Online Arabic Classes for Kids in Canada

Canadian children who already learn in English and French can add Arabic successfully when it is taught in short, regular, one-to-one lessons rather than in one long weekly block. Noor Elbayan Academy teaches Arabic to children from age 6 in live 30-minute lessons on Zoom or Google Meet, with explanations in English or French as you prefer. This page sets out how to avoid overload, which lesson times work from Halifax to Vancouver, and how to make use of March break and the occasional snow day.

A third language without overload

Parents often worry that Arabic will be one language too many, particularly for a child in French immersion or in a francophone school. In practice, children cope well with several languages when each one has a clear place in their life. English may be the language of home or the playground, French the language of the classroom, and Arabic the language of the Quran and of one familiar teacher.

What causes overload is rarely the number of languages. It is usually too much at once, at the wrong time of day. A few principles keep things light:

• Keep lessons short. Thirty minutes is enough for a young child to learn something new and still enjoy it.
• Spread them out. Two or three lessons on different days work better than one long session at the weekend.
• Start with listening and speaking. Greetings, colours, family words and classroom phrases come before grammar.
• Introduce the script gradually. Arabic letters look nothing like the Latin alphabet, which helps: children seldom confuse the two.
• Do not add Arabic in the heaviest week. Avoid starting in the same week as a new school, a new sport or report cards.

The teacher can explain in English or in French. For a child in a francophone school, having instructions in French can make the first weeks much more comfortable.

Lesson times from Atlantic to Pacific

Canada covers six time zones, and Cairo is ahead of all of them. The further west you live, the later an after-school lesson falls in Egypt, so western families often find mornings and weekends easier.

Zone	Usual gap with Cairo	7.00am local	4.00pm local	Saturday 10.00am local
Newfoundland	5.5 hours	12.30pm in Cairo	9.30pm in Cairo	3.30pm in Cairo
Atlantic	6 hours	1.00pm in Cairo	10.00pm in Cairo	4.00pm in Cairo
Eastern	7 hours	2.00pm in Cairo	11.00pm in Cairo	5.00pm in Cairo
Central	8 hours	3.00pm in Cairo	Midnight in Cairo	6.00pm in Cairo
Mountain	9 hours	4.00pm in Cairo	1.00am in Cairo	7.00pm in Cairo
Pacific	10 hours	5.00pm in Cairo	2.00am in Cairo	8.00pm in Cairo

These times are indicative. Most of Canada changes its clocks in March and November, whereas Egypt moves forward in late April and back in late October, so for some weeks the gap is an hour smaller than shown. Some areas, including most of Saskatchewan, keep the same time all year, which also changes the gap seasonally. Because late-afternoon slots in central and western Canada fall during the night in Cairo, ask which times are currently available for your province when you book, and confirm again at each clock change.

A sample week for a Grade 2 child in Ontario

• Tuesday, 7.15am: 30-minute lesson before the school bus.
• Thursday, 7.15am: 30-minute lesson; the teacher reviews Tuesday’s words first.
• Saturday, 10.00am: 30-minute lesson with songs, reading practice and a recap of the week.
• Other days: five minutes with flashcards or the words listed in the lesson report.

Snow days and March break as bonus time

Canadian school calendars come with gaps that can be turned to good use.

• Snow days: when buses are cancelled, your child is at home, rested and usually delighted. If the teacher has a free slot that day, an extra lesson costs nothing in travel. If your usual lesson is affected instead, a lesson cancelled at least six hours ahead is made up.
• March break: a week without school is ideal for a short burst of three or four lessons, for example to finish the alphabet or begin joining letters. Dates differ by province and school board, and Quebec’s spring break often falls earlier, so send your own calendar.
• PD days: a free weekday morning is a good moment for a catch-up lesson.
• Summer: two months without Arabic is enough for a beginner to forget a good deal. One or two lessons a week keep it alive until September.

What children learn, step by step

The Arabic for kids track is designed for children growing up outside the Arab world. It generally moves through these stages, at the child’s own pace:

1. Sounds and everyday words: greetings, numbers, colours, family, food.
2. The letters, their shapes and their sounds.
3. Reading and writing simple words, then short sentences.
4. Short conversations and simple texts.

Families whose main aim is reading the Quran often pair Arabic with the Noor Al-Bayan reading track, which concentrates on accurate reading of the Quranic script. Teachers are Azhari graduates with more than ten years of experience, female teachers are available for girls, and you receive a written report after every lesson.

Fees for families paying in Canadian dollars

The academy states its fees in US dollars, from $40 per month. The amount charged in Canadian dollars depends on the exchange rate on the day of payment and on your bank or card provider, so it will vary a little from one month to the next. The first lesson is a free trial, and a 7-day money-back guarantee applies after you enrol.

Frequently asked questions

Will Arabic harm my child’s French or English?

There is no reason to expect so when lessons are short and regular. Children generally keep languages apart when each is tied to a particular person, place or purpose.

My child is in French immersion. Which language will the teacher use?

You choose. Lessons can be explained in English, French or Arabic, and the teacher will use more Arabic as your child’s understanding grows.

We speak some Arabic at home. Is this track still suitable?

Yes. The teacher assesses your child in the trial lesson and starts from what they already know, which for heritage speakers often means reading and writing.

What do we need at home?

A tablet or laptop, a steady internet connection, a quiet spot and a notebook. A parent nearby helps with younger children.

See how your child takes to it. Book a free trial lesson at a time that suits your province, and decide afterwards.