Arabic, Moroccan Darija and Quran online across Asia and the Pacific

Very different starting points

In Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Bangladesh many learners already read the Quranic script from childhood and want to understand Arabic. In Japan, South Korea and China most start from zero, often for university or work. In Australia and New Zealand many are heritage learners whose families speak another Arabic dialect. Each country page explains what usually fits.

Which Arabic does Lisanova teach?

Lisanova teaches two kinds of Arabic: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA, Fusha) — the formal Arabic of books, news, documents and Islamic scholarship — and Moroccan Darija, the everyday spoken Arabic of Morocco. Quran lessons are a separate path. It does not teach Gulf, Levantine, Egyptian, Iraqi or any dialect other than Moroccan Darija.

Lessons are not explained in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Malay, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Thai, Vietnamese, Tagalog or Sinhala. Local-language pages will only be published after teaching support and a fluent review are confirmed.

Arabic language lessons or Quran lessons?

Arabic language lessons teach you to read, understand, write and speak Arabic: grammar, vocabulary, listening and conversation in MSA or Moroccan Darija. Quran lessons are religious lessons: correct reading of the Quranic text, Tajweed, memorization with revision or the meanings of verses. Many learners can already read the Quran aloud without understanding it — that is a reason to add Arabic language lessons, not to repeat Quran reading.

Choosing by goal

Study: MSA grammar and reading, often alongside your university course. Work: MSA for formal Arabic with Gulf or Arab partners; Moroccan Darija if your colleagues or clients are Moroccan. Travel or a move to Morocco: Moroccan Darija for daily conversation.

Family: Moroccan Darija for a Moroccan spouse and in-laws. Heritage: MSA for reading and writing when your family speaks another dialect, or Darija if your family is Moroccan. Quran: reading, Tajweed, memorization with revision or meanings. The related pages below explain each path.

Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Sri Lanka

Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, Myanmar, Taiwan and Sri Lanka now have their own pages, with city pages for Bangkok, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and Taipei. The Southeast Asia overview compares explanation languages, time differences and cities for the whole region, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Explanation language

Lisanova has teachers who explain lessons in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as in Arabic; not every teacher speaks every one of these languages. Lessons are not explained in local Asian or Pacific languages. The Arabic you learn is a separate choice from the explanation language. Tell us your preference when you enquire and we match you with a suitable teacher.

Lesson times

Asia-Pacific countries are between four and a half hours (Sri Lanka, India) and twelve hours (New Zealand, during its daylight saving) ahead of Morocco, which is on UTC+1 for most of the year and UTC+0 during Ramadan. Your evening is the Moroccan morning or afternoon.

When you book the free trial or ask on WhatsApp, send your city and two or three preferred local times. The academy replies with a proposed time in your local time and in Morocco time; the lesson is fixed only once you both confirm. No timetable is published in advance and no hour is guaranteed.

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; no local-currency price is offered. The first trial lesson is free.

Quran and Islamic Studies: single class $12 per hour; Monthly Package 1, 8 hours per month, $80; Monthly Package 2, 12 hours per month, $110. Families get 15% off for each additional sibling. Discover Islam sessions are free.

Book the free Arabic/Darija trial with your name, WhatsApp number and preferred package; the academy arranges the time with you on WhatsApp. You can pay by bank transfer, by card or through a money-transfer service such as Western Union. Quran enquiries are arranged on WhatsApp. Cancellation and refund conditions are on the Terms page.