I do not speak Arabic. Can I still help my child?

Yes. You do not need to teach the language. You can build a routine, listen to your child read, use flashcards and audio, talk with the school teacher and notice where your child is stuck. Many non-Arabic-speaking parents support their children well this way.

Why does my child find Arabic so hard when they manage other subjects?

Arabic has a new script written right to left, letters that change shape depending on their position, sounds that do not exist in English or Indian languages, and a difference between the spoken dialect and the formal Arabic taught at school. It is a lot to absorb at once, especially with only a few lessons a week.

How much practice does a young child need?

Short and frequent works best. Ten to fifteen minutes on most days, reading aloud or practising letters, does more than one long session at the weekend.

My child is in Grade 5 and still cannot read Arabic. Is it too late?

No. Older children often learn the reading basics faster than young ones once they get focused help, because they understand how learning works. The key is to go back to letters and sounds rather than struggling on with grade-level texts.

Learning at home

Helping your child learn Arabic at school as a non-native speaker

Practical ways for non-Arabic-speaking parents in the Gulf to support a child learning Arabic at school, from letters and reading to homework and confidence.

By the Qlive team. 21 September 2026 . 5 min read.

In most Gulf countries, Arabic is part of the school day for every child, whether they go to a CBSE school, a British school or an IGCSE school. For children from Arabic-speaking homes, that is familiar ground. For Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, European and many other families, it can be the hardest subject on the report card, and the one parents feel least able to help with. If you do not speak or read Arabic yourself, this guide is for you. It covers why Arabic is hard for non-native speakers, what to do at home, and when to get extra help.

Why Arabic is hard for non-native speakers

Understanding the difficulty helps you be patient with it.

A new script, written right to left. Children who are just getting comfortable with English handwriting now need a different direction and different letter shapes.
Letters change shape. Most Arabic letters look different at the start, middle and end of a word, or when standing alone. That is up to four forms to recognise.
Dots matter. Several letters share the same base shape and differ only in the number and position of dots.
New sounds. Arabic has sounds made at the back of the throat that English, Hindi or Malayalam do not have.
Short vowels are marks, not letters. Beginners’ texts show them as small marks above and below letters. Later texts often leave them out.
Spoken and written Arabic differ. Schools teach Modern Standard Arabic, while the Arabic your child hears in shops and on the street is a local dialect.
Little exposure at home. Native-speaking children hear Arabic all day. Your child may hear it only in a few school periods a week.

Signs your child needs more support

Cannot name or write all the letters by the end of the early primary years
Copies Arabic homework letter by letter without being able to read it
Avoids Arabic homework, or it always ends in tears
Memorises reading passages instead of decoding the words
Arabic marks are well below other subjects and falling
Teacher comments mention reading or spelling repeatedly

What you can do at home, even without speaking Arabic

Build a short daily routine

Ten to fifteen minutes, most days, at the same time. For example, straight after a snack once home from school. Consistency matters more than length.

Learn the letters alongside your child

You do not need to be fluent. Learning the alphabet together can be fun, and children enjoy correcting their parents. Use an alphabet chart on the wall at your child’s eye level.

Use audio

Many Arabic textbooks and apps come with audio. Let your child listen and repeat. If the school shares recordings, play them in the car or during breakfast.

Make letter cards

Write each letter (or print them) on cards. Play simple games:

Find the letter that matches the sound
Sort letters by shape family, such as those with the same base but different dots
Show a letter and ask for its beginning, middle and end forms

Listen to them read

Even if you cannot follow every word, you can listen, encourage and notice when your child hesitates. Ask them to point at each word with a finger as they read.

Talk to the Arabic teacher

Ask:

What should my child be able to do by the end of this term?
Where exactly are they struggling: letters, joining, reading, vocabulary or writing?
What could we practise at home each week?
Are there audio recordings or online resources you recommend?

Celebrate small wins

Reading a first full sentence, writing their name, or recognising Arabic on a shop sign are real achievements. Notice them out loud.

A step-by-step path for beginners

This is a rough order that many teachers follow. Your child’s school may use a different sequence.

Stage	What your child learns	Practice idea at home
1	Letter names and sounds	Alphabet song, letter cards
2	Writing letters in their standalone form	Tracing sheets, sand or salt trays for young children
3	Short vowel marks	Read simple letter-plus-vowel combinations aloud
4	Letter forms at the start, middle and end of words	Find a letter in different words and circle it
5	Joining letters into short words	Read two- and three-letter words, then build them with cards
6	Reading simple sentences with vowel marks	Read a few lines from the textbook every day
7	Vocabulary and basic grammar	Label household items, learn five words a week
8	Reading without vowel marks, writing sentences	Short dictation, writing a few sentences about their day

If your child is stuck at a later stage, it is often because an earlier stage was never fully secure. Going back is not a step backwards.

By age group

KG and the early grades

Keep it playful. Songs, colouring letters, tracing and finding letters around the house. Aim for familiarity, not perfection.

Grades 3 to 5

This is when reading fluency should build. If your child cannot yet decode simple words, focus on letters and joining first. Reading aloud daily is the most useful habit.

Grades 6 and above

Texts get longer and grammar heavier. Vocabulary lists and regular short writing practice help. Children who missed the basics earlier often need a structured catch-up, rather than more grade-level homework.

What a parent told us

One parent whose daughter was in Grade 2 at The Indian High School, Al Garhoud in Dubai shared this with us:

“Qlive helped solve the main problem in Devika’s studies, Arabic. She was struggling with the basics and didn’t know how to read or write. Now, I’m happy to say she can read and write Arabic confidently.”

Devika’s parent, Grade 2, The Indian High School, Al Garhoud (Dubai)

Her experience is common: the problem was the basics, and once they were taught properly, reading and writing followed.

When to get extra help

Consider a tutor if:

Your child is more than a year behind what the school expects
Homework always ends in frustration for both of you
The school teacher suggests extra support
Your child has moved from another country and is starting Arabic late

Look for a teacher who is patient with beginners, can explain in English or your home language when needed, and starts by checking letters and sounds rather than jumping into the textbook.

Arabic with Qlive

Qlive teaches Arabic one-to-one, and our teachers include Arabic speakers who also speak English and other languages. For children who have missed the basics, our Foundation programme rebuilds Arabic step by step through levels. A free assessment shows where your child is with letters, reading and writing, so classes can start at the right point.