Arabic Reading & Writing classes at Klick — how they work
Start at the 28 letters and finish reading a short text. Three levels of one month each in Modern Standard Arabic, the written language of books, news, formal documents and the Qur’an. This is a language course: we teach reading and writing, not religious instruction.
Every level is one month: three sessions a week, two hours each, about 24 hours of class. You pay ETB 5,000 per level, level by level, and you decide each month whether to carry on. Classes run at both campuses, Mexico (Sengatera Building, 19th floor) and CMC Michael (11th floor), and a new class starts every two weeks.
Who it’s for
- People who want to read the Qur’an in Arabic — and understand the letters rather than recite from memory
- Students of Islamic and Arabic studies — who need the written language properly taught
- Anyone who speaks some Arabic but cannot read it — including returnees from the Gulf
- Office and NGO staff — handling Arabic documents, names and correspondence
- Travellers and traders — who want to read signs, forms and paperwork
Not sure where you are? Take the free placement test: six questions, about two minutes, and it tells you which level to start at. You can take it in person at either campus instead. Complete beginners skip it and start at Level 1. Register online in two minutes.
What you will learn
The 3 levels — one month each
| Level | Focus | What you can do at the end |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 · The Alphabet | All 28 letters, their forms at the start, middle and end, short vowels | Read and write letters and syllables, and sound out a written word |
| Level 2 · Words & Sentences | Reading words, handwriting, core vocabulary, simple sentence structure | Read a simple sentence aloud and write short sentences by hand |
| Level 3 · Reading Texts | Short passages, grammar basics, formal written style, using a dictionary | Read a short text with a dictionary and follow formal written Arabic |
One level is one month. Nobody becomes fluent in a month, and we will not tell you otherwise — a full CEFR or HSK band takes two or three levels. What one month buys you is the list above, and the confidence to use it.
Want the whole thing to read later or send to someone? Download the course outline (PDF, 3 pages) — every level, class times, fees and a QR code to register.
Class Schedules
All shifts meet 3 times per week for 2-hour sessions. Times are Ethiopian (local) time, with the international time beside each.
What you leave with
- Read and write all 28 Arabic letters in every position
- Sound out and read written Arabic words correctly, with the short vowels
- Write short sentences by hand in a clear script
- Read a short text, and use a dictionary to get through the words you do not know
- Read the Qur’an in Arabic script, understanding the letters and vowels you are reading
- Handle Arabic names, forms and documents at work
And a recording. Klick is a film school, so every level ends with a filmed showcase: 60 seconds of you using the language, recorded at the start of the level and again at the end. It is the one kind of proof a certificate cannot give you.
Practise free before you enrol
There is a free drill area on this site — no signup, nothing to pay — with the 28 letters, a drill on how each letter changes shape depending on where it sits in the word, and a tracing pad for handwriting. Meanings are in Amharic, and it covers roughly the ground of levels 1 and 2.
It is an honest way to find out whether you enjoy studying Arabic before you pay for a month of it, and a way to hold what you have between classes. It is not a replacement for the class: no drill can correct the sentence you invented or answer the question you did not know how to ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plenty of people in Addis Ababa can repeat Arabic they cannot read. Three months of this course turns that around: the letters, then the words, then a page you can work through yourself.