Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

BACKGROUND

Who created this program and why?

The Network of Arab-American Professionals of New York (NAAP-NY) created the Arabic Language Program with the interest of serving our valued members. Many of us may have some basic knowledge of Arabic but would like to improve our reading, writing and communication skills so that we are, for example, able to read an Arabic newspaper or watch an Arabic news report on TV.

Can I earn college credits for these courses?

No, the courses are not accredited.

What can I expect to learn?

Each course will help you develop a strong foundation in Modern Standard Arabic (Fus-ha) that will enable you to read, write and communicate your thoughts in Arabic.

How many students are in the class?

Each class will be limited to a maximum of 18 students.

Who will be teaching the courses?

We are exited to have Karam Tannous as our Arabic Instructor. Please see his BIO below:

Karam Tannous, B.A., M.A, instructor, Professional & Continuing Studies NYU, instructor of Arabic at Baruch College; instructor of colloquial Arabic at Berlitz International, Rennert and Alwan for the Arts; Certified bilingual teacher by the Board of Education; NY State licensed translator and interpreter; Rendered translation services to NBC, MSNBC, NY Times and Michael Moore’s film “9/11”; Edited the English-Arabic Oxford Picture Dictionary; implemented an after-school Arabic program for children at Brooklyn public schools; translated for NBC, ABC, MSNBC, Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 911”, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Witness, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International; Social worker and human rights activist.

TUITION

How much is tuition? Are there any other related fees?

Tuition fees for this intensive 10 week course (total of 24 hours) are $295.00 which includes the textbook and support DVDs.

Do you offer a refund in the event I cannot continue with the course?

A refund of $100.00 will be issued to any student who drops the course after the first class. A refund of $50.00 will be issued to any student who drops the course after the second class. No refunds will be issued after the third class. Please note that a $50 penalty will be charged any student who drops the course prior to the first day of class.

What if I have to miss classes?
Each session is extremely concentrated, with two and a half hour sessions ten weeks in duration. Missing one class means missing 10% of the semester, where missing two classes means you'd be missing nearly 25% of the overall experience. 25% is a substantial amount of class time to miss and is extremely discouraged. The reimbursement policy is very stringent; if you know that you will miss almost 25% of the class or more, you are encouraged to wait for a more accommodating semester.