Arabic lessons online in Lesotho and Eswatini

Learning Arabic from Lesotho and Eswatini

Lesotho and Eswatini are small countries bordered by South Africa, each with a small Muslim community — in Maseru, and in Mbabane and Manzini — and few places to learn Arabic in person. This page covers both because lessons work the same way in each: online from Morocco, explained in English, on South African time. Lisanova has no school, partner institution or representative in either country.

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

English, Sesotho and siSwati

English is an official language in both countries, alongside Sesotho in Lesotho and siSwati in Eswatini. Lessons are explained in English, and learners start from the Arabic alphabet unless they already read the Quranic script.

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 Lesotho and Eswatini

MSA lessons suit adults and teenagers who want to read, write and understand Arabic from the beginning, and students considering study in an Arabic-speaking country.

Moroccan Darija lessons in Lesotho and Eswatini

Moroccan Darija suits learners with a Moroccan partner or friends, or plans to travel to Morocco.

Quran lessons online in Lesotho and Eswatini

Families with no madrasah nearby can give children a regular private Quran teacher; adults can learn to read or improve Tajweed.

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.

An Arabic tutor for Maseru

In Maseru, Teyateyaneng, Mafeteng or the highlands, all you need is a laptop, tablet or phone with a connection stable enough for video. Lessons are at a time agreed with you, so there is no travel and no fixed class to join.

An Arabic teacher for Mbabane and Manzini

Learners in Mbabane, Manzini, Ezulwini and Matsapha book in the same way as anywhere else: a free trial, then a time confirmed with you on WhatsApp. The teacher is in Morocco, not in Eswatini.

Lesson times

Lesotho and Eswatini is on South African Standard Time (UTC+2). This is UTC+2 all year. Morocco is on UTC+1 for most of the year and UTC+0 during Ramadan, so you are usually one hour ahead of Morocco and two hours ahead during Ramadan.

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. The Arabic you learn is a separate choice from the explanation language. Sesotho and siSwati are not offered as explanation languages. 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.