Classes
The Taa Marbouta Language Centre has three classrooms, each showcasing the calligraffiti of Blech Esm, a local mural art company. The three rooms are named after three significant Arab writers of the twentieth century: Abulqassem Al-Chebbi, Mahmoud Darwish, and Nawal El-Saadawi. Our centre also has a kitchen and bathroom, a beautiful balcony, and sits next to the ancient Punic Port in historic Carthage, a UNESCO world heritage site on the Mediterranean Sea. Students are welcome to use available spaces at the centre outside of their class times; it is a safe, comfortable environment for Tunisians and international students alike. Sitting outside on our branded beanbags on the balcony in the sun has been very popular amongst students over the past few years!
The Taa Marbouta Language Centre is driven by flexibility, which means our classes are able to start with just two students. At the same time, progress and effective learning is of the utmost importance to us, and so we limit classes to a maximum of eight students. Unless students have zero experience with a language (starting from scratch, ab initio), we ask everyone to complete a relatively quick placement test before coming so that we can place people into groups that are appropriate for their level. Group classes allow students to build confidence gradually, learn from the mistakes of their peers, and make friends along the way.
Classes are available in Modern Standard Arabic, French, Tunisian Arabic, Libyan Arabic, and English. We also occasionally have sessions in other interesting languages or dialects, such as Hebrew and Tamazight. You can read more about each option on their individual pages, and if you follow our social media pages you will hear about our regular events that explore other languages or aspects of culture in Tunisia.
Evening classes last 90 minutes and take place after typical working hours, with the aim of fitting into the busy schedules of working professionals and others. Intensive classes generally last for four hours per day and take place in either the morning or afternoon, with short breaks built in to keep everyone fresh. While groups classes take place at our language centre in Carthage, online sessions can be arranged via Zoom for private study.
We provide study materials for all classes; students are just asked to bring their own notebooks, pens/pencils, and an open mind. We ask that students do not open laptops or use their phones during classes as these distract not only the student, but also the students sitting around them. We ensure that regular breaks are built into the classes so that students can recharge and refresh regularly.
While the majority of our classes take place in Carthage, we try to organise regular study visits in line with the content that students are studying. This will include historical and cultural sites around Tunis, and occasionally visits to other parts of the country. This helps enable students to apply what they are learning and truly live the language.
