Language Programs in Africa

I am a professional translator and I have learned many Asian and Middle Eastern languages at various universities or schools. I was very impressed by Dar Loughat's professionalism and can honestly say this is one of the best language schools I have ever attended. From the first contact online to my experience in Tetouan, everything went smoothly and the whole experience was perfect. The booking is very easy and straightforward, Zayd responds quickly and all the teachers I've met were great. I took private classes in MSA with Ismael and private classes in Darija with Ali. Although I am a beginner, we talked in Arabic as much as possible, which greatly helped me improve in a very short time. Classes were well-structured and thought out and I improved a lot in a very short time (1 week), much more than I would ever have thought possible. I came to Morocco knowing nothing of Darija, not even 1 word, and by the end of my 2-week trip I was able to understand a simple story in Darija. The content we saw in class was interesting and practical, the teachers were amazing, warm and passionate about what they do. Activities are held every afternoon from Tuesday to Friday (language workshops, hiking trip, cultural activities, etc.), which is also great and helped me meet other students. The location is in the city is also great, it is close from cafes, restaurants and the medina, and just a 2 minutes walk from the intercity coach station. Tetouan is a great city to study Darija and Arabic. It is not touristy at all and feels more authentic compared to other big cities, so it is easier to practice Arabic there. I often hear people say that you cannot learn Arabic in Morocco because people speak French/Spanish/English, but this is a snobbish misconception and a very narrow-minded view, in my opinion. Everyone speaks Darija all the time and you can read Arabic everywhere, especially in Tetouan where some menus and sign boards are entirely in Arabic. It is true some people (cafe/restaurant waiters) tend to tell you things in Spanish/French because they think it will help you, but if you speak Darija to them, they will answer in Darija so it is not a problem at all. In fact, it might even help if you're still at a stage where you can say basic things but your vocabulary isn't fully developed yet, because you can speak in basic Darija while adding French/Spanish/English words here and there to make up for the words you don't know yet to get your point across, and then ask people how to say it properly in Darija (being able to make locals understand you with the very few words that you know is what matters when you start speaking a new language). So I definitely recommend this place. Tetouan is also close from many interesting places in Northern Morocco, which you can visit during the weekend. I would 500% come again or take online classes with Dar Loughat again.

During a trip to Spain and Morocco I spontaneously asked Dar Loughat whether it would be possible to have Arabic language lessons for just one week. The school was able to organize this for me quickly and easily, as well as accommodation in a hotel. I then had a wonderful and inspiring week in Tétouan, with great private lessons every day and nice activities with the school. I am very grateful for that. The people at school were very nice and supportive. Definitely a place to go again.