If you decide to learn Arabic in Tunisia, you will have the opportunity to learn Arabic while also getting to know the culture and customs of the country. This article explains it all!
Study Arabic in Tunisia
Learning Arabic in Tunisia is a wise choice for anyone interested in learning the language. One of the best places to learn Arabic is Tunisia. The country offers an incredible variety in terms of Arabic language programs as well as fantastic cultural experiences.
Arabic is a lovely language in both written and spoken form. It’s a lot of fun to learn how to properly calligraph the letters. For beginners, the language and culture may seem foreign at first, but after trying new things and practicing Arabic outside of class, you’ll find that you’ve picked it up quickly.
Suggested Read: 5 Mind-Blowing Facts about the Tunisian Arabic
Spend time in Tunis’ markets, bargaining with taxi drivers, and eating with friends to put your newfound skills to use. Outside of class, spend time getting to know people and learning about the Arabic-speaking world for yourself.
Before You Enroll: Tunisian Arabic Phrases: A Traveler’s Field Guide to Speaking Derja — the everyday words for the café, the taxi, and the souk, so you arrive with a head start.
Why Learn Arabic in Tunisia?
Online Arabic classes from home are certainly an option, but you’d be missing out on some of the most enjoyable aspects of learning a foreign language. The Arabic language can be difficult to learn if your first language is English or another European language. You read and write from right to left instead of left to right, you use a different alphabet, and dialects vary by region.
When learning a foreign language on your own, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Having a teacher who is a native speaker and the ability to immediately put your newly acquired knowledge to use will help you retain what you learn.
If you decide to learn Arabic in Tunisia, you will have the opportunity to learn Arabic while also getting to know the culture and customs of the country. You will also be able to visit the most famous, new places, as you may experience many cultural activities and weekend excursions. All of this would make a perfect opportunity to put into practice everything you have learned in your Arabic classes.
Study Arabic in Tunisia: Course Types
There are Arabic classes available for all levels of students. In Tunis, there are many options for learning Arabic quickly, whether you’ve moved to Tunisia for work or just need to fill a spring break.
One can enroll in a short-term intensive beginner’s course for travelers who want to make the most of a quick trip and take private lessons from a tutor or group classes at an Arabic language school.
Arabic Language Schools in Tunisia
Bourguiba Institute of Modern Languages known as Bourguiba School, is by far the best school to learn Arabic in Tunisia for foreign students. The Bourguiba School was created by a presidential decree in 1962. It is an academic institution that operates under the Tunis El Manar University and which is placed under the supervision of the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
They do have courses throughout the year, including in summer. It is located in the Avenue de liberté in Tunis downtown, next to the Synagogue. They do also have offices in several other cities throughout the country.
| Offices | Street Address |
| Hammam-Lif | 08, Rue Khaled Ibn walid, 2050 Hammam Lif |
| Sfax | INSTITUT SUPÉRIEUR DU SPORT ET DE L’ÉDUCATION PHYSIQUE DE SFAX. Route de l’Aéroport, Km 3,5, BP 384, Sfax – 3000 Tunisie, Tunisie |
| Sousse | 14, Rue du Docteur Groll, 4000 Sousse |
| Kairouan | INSTITUT SUPERIEUR DES ARTS ET METIERS DE KAIROUAN. Rue de Samarkand 3100 Kairouan |
| Mahdia | Lycée Tahar Sfar, Avenue Habib Bourguiba 5100 Mahdia |
| Beja | Institut Supérieur des Langues appliquées et de l’Informatique de Béja. Avenue Habib Bourguiba 9000 Béja |
| Gabes | Lycée Abou El-Kacem Chebbi – Avenue Abou El-Kacem Chebbi- Devant Carrefour – 6000 Gabès |
| Kasserine | Institut Supérieur des Arts et Métiers de Kasserine. Boulevard de l’Environnement, 1200 Kasserine |
| Gafsa | Lycée Houcine Bouzaiène. Route de Kasserine. Cité Nour, 2100 Gafsa |
| Medenenine | Lycée Médenine, Route Benguerdène – 4100 Médenine |
| Sidi Bouzid | Lycée 2 Mars 1934 – rte 2 mars 1934 – Sidi Bouzid – 9100 |
Arabic Language Programs in Tunisia
Classes range from beginner to advanced. So whether you are starting from the alphabet or reading novels, you’ll be able to find a comfortable fit. Tuition fees are very affordable. The only qualification you will need to check is age. Some programs don’t allow students under the age of 15. You can go there and ask for more information.
Please note that there are several other schools that provide Arabic courses across the country, however, Bourguiba School is the most known public school that has been operating for decades with great reputation.
- Street Address: 47 Avenue de La Liberté, Tunis 1002
- Phone Number: (+216) 71 832 418
- Fax: (+216) 71 833 684
- Email Address: iblv@iblv.utm.tn
- Website: iblv.rnu.tn
You’ll find several Arabic language schools in Tunisia, most of them are located in Tunis, the capital. You can check whatever it suits your needs, however, we highly recommend to attend Bourguiba School.
Tuition at a public institute like Bourguiba School is very affordable by international standards, and Tunisia remains one of the cheaper places in the Mediterranean to live and study. Exact costs move with the exchange rate, so budget against current numbers rather than old ones — our cost of living in Tunisia guide breaks down rent, food, and daily prices for students and long-stay visitors.
Just like any other language, it would require time and efforts. There are different programs, depends on your goal, but we would estimate 3 months for basic knowledge.
From the Carthage Magazine Bookshelf
Whether you enroll or just want a head start before you land, three Carthage Magazine ebooks were built for the road into Tunisian Arabic:
- Speak Like a Local — 200+ Tunisian Arabic phrases with native audio recorded in Tunis, organized across 13 chapters for the taxi, the souk, the café, and the dinner table. The hard part of Derja is the sound, and this is the only way to get it in your ear before you land. $14.99 · PDF, EPUB, MP3
- All About Tunisia — the definitive English-language traveler’s guide. 572 pages, 27 chapters, all nine regions, every UNESCO inscription, and the practical answers (visa, currency, transport, etiquette) most travelers wish they’d had on the plane. $24.99 · PDF & EPUB
- The Authentic Tunisian Cookbook — sixty traditional recipes from the heart of North Africa, for when you’re home and the food is what you miss. $9.99 · PDF & EPUB
All three available as a bundle for $39.99 — language, guide, and food, delivered together.
