Arabic Lessons in New York — Online, One-to-One

Learning Arabic from New York

New Yorkers hear Arabic every day — on Steinway Street in Astoria, along Atlantic Avenue and in Bay Ridge — but much of it is Egyptian, Levantine or Yemeni dialect. Many of our New York learners want something specific: MSA to read what they see around them, or Moroccan Darija for family who speak it. Online lessons skip the commute entirely.

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

If you want to read signs, menus and news, start with the MSA alphabet. If your goal is a Moroccan partner’s family, start with Darija conversation — it will not match the dialects you hear in Queens, and your teacher explains why.

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 New York

New York is on Eastern Time. Morocco is several hours ahead, so early-morning New York lessons fall in the Moroccan afternoon, and the exact gap changes with daylight saving.

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.

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.