Easy! Five Steps to Online Arabic Classes for Kids
Get Your Money’s Worth from an Online Arabic Tutor
My kids refuse to speak Arabic at home!
Sound familiar?
For years that was me. But there is hope! I have easy solutions to get your kids to learn and speak Arabic.
Forget the “only speak Arabic in the house” rule. I’ve tried it…multiple times! No one does it after a day, my husband and I included.
I want my kids to learn Arabic. Not only is it part of our heritage, but also to know a second language. And the earlier they get exposed to a language, the easier it is to learn.
Arabic Classes That Didn’t Work
First, I tried in-person classes, but that fizzled out quickly. With everything else that needed to be done, my kids’ Arabic classes became a dreaded chore for me.
And not to mention, they were exhausted!
Have you tried bargaining with a 6-year-old on a Sunday morning that she needs to go to school…again! I don’t blame her.
Kids already have school five days a week. Who wants to give up their weekend? They don’t, and neither should we.
So, I continued my search. I needed another option.
Online Arabic Classes for Kids that Do Work
My next thought was, “I should look for an online Arabic tutor.” I desperately needed consistency and flexibility, so what better option than Zoom! Since my children are already comfortable with online classes, it was an easy choice.
A quick Google search for “online Arabic classes for kids” brought up a ton of links.
Five Steps to Picking an Online Arabic Tutor
Here’s what I learned in trying to find the perfect online Arabic tutor for my kids:
- A Professional Teacher is Required
At first, I thought, “It’s just Arabic. Any Arab speaker can teach it!”
Boy, was I wrong!
It takes an Arabic teacher to teach Arabic.
I know that sounds redundant, but their experience makes a massive difference in how each lesson is presented. Also, an experienced teacher keeps children engaged and excited about learning. If you’re only looking at the rate, you’re probably just picking a native Arabic speaker with a side hustle.
If you want cooperative children, then pay a bit more and get someone whose passion and training is in teaching Arabic.
- Curriculum is a Must
Online Arabic classes for kids work best when there is a set syllabus.
Not everyone offers a curriculum. Places like Preply, for example, have Arabic tutors, but they rely on you to tell them what to do.
Unless you know a specific Arabic textbook, then sure. Most of us (like me) haven’t investigated that and, frankly speaking, don’t want to either.
A professionally prepared curriculum keeps children motivated. They like knowing when they’re almost done with the level. Or they can see progress in what they are doing daily. My husband and I are all about celebrating little wins, and a curriculum lets us do that with our kids.
- Teachers Don’t Need to Speak Fluent English
And it might be better if they don’t.
Although my children are most comfortable speaking English, I thought an English-speaking online Arabic tutor would be best.
But I was wrong (again!).
I don’t know if it was just my children, but they ended up speaking more English than Arabic. If that’s what I was paying for, they were better off with me as their Arabic tutor!
It’s enough for the teachers to have the basic knowledge. I didn’t need someone fluent.
This way, the teacher could communicate enough to make my children feel comfortable. But they never reverted when my children kept trying to move into speaking English.
I think my kids have learned faster in this type of immersive experience and with a proper Arabic accent.
- Read Reviews for Online Arabic Classes
A professional teacher is the starting point. But not all teachers are alike.
I found it useful to read reviews. We spend more time reading reviews for an air fryer than picking classes for our children!
Reviews like this brought me to the online Arabic tutor we have been using for the past few years. We’re using IQRA Network because they offer me everything I want (and need).
I’m not trying to waste my money or my children’s time, nor spoil their relationship with Arabic. So, it’s made me super happy to have IQRA teachers with our family (over time, they start to feel like family).
You should note that IQRA Network is not the same as IQRA Online. There’s a stark difference between the two (just saying); you can check it yourself.
- Are Teachers Properly Paid?
The point of a teacher’s salary might seem irrelevant to many, but I beg to differ!
Teachers who are paid well (or at least the going rate) are much more accountable. Not just for themselves but also in terms of their student’s progress. A lot of this information is unearthed when reading reviews.
Personally, when I started reading about some teachers not getting paid much, yet the company was charging premium hourly rates, it felt icky to me.
Yes, I want the best bang for my buck, but I’m not trying to support places that treat their teachers like worthless workers.
Staff is the backbone of any organization. Treat them well, and you’ll see they do their work well. Leave them high and dry, and well, their commitment becomes subpar.
Overall, I have found that online Arabic tutors are a great option.
Be picky about whom you choose because that’s the difference between your children learning or just hating it. I liked that IQRA Network offered a risk-free lesson, allowing us to see if we’d be a good match.
Also, they have a curriculum, which keeps everything organized, consistent, and professional. But, best of all, my children can speak decent Fusha Arabic (modern standard Arabic) and enjoy it.
Don’t give up! It’s well worth it!
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