Qasid: Institute for Classical & Modern Standard Arabic

Experienced instructors have commented that English-speaking students studying Arabic on their own tend to overdo grammar and leave conversational, listening, and writing skills underdeveloped, resulting in large gaps in language acquisition; after years of study, a student may know the intricacies of i'rab (grammatical inflection), but not have enough practiced vocabulary to read a simple novel or converse comfortably for more than a few minutes.

The Qasid Institute's methodology rejects this one-dimensional approach, instead emphasizing well-roundedness without sacrificing detail. Proficiency is taught through a carefully selected combination of reading, listening, writing, and conversation exercises. Our instructors have several decades of combined experience in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, and will work with students to fill the gaps that remain in their language acquisition.

Each class meets four hours per day, five days per week, over the course of nine weeks (summer session), and three hours per day, five days per week over the course of twelve weeks (fall, winter, and spring sessions). Classes are conducted in a comfortable institute setting; students sit along custom-made U-shaped tables ideal for discussion. Every student, whether in level one or five, is encouraged and expected to actively participate in class. Our program places a special emphasis on developing a student's ability to converse in Arabic.

The Academic Program is divided into two tracks, Classical and Modern Standard. Incoming students have the option to apply to either, both of which provide training at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Each session consists of 180 hours. Fall, winter and spring sessions are 12-weeks in length (3 hours/day), while the summer session is 9 weeks (4 hours/day). Each of the core classes are offered during each of these four sessions, while advanced and supplementary courses are available subject to demand.