Listed here are some of the worst language schools for Arabic language training worldwide, i.e. the TAFL centres to avoid (from better to worse):
– Alexandria Centre for Languages (ACL). Only come here within a group organised by your university. Even then, do not have high expectations and forget what you saw in the brochure (it’s outdated) or heard in the presentation.
– SOAS Language Centre (not to be confused with the SOAS degree/diploma programmes, which are very good – perhaps the best). Choose the language centre if you want to be continually reminded that nobody speaks modern standard Arabic or if you just want to learn random vocabulary and grammar. Taught by foreign masters/PHD students (or former students) of the university (who are primarily native Arabic speakers, not teachers). However, sometimes you get lucky. May help to run a background check on the teacher before enrolling.
– Arabica Institute (Ibn Jabal). Pay them lots of money to hear why they think School of Oriental & African Studies is bad, from a teacher who almost failed his SOAS Arabic degree; who lectures by reading from a script, i.e. the useful book you can download while you are student, but can never buy as a book.
– UJLC, Jordan university. You are better off working in Dubai and learning Arabic part-time. Permanent contract teachers only get jobs here if they have a connection. Consequently, they are too lazy to teach and waste your time with a language partner scheme. Also, they are proud to be retarded.
– TAFL Center, Alexandria university. If you do not mind a premature death, then this is the place for you. This place might work for you if they consider you Egyptian or if you are from the British embassy (then, while bowing down, they will probably forget to remind you that you destroyed their country and might even celebrate your monarch’s birthday). Almost forgot to mention the racism and discrimination. For more details, read on.
In 2014, I was a complete beginner to Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, yet the director (Dr Lana Habib) put me in a higher level, explaining that I was super smart. As a consequence, I understood next to nothing during those classes and my reservations were ignored. Later during the term, she obliged me to attend (just myself) a conference, in Colloquial Arabic, at the French Cultural Centre, claiming that I was the most suitable student.
During the term, one of the colloquial teachers was suppose to give me extra tuition (in order to catch up with the others), but she was probably still hung up with me having eaten at a Syrian restaurant.
In 2016, Dr Lana Habib misinformed me about what programmes and levels were available at the TAFL Center. Consequently, I wasted time considering unsuitable programmes and courses, which she had encouraged me to join.
The director tried to confuse me about my level of Arabic. Eventually, I ended up enrolling in another centre at the wrong level and being cheated out of my money.
I was insulted by a teacher during a class in the TAFL Center. She questioned my British identity and laughed at my face. Then encouraged another student to laugh with her.
There appeared to be some degree of hostility towards me, perhaps because I ate in a Syrian restaurant (at the invitation of others) or that the teacher believed Britain was responsible for the destruction of Egypt.
All in all, my time was wasted in Alexandria. When I complained to the TAFL Center, instead of resolving the issue with the teacher, the director sought to hide suitable programmes and courses that I could benefit from and annoy me until I left the centre.
Arabian Misadventures 