In broad terms, Arabic can be categorised as Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), and dialects. The Quran is written in Classical Arabic, while MSA is used in the media, literature, and official contexts throughout the Arabic-speaking world. As well as this, each country has its own Arabic dialect. The Arabic that is most often studied at university is Modern Standard Arabic, which is the most widely used written language in the Arab world.
Language Skills Open New Doors
When you study Arabic, you gain a better understanding of the cultures of the Arab world and also have the opportunity to learn a language that can make you a great asset in the fast-growing global job market.
Increasing numbers of people want to work in the rapidly advancing business world of the Gulf countries while others work for companies that want to establish themselves in an Arab country, meaning communication skills in Arabic are highly sought after. Others, meanwhile, can read Arabic and want to learn the language so that they can better understand their religion, and there are still others who simply want to be able to communicate with relatives and friends.
Arabic opens the door to many different experiences. Suddenly you can gain a new perspective on the news by watching Arabic channels, and you can read and understand literature and poetry that would never be - or that rarely are - translated into Swedish. You can get around more easily in Arab countries while gaining access to and increasing your understanding of many new cultures.
Our Courses in Arabic
All our courses are web-based (online): that is to say, there are no physical meetings. We have regular, scheduled classes online where we listen to, read, and speak Arabic in real time.
In our beginner-level courses, you receive an introduction to the Arabic alphabet, learn to read and write, and build a basic vocabulary in Modern Standard Arabic. At the same time as you increase your vocabulary, the courses become broader, and we read light poetry, prose, and newspaper articles.
When choosing a course in Arabic, you should be aware that written Arabic and spoken Arabic are very different from each other. Modern Standard Arabic is a good foundation if you want to read the Quran and understand news, and if you are interested in the grammatical and structural aspects of Arabic. Spoken standard Arabic is understood in all Arab countries but is only used in news broadcasts and official speeches and appearances. That said, it is relatively easy to convert standard Arabic into a dialect that you are interested in learning.
If you want to learn Arabic so that you can converse with friends and colleagues and communicate when you are travelling, a dialect course, where study is of spoken Arabic, would be more useful. Of course, it is best to learn both standard Arabic and a dialect at the same time so that you can use the language in a more versatile way.
Tips and useful information for online studies
Study Abroad
Through the Erasmus programme, you can study at one of our partner universities in Europe.
Outbound Exchange Studies and Traineeships
Degree
Dalarna University has the right to award a Degree of Bachelor with Arabic as the main field of study. You can also study Arabic as part of a teacher education programme.
Courses
Head of Subject
Study and Career Counselling
We offer study and career counselling both to current and prospective students.