Dar Al Arabiyah (formerly Dar Loughat)

I am a professional translator and I have learned many Asian and Middle Eastern languages at various universities or schools. I was very impressed by Dar Loughat's professionalism and can honestly say this is one of the best language schools I have ever attended. From the first contact online to my experience in Tetouan, everything went smoothly and the whole experience was perfect. The booking is very easy and straightforward, Zayd responds quickly and all the teachers I've met were great. I took private classes in MSA with Ismael and private classes in Darija with Ali. Although I am a beginner, we talked in Arabic as much as possible, which greatly helped me improve in a very short time. Classes were well-structured and thought out and I improved a lot in a very short time (1 week), much more than I would ever have thought possible. I came to Morocco knowing nothing of Darija, not even 1 word, and by the end of my 2-week trip I was able to understand a simple story in Darija. The content we saw in class was interesting and practical, the teachers were amazing, warm and passionate about what they do. Activities are held every afternoon from Tuesday to Friday (language workshops, hiking trip, cultural activities, etc.), which is also great and helped me meet other students. The location is in the city is also great, it is close from cafes, restaurants and the medina, and just a 2 minutes walk from the intercity coach station. Tetouan is a great city to study Darija and Arabic. It is not touristy at all and feels more authentic compared to other big cities, so it is easier to practice Arabic there. I often hear people say that you cannot learn Arabic in Morocco because people speak French/Spanish/English, but this is a snobbish misconception and a very narrow-minded view, in my opinion. Everyone speaks Darija all the time and you can read Arabic everywhere, especially in Tetouan where some menus and sign boards are entirely in Arabic. It is true some people (cafe/restaurant waiters) tend to tell you things in Spanish/French because they think it will help you, but if you speak Darija to them, they will answer in Darija so it is not a problem at all. In fact, it might even help if you're still at a stage where you can say basic things but your vocabulary isn't fully developed yet, because you can speak in basic Darija while adding French/Spanish/English words here and there to make up for the words you don't know yet to get your point across, and then ask people how to say it properly in Darija (being able to make locals understand you with the very few words that you know is what matters when you start speaking a new language). So I definitely recommend this place. Tetouan is also close from many interesting places in Northern Morocco, which you can visit during the weekend. I would 500% come again or take online classes with Dar Loughat again.

During a trip to Spain and Morocco I spontaneously asked Dar Loughat whether it would be possible to have Arabic language lessons for just one week. The school was able to organize this for me quickly and easily, as well as accommodation in a hotel. I then had a wonderful and inspiring week in Tétouan, with great private lessons every day and nice activities with the school. I am very grateful for that. The people at school were very nice and supportive. Definitely a place to go again.

Dar Loughat Language School took care of me from the beginning, working out all details from the pick-up at the bus station, to extra tours I wanted to take during the weekend, to my departure. They organized the ideal lodging for me and checked in regularly to make sure I was ok. The classes themselves were small, personalized, and the teacher took extra care to understand exactly what I needed in terms of language acquisition. In the afternoons, Dar Loughat provided fun extra-curricular activities for the students that really brought us all together in a natural way. I can also say that this is the perfect language school for solo travelers who may be concerned about safety and comfort: Tetouan is the best possible place for tourists, and I felt completely comfortable walking alone in this gorgeous town. Don’t miss out on this amazing experience!

Dar Loughat is a fantastic language school that provides opportunities for cultural immersion and support. The director is extremely helpful in answering any questions you might have and facilitating transportation or acquiring housing. The teachers are all wonderful and are highly invested in the success of their students. Wonderful school.

I am from the Netherlands and really wanted to learn the Arabic language, specifically the Moroccan Dialect (Darija). Apart from the language, I love Morocco the country itself, the people and the beautiful nature. That's why I thought it would be a good idea to live the full experience of learning the language and discovering the country in one. After interacting with many schools, I finally found Dar Loughat. Located in the beautiful green/ white city; Tétouan. In the most accessible place imaginable, right in the center, against the well-known roundabout “Moulay El Mahdi Square“ and next to the famous “Riad Lfeddan Square” students coming from all over the world gather here to learn the Arabic language. They all start at the same level as yours. I’ve met people from Mexico to Norway and back to Brazil. Everyone will give you a warm welcome and the teachers will always be there for you 200% and not to forget.. a director who’s 24/7 able to help you in whatever situation you are. Which always feels safe in an unknown place. With many diverse, creative and instructive lessons, I have always been able to get the most out of every lesson and thus develop my Arabic language with big steps each day. My teachers (Ikram Zerri and Ismail El Yakoubi) knew always exactly what I needed. With lots of experiences, different kind of people and levels they deal with on a daily base, these teachers know exactly what you need and help you in every way possible, with the attention you need. From workshops (with the whole school together) to market visits with your teacher and school trips to the mountains or other cities to discover the country (under the safety and supervision of the school), the professional lessons of the teachers or activities are not lacking. The difference is in how passionate the teachers are about their work and the unique lessons which I have never experienced before, except in this school, with these teachers. They are ready to help you, not only in the school, but also in your stay! I never forget about my experience and the people I met in Tétouan. I could never have dreamed of a better experience than this one. Special thanks to my teachers: Ikram Zerri and Ismail El Yakoubi.

Dar Loughat takes great care to make sure I am set up for success. When I was in Tetouan, Zayd coordinated beautiful, safe, spacious housing for my stay. Both for my in person and online classes, my teacher, Ismail, personalized my lessons to help me work towards my goals despite my busy schedule. Ismail is a wonderful teacher. He is very encouraging, understanding, professional, intelligent, and positive! My whole experience at Dar Loughat has been outstanding.

In summer 2019 I spent three months in Tetouan, studying at Dar Loughat. It was a wonderful experience that I would like to repeat as soon as the pandemics allows me to do it. I studied Standard Arabic and Tetouani dialect at Dar Loughat, with professor Ismail. I really appreciated the possibility of studying Arabic at an advanced level, since many schools only offer courses for beginners. Every afternoon I enjoyed the free activites offered by the school, which were always very useful and interesting. The school provided me with accomodation: for the first two months I decided to live in an indipendent apartment, while for the last weeks I opted for living with a Moroccan family. Due to the pandemis, I was not able to go back to Tetouan: therefore, I continued studying Arabic online with the same professor I had studied with in Tetouan. After three years since my stay in Tetouan, I am still studying Arabic with Ismail and attending the online workshops offered by Dar Loughat.

Minha experiência foi muito inusitada, pois cheguei à Tetouan apenas uma semana antes do governo fechar todas as fronteiras. Tive apenas uma semana de aulas presenciais e com a pandemia passou a ser online, o que dificultou bastante o aprendizado e o estímulo para aprender, mas apesar disso tudo foi uma experiência incrível, Tetouan é uma bela cidade onde pude ter um pouco de contato com a cultura e hábitos do Marrocos. Fui cativada pela hospitalidade dos moradores da cidade, sem falar do interesse dos professores para que tivéssemos o maior proveito possível das aulas. Acabei ficando mais tempo que o previsto e pretendo voltar em breve.

Nice atmosphere and friendly teachers, right in the center of Tétouan, next to the old Medina. I learned to read and write Arabic in just 1 month, and also to communicate in very basic conversations with locals. Tetouan is definitely the the perfect city for a real cultural immersion in Morocco, and Dar Loughat the best school to learn the language.

Dar Loughat was a great experience for me. I learned a lot of Arabic in the time I was there and I got to experience the wonderful hospitality of the Moroccan people. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn Arabic. The teachers truly care about teaching their students to the best of their ability.