Lingua VernaReviews of linguaverna.com

Taking the Foundations class has been so much better for my Arabic learning than Duolingo or books. I really believe classes are necessary for learning spoken Arabic (dialects), given the lack of good learning material and how different a language it is. Lingua Verna's classes feel so well organized and planned. Their learning materials are way better than some college language courses I've taken. I also love the focus on getting you as fast as possible to a point where you can speak. Thanks Alex and Buraq for the amazing experience!

I looked at a couple of more "formal" schools along with private tutoring. I'm so happy I opted for Lingua Verna. Alex and Saeed have built a great system for learning that progresses in a well thought out manner. Beyond that, the reason I appreciate the course most — it's a light and welcoming group environment. It's not stuffy or rigid. Alex and Saeed are excellent patient teachers, kind and considerate, and regularly ask for feedback so they can tweak things for our benefit. The course promoted itself as for both beginners and those with some exposure to Arabic. I was in the latter group and interested in what the approach would be. It's excellent having a native speaker in Saeed and an adult learner in Alex because you get great insights from both. While I had exposure to the trickier pronunciations (to non-Arab speakers), the explanations for these were excellent. The course was made up of 2 x weekly sessions: one being video lessons with a Q&A, followed by a conversational session in a small group. The videos are well-produced, the Q&A sessions offer a lot of insight, and the conversational sessions offer a good challenge while being in a friendly environment. There are online exercises in-between classes which were good but have really improved as the team are constantly tweaking things through our experiences and requesting feedback. I'd highly recommend Lingua Verna!

Amazing course for those familiar with Levantine Arabic and for those who are new to the language. Learning through writing first is ingenious - and helpful to read and speak! Alex and instructors are professional yet personable and always helps students, answers questions and teaches with patience and skill. I am learning so much!! Highly recommend!!

I already knew some Arabic when I started, but - wow! - I learned a lot! Great weekly video instructional classes + weekly small group conversation practice with native Levantine Arabic speakers to integrate what you're learning + lots of instructional materials to get you going and keep you actively engaged. Students are from around the world. Sessions build and build and build upon each other, like a train leaving the station that slowly builds up speed. Lingua Verna is a great investment in both yourself and toward honouring our diverse, multi-cultural, multi-lingual world where knowing two or three languages is the norm.

I have enjoyed the emphasis on conversations while learning with Lingua Verna. The creators upload two manageable videos every week, and then, in small groups, we focus on conversing with each other. I found this method of learning a language to be refreshing and align with my desire to be able to hold a conversation rather than understand only.

I recently had a fantastic experience at Lingua Verna Arabic Language School. I learned to read and speak Arabic, and I couldn't be happier with my progress. The classes are well-paced, making it easy to absorb the material. The instructors are incredibly approachable and create a welcoming environment, so I felt comfortable asking questions whenever I needed clarification. I highly recommend Lingua Verna to anyone looking to learn Arabic! I cannot wait to start level 2!

These guys are great. Lessons are well structured and all of the instructors are great to work with. I was amazed with I picked up week to week. I especially enjoyed the small break-out conversation groups where you get to practice speaking with the instructors (native speakers), who are all very nice people. You won't feel judged at all, and they foster a trusting environment.

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I have taken DOZENS of Arabic courses! From in-person to virtual, MSA to colloquial, I've tried it all. At this point you would think I'm fluent or have a basic understanding of speaking Arabic. Wrong! I've truly struggled picking up the language and it sticking. Learning languages in general is challenging for me, I felt so defeated and was ready to give up on trying to learn when I found Lingua Verna. I was really interested in the structure of the course, and it seemed like a better format for learning than what I was used to so figured I'd give it one more try. All I can say is wow! Alex has done a great job with creating an easy to follow program. If I had to recommend one course for a beginner to take, it would definitely be this one. Although there are weeks where life gets a little hectic and I fall behind, I really surprised myself recently when I was watching a documentary in Arabic that did not have any subtitles. I actually understood so much! And even though there are times I have a hard time remember a word, I can understand what is being said in class. I can't say that has happened to me in my prior courses. The online course with PDFs, videos, and meetings twice a week has really helped me improve my Arabic. Shoutout to my teacher Bashar for his patience! I can't wait to learn more!