Arabic lessons online in Japan

Learning Arabic from Japan

Learners in Japan who look for an online Arabic teacher are usually university students of Middle Eastern or Islamic studies, employees of companies that work with the Arab world, Muslims in Japan — both Japanese converts and residents from abroad — and people with a Moroccan partner. Few cities outside Tokyo and Osaka offer regular Arabic classes, so one-to-one online lessons fill the gap.

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

Arabic when your everyday language is Japanese

Arabic script, right-to-left writing and sounds such as ع and ح are completely new for most Japanese speakers. Lessons start slowly with the alphabet and pronunciation, and your teacher checks each sound before moving on. Because lessons are explained in English, you need enough English to follow a beginner lesson.

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.

Modern Standard Arabic lessons in Japan

MSA suits university students who need grammar and reading, professionals preparing for work with Arabic-speaking partners, and anyone who wants to read news or formal texts. Your teacher can use your own course materials alongside the lesson.

Moroccan Darija lessons in Japan

Moroccan Darija — モロッコ方言ダリジャ — suits learners with a Moroccan spouse or friends, travellers planning time in Morocco and anyone who wants to speak the Arabic heard in Moroccan homes and streets. Lessons focus on everyday conversation and listening.

Quran lessons online in Japan

Muslims in Japan often have no local teacher for Quran reading or Tajweed. Private online lessons let adults learn to read from the first letters and let children revise at their own pace.

Quran lessons available: reading from the first letters, recitation with correction, Tajweed rules, memorization (Hifz) with revision, and understanding the meanings. Lisanova’s Quran teachers hold Ijazah in recitation and Tajweed. Lessons are arranged on WhatsApp so the academy can confirm the teacher, the explanation language and a realistic scope; no memorization outcome is promised.

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.

Lesson times

Japan is on Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). This is UTC+9 all year with no daylight saving. Morocco is on UTC+1 for most of the year and UTC+0 during Ramadan, so you are usually eight hours ahead of Morocco and nine hours ahead during Ramadan. Your evening falls in the Moroccan morning or early 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.

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 Japanese. 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.

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.

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.