About ANNS
The Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Center (ANNS) – Languages, Communication and Translation Cluster, College of Arts and Science – is a language center that offers an intensive Arabic Language Courses to international students whose mother tongue is not Arabic.
Annually, the Center offers six levels of language proficiency, which correspond to A1- C2 levels (CEFR). Applicants to the ANNS center are enrolled as full-fee paying students, nominees from educational or cultural institutions, or students who are sponsored by the Qatar Fund for Development.
Since its establishment in 2006, the Center has been a major platform for achieving the university's goals in promoting the Arabic language, building strong academic, cultural and research relations with various educational institutions, and improving cooperation with its regional and international partners. The ANNS center has signed more than 30 agreements and MoUs with various international and local academic and non-academic institutions among which are: Kyiv National University (Ukraine), Al Jamia Al Islamiyya (Kerala, India), University of Darussalam (Indonesia), Jakarta Government University (Indonesia), University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Sakarya University (Turkey), Marmara University (Turkey), Russian Mufti's Council, Hifzul Quran Organization (Ghana), The Islamic Foundation (United Kingdom), Qatar Embassy in Moscow, Vietnam Embassy in Doha, etc.
History
The ANNS center was founded as an academic unit within the Arabic Language Department (CAS) by University regulation 7, enacted by the University President in 1986. In 2006, the Center began to operate as an independent department – Arabic Programme - with its own mission, vision, and objectives. In 2015 the Arabic Programme was transformed into the Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Center.
Vision
The ANNS strives to become a world-leading center in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers. Its priority is to promote Arabic and to build strong cultural relations with people all over the world.
Mission
The ANNS center aims to provide an outstanding opportunity to learn the Arabic Language for Non-Native Speakers who are coming from various language, cultural and religious background. It employs innovative teaching methods and technologies to ensure that its students achieve the highest possible results. As well, it makes great effort to encourage research in the field of teaching Arabic to non-native speakers.
Objectives
- To offer an intensive Arabic language course to non-native speakers.
- To offer core courses to Qatar University students whose mother tongue is not Arabic.
- To offer tailored courses to satisfy the needs of various professional groups: diplomats, academics, bank workers, medical workers, etc.
- To provide consultation and assistance to various educational institutions (both in Qatar and outside) in preparing and developing academic programmes and curricula for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers.
- To promote interaction with other universities, institutes, and research centers that focus on teaching Arabic to non-native speakers.
The ANNS center focuses on teaching Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It applies a number of modern teaching strategies such as communicative approach, learner-centered education, digitally enriched education, etc. The courses offered at the Center aim to develop all communicational skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing; as well as to provide wide knowledge of Arabic literature and culture.
In addition to its intensive academic programme, the Center organizes monthly excursions and field trips to various well-known places in Doha, which possess cultural and educational significance: Qatar National Museum, Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar National Library, Al Jazeera television company, Qatar Radio Station and many others.
- Arabic language teachers (non-Arabs) who wish to improve the language skills.
- Students (non-Arabs) whose major is the Arabic language and literature.
- Students (non-Arabs) who specialize in international relations, diplomacy, Middle East Studies, religious studies.
- International applicants who want to learn Arabic for their personal goals.
- Members of the expatriate community in Qatar who wish to learn Arabic for social and communicative purposes.
- Foreign instructors at Qatar University who wish to learn Arabic to communicate with their colleagues and students.
Applicants to the ANNS center must meet the following minimum criteria:
- A minimum of high school diploma (University graduates are preferred).
- Between 18 and 40 years of age.
- An applicant was not granted a scholarship to study in the Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Center previously (fee –paying students can re-apply and study up to three years)
- Priority is given to applicants with at least basic knowledge of the Arabic language (knowledge of the Arabic alphabet and basics of reading and writing)
- An applicant should be able to communicate either in English or Arabic with the administration of the Center and the university community.
- Scholarship admission (only for applicants from outside Qatar)
- Organizational nominees (organizations that have signed agreements / MoU with Qatar University annually nominate a certain number of students to the ANNS center)
- Qatar Fund for Development nominees (QFFD offers a number of scholarships for international applicants from developing countries to study at the ANNS center)
- Fee - Paying admission (for applicants from inside and outside Qatar).
Scholarship
- Round-trip air ticket.
- Tuition fee and textbooks.
- Accommodation at QU student hostel which includes three meals per day, transportation from / to university, sport and recreational facilities.
- Monthly financial aid of 500 QR.
Tution Fee
Tuition fee is based on a number of credit hours: 1 credit hour = 1,000 QR. Depending on a language level, a student has to register between 10 and 11 credit hours per term (the academic year consists of two terms). Therefore, tuition fee varies between 20,000 and 22,000 QR per academic year.
The Arabic language programme lasts one-academic year and consists of two academic terms: Fall Term and Spring Term. During one term, a student can complete one language level. Upon completing the academic year – given all requirements met - a student receives a language certificate, which states the language proficiency level completed and the grade received.
The ANNS center focuses on teaching Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It implements a wide range of modern teaching strategies: communicative approach, learner-centered education, digitally enriched education, etc. Courses offered at the Center aim at developing all communicative skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) in addition to providing wide knowledge of Arabic literature (classic and modern) and culture.
At the beginning of an academic year, all students have to sit for a placement test. The placement test covers all language skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking) and aims at determining the language level of new students.
Applicants to the Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Center are required to apply Online through the QU online Admission Application.
To view eligibility requirements, required documents, admission timeline, online admission application, please visit the International Students' website.
