Frequently Asked Questions

Lessons are one-to-one over video call, one hour each, scheduled at times that suit you. After each class you receive notes and practice material.

Yes. The trial is a chance to meet, talk about your goals and try a short lesson so you can decide whether my approach suits you. There's no obligation to continue.

Pricing depends on how often you want to meet and whether you choose a package. I share the options with you after the free trial, once we've agreed on a plan.

Yes. After the trial I'll suggest a package based on how often you want to meet. Packages are shared privately, not published online.

Absolutely. We'll begin with sounds, the alphabet and simple conversation, moving at a pace that suits you.

It varies with your goals, your starting point and how often you practise. Most learners taking one or two lessons a week can hold basic conversations within a few months; reading and writing MSA takes longer.

One is enough to progress if you practise between lessons; two is noticeably faster. Consistency matters more than quantity.

Arabic, as much as possible, with explanations in English or French when a grammar point or a nuance needs it. My students come from Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America, so lessons are always adapted to your background.

Yes. If you need Arabic for hospitality, healthcare, sales, real estate or another field, lessons can be built around the vocabulary and situations you'll actually meet.

My lessons are designed for adults and working professionals. Get in touch and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit for a younger learner.

Yes. I hold a certificate in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers (TAFL) and a Master's in Translation from Université Saint-Joseph in Beirut, and I work with Arabic professionally every day as a translator and subtitler.

A laptop or tablet with a camera, a stable connection, and a quiet spot. I share materials on screen and send notes after each session.

Let me know in advance and we'll find another slot in the same week. Details are agreed when you start.

It depends on your goal. If you want to speak with people day to day, start with a dialect. If you need to read, write or work with formal Arabic, start with MSA. Many learners in the Gulf combine both, and we can design your plan that way.

I teach Lebanese (Levantine) Arabic, which is widely understood across the Arab world, and I can include common Gulf expressions you'll hear in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

I teach Levantine Arabic as the base dialect because it's the most widely understood across the region, and I include the Gulf expressions and greetings you'll hear in Dubai so you can use them confidently.

Yes. Lebanese is one of the most widely understood dialects in the region because of media exposure. You'll be understood in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Doha.

It takes longer than European languages because the script, sounds and grammar are unfamiliar, but the everyday spoken language is very learnable. Most of the difficulty people describe comes from being taught formal Arabic when they wanted conversational Arabic.

I recommend it, even if your goal is speaking. It takes about two weeks, and once you can read, signs, menus and messages become daily practice.

News, books, official documents, formal speeches and signage across every Arab country. Nobody speaks it at home, which is why speaking-focused learners start with a dialect.

All lessons are online, which is what most of my Dubai students prefer: no travel, flexible times, and the same one-to-one attention.

All scheduling is in Gulf Standard Time (GST). Morning, evening and weekend slots are available.

Yes. Many of my students are working professionals in Dubai, so evenings and weekends are part of the normal schedule.

Most are expats and professionals living in Dubai, from Europe, Asia, Latin America, the US and Canada.

Yes. Lessons are online and scheduled on Gulf time, so Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha and the rest of the GCC work exactly the same way as Dubai.

English → Arabic, Arabic → English, French → Arabic and Turkish → Arabic.

Into Arabic. Arabic is my native language and my A language in my Master's, with French as B and English as C. French–Arabic in particular is a specialty.

Send your files or a short description through the quote form or on WhatsApp, along with your deadline and target audience. You'll receive a quote and delivery date.

Usually per source word, depending on content type, language pair and deadline. Every project is quoted individually.

No. I focus on marketing, digital, media, editorial, educational and professional content rather than certified or sworn legal documents.

A Master's in Translation (conference translator track) from ETIB, Université Saint-Joseph, Beirut, with over a decade of experience in translation, proofreading, subtitling and media localization, including current work for a Gulf news network.

Yes. I can write in Modern Standard Arabic for the widest reach, or adapt register and expressions for UAE or Saudi audiences where it suits the content.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, plain text, subtitle files, CMS entry and most localization platforms. Tell me your format and I'll deliver in it.

Yes. Your materials are handled with discretion and never shared. I'm happy to sign an NDA.

SRT, VTT and others on request. If you have a template or platform requirement, share it with your brief.

Per video minute, depending on content type, language pair and whether a script is available.

Both. With a script or an English subtitle file, work is faster; without one, I translate directly from the audio.

Yes. Quality control of existing Arabic subtitles for accuracy, timing and readability is a common request.

I currently subtitle and edit news content for Asharq News, a Gulf-based network, through Deluxe, one of the world's largest media localization companies.

Translation converts the words; localization adapts the whole message, including tone, cultural references and format, so it feels native to a specific market, such as the Gulf.

Recreating creative lines such as taglines and headlines in Arabic so they produce the same effect, even if the words change completely. Delivered as options with back-translations.

I flag layout and directional issues and review Arabic text inside designs, and I work with your designer or developer on the RTL version.

MTPE (machine translation post-editing) is the review and correction of machine-translated text by a professional linguist. It's a good fit for high-volume or fast-turnaround content where a human translation from scratch isn't practical, but quality still matters.

Light post-editing fixes meaning and grammar so the text is correct. Full post-editing brings it to human-translation quality in style, tone and terminology. Send a sample and I'll recommend the right level.

Yes. I work in your environment or directly in files, and can feed back recurring MT issues to help improve engine output.