Arabic, Darija and Quran lessons online for the Caucasus

Three countries, three languages

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia share a time zone but have different languages, alphabets and histories, so each has its own page. Azerbaijani is a Turkic language written in Latin letters and has many Arabic loanwords; Georgian and Armenian each have their own alphabet.

In Azerbaijan, many learners are students and Muslim families who want Quran reading. In Georgia, hospitality and real-estate workers in Tbilisi and Batumi often want Arabic for visitors. In Armenia, many families came from Syria, Lebanon or Iraq, and their children want to keep reading and writing Arabic.

Choosing MSA, Moroccan Darija or Quran

Choose MSA to read, write and understand formal Arabic, for study, work or visitors from the Arab world, or to understand the Quran. Choose Moroccan Darija only for spoken Arabic with Moroccans or life in Morocco. Choose a Quran path for reading, Tajweed, memorization with revision or meanings.

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 other Arabic dialects, and it does not teach Russian, Turkic languages, Persian, Georgian or Armenian.

How online lessons from Morocco work

Lisanova Academy is an online academy run from Morocco. It has no classroom, branch, agent or locally based tutor in the Caucasus: every lesson is a live one-to-one video lesson with a Moroccan teacher.

You book a free trial, the academy agrees a time with you on WhatsApp, and the teacher runs a short informal level check. You then choose single lessons or a package and keep a regular weekly time, with the same teacher where possible.

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. The Arabic you learn is a separate choice from the explanation language. English suits most learners in the region, and learners who already speak Arabic at home can ask for Arabic explanations. Lessons are not explained in Azerbaijani, Georgian, Armenian, Russian or Turkish. Tell us your preference when you enquire and we match you with a suitable teacher.

Time zones

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia are all on UTC+4 all year, with no summer time change: usually 3 hours ahead of Morocco, and 4 hours ahead during Ramadan, when Morocco moves to UTC+0.

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.

Central Asia and Turkey

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are on the Central Asia page. Turkey has its own page.

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 tenge, som, somoni, manat, lari, dram or other 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; if one option is not available from your country, ask about the others before paying. Quran enquiries are arranged on WhatsApp. Cancellation and refund conditions are on the Terms page.