DC Internationals MESALI

I cannot recommend MESALI highly enough. Run by a professional and responsive team, they will do whatever it takes to get you matched up with the language you are seeking to learn. I have taken 180 hours of Sorani Kurdish through MESALI so far via Zoom and plan to continue. Our instructor, Shene, created the Sorani-English curriculum from scratch, filled with interactive activities, conversational basics, flashcards, and more. She availed herself to all our questions and translation support requests. MESALI will work with your academic institution to give you course credit if needed. Learning languages is an enriching way to spend your time and grow– this is a great way to pursue that.

I required to maintain proficiency in a language for my work and MESALI is an excellent school to maintain and improve language skills. I took two classes at MESALI over a two year time period and I was able to improve my listening and reading comprehension significantly. I started the first class at a level below meeting standards for my occupation and by the time I finished the second course, I was far exceeding requirements. The school offered various, flexible class options, which was helpful in working around my work and family schedule, and my teacher was excellent. I would highly recommend this school.

MESALI classes are top notch. As a student in the beginner Arabic class, I was impressed when my classmates and I were able to read words in script within a few classes while learning a significant amount of vocabulary and constructing sentences at a rapid pace. The classes include quality instruction and are extremely effective at improving language skills quickly. The classes are small and very personalized to the students as well, which has created a fun, productive, and creative learning environment. I highly recommend, sukran MESALI!

I view my intermediate Arabic course at MESALI as a great experience. To my pleasant surprise, I very quickly learned advanced grammar and started to speak Arabic, as requirements for my Graduate Studies program. Given English is not my native tongue, learning beginning Arabic through English instruction could have been extra difficult, rather the teachers made learning clear and comfortable. I just had a basic knowledge of Arabic when I started this course, but gradually became able to speak and also improve my writing skills at the same time. Having a knowledgeable and motivating teacher, helps you go far beyond what you want to learn, especially when you are learning a new language. I had two great teachers who encouraged me all the time, to start speaking by practicing what I've learned in the classroom in terms of grammar and vocabulary. They went far beyond teaching by using different learning methods and thinking of creative ideas to keep pushing me to learn and helped me to get over my hesitation to speak the language. They also took personal interest in me, and went the extra mile to advise me with my professional pursuits well beyond language, with their contacts and relationships throughout the foreign policy community, a great value added to MESALI being based in Washington DC. I highly recommend MESALI.

During my time studying Modern Standard Arabic at DC Internationals MESALI, I have learned so much, in such a short amount of time. Starting from scratch, I participated in the 120 hour Summer Critical Languages Institute, and in another 120 hour course during the Fall semester because I saw so much concrete tangible results. In comparison to other language classes I have participated in, MESALI is unique, in that, its professors provide different teaching methods that make it easier for the student to learn. For example, professors would provide memory tools and reveal patterns that would make it easier for the student to apply while learning the language. At MESALI, the professors are knowledgeable, helpful, and personable. At no time have I felt that the training was sub-par. I strongly recommend MESALI for any person who is looking to learn a new language, or enhance a language they currently possess as the professors are flexible and accommodating at all levels. With the help of MESALI, I feel confident in the training I am receiving that I will be able to use it as I progress in my career.

I just completed a private Arabic course with DC Internationals MESALI instructors Nadia and Abdou. It was excellent! I really liked how the instructors worked with me to find course materials that interested me. I felt much more confident about speaking in Arabic after this class.

I had the pleasure of taking the Arabic 1 Standard course with Mesali. I was very hesitant to sign up and commit to a language course on top of my busy work and personal schedule, but am very glad that I did. The instructor was pleasant, knowledgeable, and surprisingly funny! The small class size and engaging teaching style helped keep everyone focused. It gets pretty tiring to sit through a class after working from 9-5, but these classes were a great time. Time and money well spent!

This summer I took an intermediate-level intensive course in Modern Standard Arabic at DC Internationals MESALI under the instruction of Adjunct Professor Zahara'. I was very pleased with the course and my instructor. After reading and speaking proficiency assessments with other staff, my teacher adjusted my level accurately and changed the textbook series -- providing a personal touch. The textbook work included reading out loud and answering comprehension questions. This led to discussions on topics that increased my vocabulary far more extensively than the textbook itself. One of the coolest aspects of my class was listening to my teacher speak Arabic at a fluid speed. This helped me to understand Arabic in real time and the immersive environment encouraged me to respond and contribute in Arabic as well, thus honing my speaking proficiency, speed, and vocabulary. I highly recommend studying Arabic with Adjunct Professor Zahara' at DC Internationals MESALI. She is a kindhearted, generous, and intelligent teacher with multiple degrees and much experience in education, Arabic and English literature, and other fields. In addition to MSA, I unexpectedly amassed a wealth of information about Arab history, culture, religion, politics, media, etc. from her. Years ago, I had a similar positive experience with Ross, the director of DC Internationals, which is mainly why I returned, and I'm super glad I did!

Due to my career, I was interested in learning Arabic in the DC area so I searched the internet to see what was available. After discovering a wide range of offerings, I settled on two private institutes that offered evening courses and enrolled in both - one on Mon and Wed nights and the other on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Needless to say, the Middle East & South Asia Language Institute DC Internationals MESALI was one of those institutes. The difference was astounding. The coursework at the unsaid institute was more similar to a course you'd expect at a local senior center where people would take a language as a hobby, not to assist in an actual career. By the end of that institute's course, the class had dwindled from around 15 down to 3 or 4. Needless to say, it would not qualify as college credit. MESALI on the other hand was serious about its courses and its instruction, akin to Graduate School study. The coursework was rigorous and the goal was clearly to equip the students with valuable language skills that would assist us in our careers. I would highly recommend MESALI to anyone who is looking to attain invaluable language skills for their career. MESALI is the real deal.

I found my Arabic class here through reviews, and the results surpassed my expectations. The classes got my Arabic off the ground, and I am continuing with them to keep advancing. We also developed a camaraderie among the students that kept morale up when classes went late. I highly recommend the Arabic classes here.