General presentation
Why study arabic in Egypt?
In this key country for the Arab world, the Arabic language is alive and in daily use. You will have no choice but to speak it every day, in quotidian situations, which will allow you to move gradually from student to speaker!
To study Arabic in Cairo is to live a total cultural and linguistic immersion. The city offers an unequalled Arabic cultural life: lectures, exhibitions, concerts, performances, dance, theater… often, these activities are even free. At the DEAC, our administrative assistant carefully selects and sends out each Sunday a list of events not to be missed.
Who are we?
Strengthened by 40 years’ experience in teaching Arabic as a living foreign language, the DEAC has developed a solid expertise that is recognized by all its partners. We offer a complete program of linguistic and cultural training that allows Arabic-language learners at all levels to acquire or consolidate skills in the Arabic language, oral and written. Our curricula go from full beginner to advanced-level (A1-C1).
Who are our courses for ?
The DEAC has numerous partners in French academia (l’Université de Paris IV Sorbonne, l’Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, les Instituts d’Etudes Politiques (IEP), l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lyon 3, l’IRCOM, etc.) We also have partnerships with universities in Germany, Denmark, and Brazil.
In addition to French students, the DEAC welcomes each year learners from different countries (Germany, the USA, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Great Britain, Canada, Chile, South Korea, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Lithuania, Italy, Norway Switzerland, etc.)
We also have students who are working professionals who spend a semester or year perfecting their Arabic language skills for personal or professional reasons. Their professional backgrounds are varied: journalists, humanitarians, researchers, artists, administrators, career-changers, etc.
Our classes are therefore rich in nationalities, ages, and life paths. The DEAC welcomes learners who would never otherwise have met. This is a characteristic that we hold dear.
Contact information:
Address :
1 Madrasset El Huquq El Frenseya Street,
Mounira– Cairo
Adresse de la valise diplomatique :
IFE – DEAC, Ambassade de France en Egypte,
13 rue Louveau – 92438 Chatillon Cedex
Telephone:
(+20) 2 27 91 58 41
Email address:
Excellence in Teaching
A Comfortable Setting
- An ambitious curriculum both by the number of contact hours and the range of specialized modules.
- A teaching team of native speakers with solid experience in the teaching of Arabic as a living foreign language.
- A digital platform available to all students (notably, this contains course materials and recordings of all of the texts).
- Modules conducted and evaluated in oral and written Arabic, with the content based on CECRL standards.
- Classes of 5-12 students.
- An immersive study trip to Luxor, Upper Egypt.
- Although the history and culture of Egypt are central to our training, we work to present students with content that reflects the varied journalistic and literary production of the Arab world as a whole. Students travel in space from Mauritania to the Gulf and in time from the pre-Islamic period to today.
- Classes inside the French Institute of Cairo in the Mounira neighborhood (a typical Cairo neighborhood, just outside of downtown) in newly-renovated facilities.
- Classrooms equipped with the digital tools required for modern teaching of living languages.
- Complimentary access to the library/media center and its resources.
- Un service de restauration sur place, qui permet aux étudiants de prendre leurs repas dans l’enceinte de l’Institut, à un tarif préférentiel qui plus est.
- On-site cafe, allowing students to eat at the Institute at a reduced rate.
A Dynamic Department
A Day-to-Day Assistance
- Throughout the year, the DEAC organizes moments of communion in which Arabic is used in different ways: participation in the pyramids half-marathon, World Arabic Language, Day, a visit to the International Arabic Book Fair, organizing an iftar during Ramadan, lectures, a play by students in the theater module, an end-of-year performance and a gala…
- Under certain conditions, the DEAC offers financial support to student projects that are oriented towards Egyptian society and require use of the Arabic language.
- Within the Institute, the French department offers courses for Egyptians. Our two departments organize regular meetings around different themes, giving students an entree into Egyptian society and a chance to practice the language differently.
- Assistance obtaining a visa and residency permit for students staying for a semester or a year.
- A complete settling-in guide, updated each year in May, which allows for advance preparation for arrival in Cairo.
- Particular attention to the security and safety of students.
The DEAC is located on the premises of the French Institute of Egypt in Mounira, an authentic Cairo neighbourhood close to the historic city centre.
On arrival at Cairo airport, you can obtain a tourist visa for around USD 25. This visa is valid for one month, plus fifteen days automatically. It will therefore be valid for six weeks. The counter is on the right after the luggage conveyor belts and just before the passport control queue. As soon as you start your new school year, the DEAC will work with you to take the necessary steps to obtain your residence permit. It currently costs 70 euros to obtain a residence visa.
You will pay in Egyptian pounds but you will also REQUIRED to bring with you a receipt from a bank or currency exchange a receipt that attests that you exchanged foreign currency (EUR or USD) the amount of the visa. The exchange must have occurred within the 15 days prior to your visa’s appointment.
No, you don’t need to be a native French speaker to study at DEAC. All courses are taught in Arabic.
The DEAC offers training adapted to all levels of learning. Consequently, you don’t need to have a basic knowledge of Arabic to join the DEAC.
We welcome :
– Absolute beginners (CEFR A1 level),
– False beginners (CEFR level A2),
– Intermediates (CEFR B1/B2 level),
– And advanced students (CEFR level C1).
Students have lessons five days a week, from Sunday to Thursday, lasting around 6 hours a day, as follows:
– 8.30am to 10.30am
– 11am to 1pm
– Lunch break from 1pm to 2pm
– From 2pm to 4pm
– From 4.30pm, the options begin for those who wish to do so
No. The price already includes the necessary teaching materials.
Payment is made by bank transfer to the DEAC account, which is in France, which means that the transaction is in euros.
No, the DEAC does not award a diploma. However, you will leave with a transcript of marks and a certificate of attendance (provided you attend the course regularly).
The DEAC does not issue a language certificate. However, your transcript will indicate the content of the course (subjects and number of hours) as well as the language level corresponding to the CERCL levels. Please note that the only institution that issues Arabic language certificates is the Arab World Institute.
The time needed to find a flat and settle in varies, but on average you should allow between 10 and 15 days. This will enable you to find a place more quickly and to take advantage of the time remaining before the placement tests to acclimatise, or even travel, as September is a very good time to do this.
For the first few days, we advise you to stay in inexpensive hotels, usually in the city centre, and especially in hotels where students stay, which will enable you to meet people who, like you, are moving to Egypt.
The most popular are : Dahab Hostel, Paradise Inn Hostel, Pension Roma, Hotel Osiris.
Cairo is the ‘capital’ of the Arab world, and cultural activity is very lively. Every Sunday, our librarian sends you a list of cultural activities in Arabic which we recommend you attend.
As for transport, sport and other cultural activities, you’ll find all the answers in our installation guide here.
DEAC is not involved in the flat search process. However, we do provide you with an installation guide, which explains everything about the search, the lease and the precautions to take. We can also put you in contact with students who are leaving, so that you can take over their flat if necessary.
You must take out specific health insurance for abroad (including repatriation insurance) and civil liability insurance. You should give a copy of this to the DEAC administration when you arrive.
Medical expenses incurred in Egypt are reimbursed, but with varying delays. The Caisse des Français de l’Etranger (CFE) is a good health insurance scheme that covers a wide range of disabilities and illnesses. However, it is important to emphasise that the CFE never undertakes to reimburse all medical expenses.
For more information, don’t hesitate to consult the DEAC installation guide, which is very complete.
DEAC’s activities
Theatre
Every year, students in the theatre option write and perform their own play in Arabic!
Tandems
In conjunction with the French department, we organize language exchanges between Egyptians studying French and students at the DEAC.
Pyramids Half Marathon
In December, we participate in the Pyramids Half Marathon.
Graduation party
Following end-of-year exams, we have a graduation party.
World Arabic Language Day
Cairo international book fair
At the end of January, we take students to the largest Arabic book fair, which is held in Cairo.
Iftar
Every Ramadan, we organize an Iftar for the students.
DEAC’s review
We have a biannual review conceived and written by the students.
Students’ projects
Every year, we support student projects: a Franco-Egyptian women’s rugby team, KEEP (a project focused on water issues).
Rugby
Keep
