MCC’s after-school Arabic program is designed for children ages 5 to 12. The program helps develop the ability to use Arabic effectively for reading, writing, comprehension, and conversation.

Students begin with the basics. Each subsequent year, our program builds on the prior year.

Abeer Alkhawaja Rahhal, a seasoned Arabic teacher, oversees the Arabic program, which runs concurrently with our after-school Qur’an program from  August 12, 2026 to May 12, 2027. Here is the calendar. The program is on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Ready to enroll? Complete the registration form to start the assessment/registration process.

This class is for kids only. Please consider our advanced Qur’an or Tajweed classes for adults.

REGISTRATION FORM

“Learn Arabic for it strengthens intelligence and increases in dignity.” – Umar ibn al-Khattab.

Please note: MCC requires a 30-day notice to withdraw from after-school programs.

Questions about registration, FACTS, fees, or scholarships? Message Sr. Aminah Abdullah or Sr. Sehyr Elahi at programs@mcceastbay.org

Questions about curriculum, levels, testing, or placement? Message Sr. Abeer at arabic@mcceastbay.org

Class Schedule

All levels offer both online and in-person options, except for the beginner level, which is available in-person only. Each level is capped at 12 students for individualized one-on-one attention.

Pending your child’s placement testing and the number of students in each session, you will be informed this summer of the exact day of the week and time after school that he or she will be placed.

• Beginners: exact times TBD (in person only)
• Level 1: exact times TBD (in person & online options)
• Level 2: exact times TBD (in person & online options)
• Level 3: exact times TBD (in person & online options)
• Level 4: exact times TBD (in person & online options)
• Level 5: exact times TBD (online only)
• Level 6: exact times TBD (online only)
• Level 7: exact times TBD (online only)
• Level 8: exact times TBD (online only)

Tuition

$140/month per student and $130/month for each additional student in the same family (sibling discount). 

Registration for the Arabic Language Program is incomplete until you sign up with FACTS for automatic payments. Please sign up with FACTS here.

Additional books and supplies fees will be applied to each student (fees will vary depending on the student’s level). The costs are added to the first automatic payment in September 2026.

Financial Aid

The MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never hold a family in the East Bay from benefiting from any offering at the MCC facility. To request a financial waiver, please complete the application at mcceastbay.org/scholarship. Your application will be reviewed, and you will be contacted regarding its status. 

Why Study Arabic?

For Muslims, Arabic is the key to unlocking the message and teachings of the Qurʾān, ḥadīth, classical commentaries, and classical texts on Islamic law and theology.

Students begin with the basics of language; each program year builds upon the prior year, introducing more advanced topics.

The main objectives at the beginner’s level are:

• The student will learn the names, sounds, and shapes of the Arabic alphabet.
• The student will also learn basic conversational skills through engaging activities, informative videos, and engaging songs.

This level has been offered for five-year-olds. 

The main objectives at Level 1 are:

• Reading: Arabic letters in different shapes with fatha, dhamma, kasra, sukoon, and the three madd letters with seven example words representing each case. We learn one letter each week.
• Writing: Practice writing the letter of the week with the example words. Spelling skills are gradually built up.
• Comprehension: Vocabulary words are introduced during circle time, including, but not limited to, days of the week, numbers, Hijri and Gregorian months, seasons, weather conditions, and colors, all in Arabic. Understanding spoken Arabic through short audio and or video clips.
• Conversation: Basic phrases to converse in Arabic. Basic grammar skills are covered here throughout eight units.

This level is offered to children aged six and older. 

The main objectives at Level 2 are:

• Reading: Letters revision. Learning closed ta, tanween, shaddah, Al shamsiyyah, and Al qamariyyah will be covered.
• Writing: Practice writing short sentences and more spelling practice for concepts taught in reading.
• Comprehension: Elaborate on all concepts covered in Level 1, plus higher numbers, question words, alhurum hijri months, Ramadan, Eid, pillars of Islam, and Arab countries’ capitals in Arabic. Understanding spoken Arabic through short audio and or video clips.
• Conversation: Build on basic phrases to engage in dialogue in Arabic. Grammar skills are covered throughout eight units.

This level is offered to children aged six and older. 

The main objectives at Level 3 are:

• Reading: Learning alif maqsura, madd leen. Practice fluency, speed, and accuracy through a leveled short story reading.
• Writing: Practice building a paragraph from simple sentences. Spelling skills are practiced here, such as writing hamza at the end of the word.
• Comprehension: Reading a paragraph, then answering questions and understanding spoken Arabic through audio and or video clips.
• Conversation: Build on previous skills to converse in Arabic throughout eight units. Arab countries’ capitals, flags, and currencies are covered. The Hijri months of Ramadan and Eid, as well as the pillars of Islam in Arabic, are also covered.
• Grammar skills will cover, but are not limited to, the Parts of the word. Nouns (feminine and masculine singular, two, plural), verbs, propositions. Signs of nouns. Different kinds of nouns.
• Circle time concepts will cover days of the week, numbers, colors, and seasons.

The main objectives at Level 4 are:

• Reading: Practice fluency, speed, and accuracy through a leveled short story reading.
• Writing: Practice building a paragraph from sentences. Spelling skills are practiced here, including the rules of writing the hamza.
• Comprehension: Reading a paragraph, then answering questions and understanding spoken Arabic through audio and or video clips.
• Conversation: Build on previous skills to converse in Arabic throughout eight units. The capitals, flags, and currencies of Arab and Islamic countries are covered. The Hijri months of Ramadan and Eid, as well as the pillars of Islam in Arabic, are also covered.
• Grammar skills will cover, but are not limited to, singular and plural nouns, masculine and feminine, and types of sentences.

The main objectives at Level 5 are:

• Reading: Practice fluency, speed, and accuracy through story reading.
• Writing: Practice building a paragraph from sentences. Spelling skills are practiced here. Filling out forms, applications, or subscriptions in Arabic.
• Comprehension: Reading a paragraph, analyzing it, and then answering questions and understanding spoken Arabic through audio and or video clips.
• Conversation: Build on previous skills to converse in Arabic throughout eight units. Arab and Islamic countries’ cultures are explored. The Hijri months of Ramadan and Eid, as well as the pillars of Islam in Arabic, are also covered.
• Grammar skills will cover, but are not limited to, different types of verbs, subjects, and pronouns.

The main objectives at Level 6 are:

• Reading & Comprehension (القراءة أساسيات(: Students read longer and increasingly unvocalized texts, developing strong comprehension, analytical reading skills, and the ability to understand implied meanings and context.
• Writing & Spelling (واإلمالء الكتابة(: Students achieve advanced spelling accuracy through the study of the Final and Medial Hamza, applying vowel-strength rules to write words correctly.
• Vocabulary & Cultural Awareness (الثقافي والوعي االستيعاب(: Students expand their vocabulary through social, historical, and geographical topics while strengthening their cultural, moral, and Islamic understanding.
• Conversation & Listening (واالستماع المحادثة(: Using the advanced levels of the
• Arabic in Our Children’s Hands series, students engage in extended conversations, express complex ideas, and improve comprehension of native-speed Arabic.
• Grammar (القواعد(: Students develop a deeper understanding of sentence structure, the functions of nouns, verbs, and particles, the role of the subject (الفاعل(, and the distinction between past and present/future verb forms.

Please note: MCC does not offer adult Arabic classes. We encourage you to explore the Arabic classes offered at Diablo Valley College (DVCC).

The main objectives at Level 7 are:

• Reading & Comprehension (القراءة أساسيات(: Students read complex texts with fluency, analyze themes and context, and extract detailed information with minimal reliance on vocalization.
• Writing & Spelling (واإلمالء الكتابة(: Students master advanced spelling rules, including the Medial and Final Hamza, to achieve accurate and polished written Arabic.
• Vocabulary & Cultural Awareness (الثقافي والوعي االستيعاب(: Students expand their vocabulary through historical, geographical, and cultural topics while deepening their understanding of Islamic values and traditions.
• Conversation & Listening (واالستماع المحادثة(: Using the advanced levels of the
• Arabic in Our Children’s Hands series, students engage in extended discussions, express complex ideas, and strengthen comprehension of native-speed Arabic.
• Grammar (القواعد(: Students study advanced grammar concepts, including pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, prepositions, sentence structure, and verb tenses, while strengthening their ability to analyze and construct accurate Arabic sentences.

The main objectives of Level 8 are:

• Reading & Comprehension (القراءة أساسيات(: Students read advanced unvocalized texts independently, analyze themes and writing styles, and summarize complex ideas with confidence.
• Writing & Spelling (واإلمالء الكتابة(: Students apply all major spelling rules with accuracy while developing advanced writing skills through essays, summaries, and formal compositions.
• Vocabulary & Cultural Awareness (الثقافي والوعي االستيعاب(: Students expand their academic vocabulary through historical, geographical, and social topics while deepening their understanding of Islamic values, culture, and heritage.
• Conversation & Listening (واالستماع المحادثة(: Using the highest level of the Arabic in Our Children’s Hands series, students participate in debates, presentations, and discussions, while strengthening comprehension of authentic native-speed Arabic.
• Grammar (القواعد) Students master advanced sentence analysis, verb conjugation across all pronouns, sentence structure, and independent error correction, enabling them to communicate with accuracy and confidence.

Ready to Enroll?

Please complete the enrollment form below to initiate the enrollment process.

REGISTRATION FORM

Please note: MCC requires a 30-day notice to withdraw from any after-school program.

Questions about registration, FACTS, fees, or scholarships? Message Sr. Aminah Abdullah or Sr. Sehyr Elahi at programs@mcceastbay.org

Questions about curriculum, levels, testing, or placement? Message Sr. Abeer at arabic@mcceastbay.org

“Learn Arabic for it strengthens intelligence and increases dignity.” – Umar ibn al-Khattab. 

Calendar

Arabic Program Academic Calendar 2026-2027 Holidays & Breaks | Monday / Wednesday