When I usually ask learners at Shine what is the number 1 step for success with Arabic is, most of them reply with things that relate to self-belief. Now whilst self-belief is an extremely important step, it is not the first step. It’s actually step number two.

Now if you are hearing this for the first time, you may already have all sorts of questions. So let’s break this down in to several areas. As you read through these paragraphs, try to align them to the following themes;

The importance of a good system
Signs of a good system
What does ‘believe in the system’ mean

Now if you are studying Arabic (or anything else for that matter), you will be learning from someone else’s syllabus or book, or using someone else’s teaching methods. And this can only benefit you to a high degree if you were the type of person that this syllabus, book or teaching style was created for. At the very least, this system should be adaptable to your needs. Imagine studying Arabic with translations in a language you are not highly skilled at. You see what I mean right? Without the right system, you’ll be on an uphill struggle, regardless how good you are as an individual.

So what does it mean to believe in the system? It means that you believe that the system is set up for you to win. It means that you know that the tools and resources are there to support you along your journey. It means that even if you don’t understand something, or if there are some bumps along the way, you know that the system will get you where you want to be.

I’ve seen this happen so many times when our learners at Shine get started with me. I see them go from being nervous about what’s ahead of them — maybe even doubting whether they can or cannot do this — to being excited about all of the possibilities and opportunities that await them on this journey!

So what are the signs of a good system? A good system will be simple enough to avoid information overload, yet sophisticated enough to help you get where you want to be. A good system will feel like a breath of fresh air, bringing with it endless possibilities and hope. It flows seamlessly from one part to the next. You will feel proficient enough to be able to anticipate what the next steps are, whilst still maturing towards mastery each day. And undoubtedly, having a mentor that ca help you navigate and avoid the blind spots you may come across is a double plus. Because this will bring out the best in you in both times of ease and difficulty through encouragement and realistic solutions.

Now I hope and pray you enjoyed the read, and Insha Allah Step two to master Arabic is coming soon. But in the meantime, if you are intrigued to find out what the Shine Arabic system is all about, then head over here.

Moulana Mohammed Daud

Founder of Shine Arabic

The smart choice is Shine

A Review from a Mother of Four

I have always desired to study Arabic simply because I wanted to understand what I was praying whilst reciting the Holy Qur’an and my daily du’as. I first started learning Arabic many years ago by attending a weekly course. I soon realised that this wasn’t working for me and I eventually gave up.  At one point I even tried to learn by myself without a teacher, but again, I realised that this was just not feasible. In August this year I discovered the Shine Online Arabic course, after a friend recommended it to me. Since then, I have not looked back! The Shine Online course is absolutely perfect for me. Even though I have more personal responsibilities now than when I did when I first started to learn Arabic, I have managed to keep up with my work and Alhumdulillah I have made significant progress. This is due to the way the course has been structured. I pick a time during my day which suits me, to complete my work, without the pressure of having to attend classes away from home. The Friday Live sessions perfectly compliment and consolidate the lessons I have covered during the week. The daily video lessons are clear and concise and explain the text book very well, and if there’s still something I have difficulty understanding, or if I have any further questions, then I know my tutor is only a text message away. The assignment-based assessments also ensure that I know which chapters I need to brush up on, without the stress of timed examinations. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who is passionate about learning Arabic, but is worried that their daily responsibilities might hold them back. As a mother of four young children and multiple household responsibilities, I can definitely say this course fits perfectly into my busy schedule, and gives me the opportunity to pursue something I have always been passionate about. JazakAllah to everyone at Shine for providing such a fantastic and easy gateway to the wonderful world of Arabic.   Aisha Harif