Online Arabic Classes for Ottawa — English or French

Learning Arabic from Ottawa

Ottawa is a bilingual capital: many learners work in the federal public service, embassies or international organisations and switch between English and French daily. You can choose which of the two your teacher uses to explain, independently of whether you learn MSA or Darija.

Lisanova Academy is an online academy run from Morocco. There is no local classroom, branch or tutor office in North America: every lesson is a live one-to-one video lesson with a Moroccan teacher.

Where to start

For professional reading and formal communication, start with MSA. For life with Moroccan colleagues or family, start with Darija. Tell us whether you prefer English or French explanations.

Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the formal Arabic of books, news, signs and documents — choose it for reading, writing and formal communication. Moroccan Darija is the everyday spoken Arabic of Morocco — choose it for family, partners and travel. Quran lessons (reading, Tajweed, memorization and meanings) are a separate pathway arranged directly with the academy. Lisanova does not teach Egyptian, Levantine or Gulf dialects.

Lesson times in Ottawa

Ottawa is on Eastern Time. Morocco is several hours ahead, so mornings and lunch hours in Ottawa usually match Moroccan afternoons.

When you book the free trial or ask on WhatsApp, send your city (or time-zone name) and two or three preferred local times. The academy replies on WhatsApp with a proposed lesson time written in your local time and in Morocco time, and the lesson is only fixed once you both confirm. No timetable is published in advance and availability is never guaranteed for a particular hour.

Explanation language and teachers

The language your teacher uses to explain is separate from the Arabic you are learning. Explanations can be given in English, French, Spanish or Arabic depending on teacher availability. Tell us your preference when you enquire; we confirm a suitable teacher before you commit rather than promising a specific match in advance.

Prices and getting started

Private Arabic and Moroccan Darija: one 60-minute lesson $20; 8 hours $120; 12 hours $170; 16 hours $200. Prices are in US dollars. The first trial lesson is free. Prices are charged in US dollars, not Canadian dollars; no CAD conversion or Canada-specific price is offered.

Book the free Arabic/Darija trial with your name, WhatsApp number and preferred package; the academy then arranges the time with you on WhatsApp. Quran enquiries are arranged on WhatsApp. Cancellation and refund conditions are on the Terms page.