At the Lycée Français International AFLEC de Dubai, Arabic teaching plays a central role. We offer Arabic lessons tailored to every level, from nursery through to the end of upper secondary, so that every student can develop their language skills and cultural knowledge.
Our lessons are designed to offer full immersion in Arabic language and culture, with an emphasis on spoken and written communication. Students learn to read, write and speak Modern Standard Arabic, while discovering the richness of Arabic literature and traditions.
Arabic teaching hours comply with local KHDA regulations:
- Nursery (maternelle): FS1 (PS): 1 hour (standard stream); FS2 (MS): 2 hours; Year 1 (GS): 3 hours;
- Primary (élémentaire), from Year 2 (CP) to Year 6 (CM2): 5 hours for ALM pupils (including 2 hours from 14:30 to 16:30) and 3 hours for ALE pupils;
- Lower secondary (collège): 4 hours for all students (ALE and ALM);
- Upper secondary (lycée): 3 hours, compulsory for ALM students and optional for ALE students.
ALE or ALM?
From Year 2 (CP), your child will be enrolled either in ALM (Arabic as a Mother Tongue – Arabic A) or in ALE (Arabic as a Foreign Language – Arabic B).
Under local regulations, this depends on the passport presented to the school when the child is enrolled.
- A child enrolled with a passport from a member country of the Arab League will automatically be placed in ALM. In exceptional circumstances, and with an exemption granted by the KHDA, the child may join the ALE group. Each case is reviewed individually with the expertise of the Arabic department and, where necessary, the inclusion team, and then submitted to the KHDA for a decision.
- A child enrolled with a passport from a country that is not a member of the Arab League will automatically be placed in ALE, which also ensures a high level of learning. Under certain conditions (understanding simple instructions and describing simple pictures in Modern Standard Arabic, etc.), pupils entering Year 2 (CP) may be enrolled in ALM. For pupils already at the school, this is determined by the end-of-Year 1 (GS) assessment. In September, a test is held for new arrivals who request it. The school’s decision complies with local regulations and is final.
An assessment carried out during the year determines whether or not the student remains in ALM in the following years.
LFI’s ambition is to help every student achieve the highest possible command of the language, whether in ALE or ALM. Ability groups are organised by the Arabic department throughout a student’s schooling.
LFI is an accredited examination centre for the Certificate of Mastery of Arabic (CIMA – Certificat de Maîtrise d’Arabe).
Students may sit it from Year 11 (Seconde) onwards.
In pictures
