press) for the first four week session. After students have learned the alphabet, we offer two sets of courses. We can offer a full course using Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk series. Alternatively, we offer a full course using Georgetown University’s Al-Kitaab series. We recommend the first option for our students, but realize that Al-Kitaab suits some students better, as it is the standard Arabic textbook in many universities. Upon request, we can also offer a course using AL-Madina book Dorous fi Alloghah Al-Arabiyyah.

All of our courses are taught by native Arabic speakers with years of experience in Arabic education.

In addition to our regular calendar, we are happy to arrange private classes for individuals and groups throughout the year. Please contact us if you are interested in setting up a private tutorial.

Versions available:
Modern Standard Arabic (Intro)
Modern Standard Arabic (Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk)
Modern Standard Arabic (Al-Kitaab)

Colloquial Moroccan Arabic:
Colloquial Moroccan Arabic 100a and 100b:

For students with no previous experience in Arabic. Students will learn the Arabic script, as well as basic greetings and common expressions, with the goal of enabling them to communicate with Moroccans as quickly as possible. By the end of the course, students should be able to read short texts and hold simple conversations in CMA.

Colloquial Moroccan Arabic 101a and 101b:
For students who have studied Modern Standard Arabic. An accelerated version of CMA 100a, students who take this course are expected to be familiar with Arabic script and grammar. Upon completion of this course, students will be adequately prepared to take CMA 300a.

Colloquial Moroccan Arabic 200a and 200b:
In the intermediate course, students will flesh out their knowledge of CMA using a wide variety of media, including newspapers, short films, popular music and the poetry of Abderrahman Mejdhoub. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of vocabulary. Students will gain the ability speak confidently on a variety of topics.

Prerequisite: CMA 100b, or permission of instructor.

Colloquial Moroccan Arabic 300a and 300b:
This course will hone students’ ability to communicate in idiomatic Moroccan. Included are discussion and analysis of Moroccan proverbs, riddles, folk tales and films. Upon completion of the advanced classes, students should be able to write essays and stories in CMA and converse on a wide range of subjects.

Media Arabic:
We offer media Arabic on a private basis. This course is designed to give students an introduction into reading newspapers, magazines and understanding news broadcasts. Special attention will be given to understanding common grammatical structures and recognizing familiar roots (judhur). This course is recommended for second and third year Arabic students, but can be adjusted to meet students’ specific needs and levels.

Quranic Arabic:
Qur’anic Arabic is offered on a private basis. The basic linguistic structure of Qur'anic Arabic will be covered and students will be provided with the necessary vocabulary to grasp Qur'anic text. This course is recommended for students will at least three years of experience with Arabic, but can be adjusted for less experienced students as well.

Conversational Berber:
These introductory courses in Berber (Tamazight) are designed to give students basic communication skills. The primary focus will be on speaking, listening and vocabulary. The script will not be covered.

Cultural Courses:
The courses in our cultural programme are arranged on a private basis. They may be taken singly or in conjunction with one of our language courses.

Women in Islam:
In this course, students will explore the role of women in Islamic culture from the pre-Islamic era to the present. The religious and social position of Muslim women is explored through film, photography and literature. Contemporary topics such as dress code, economic self-sufficiency, gender interactions and the role of women in the medina are also discussed. Included in the course are examinations of prominent women in the history of Islam, and panel discussions with Moroccan women on a variety of topics.

Objectives:
Students will develop an understanding of the role of women in historical and contemporary Islamic and Moroccan culture.
No previous knowledge of Islam or Arabic is required for this course.