Assalamu alaykum wa ahlan wa sahlan, I am Warka Al-Wandawi, and I am delighted to support you on your Arabic learning journey at Umm Al-Qura Academy. As part of an academy with over 50 years of experience in teaching Arabic as a second language to non-Arabic speakers, I am proud to contribute to a long-standing tradition of structured, meaningful, and high-quality Arabic language education.

I hold a degree in Arabic Translation and Interpreting from the University of Salford. I also hold a PGCE, a Master’s-level teaching qualification, from the University of Bolton, where I specialised in teaching Arabic as a second language.

With over 25 years of teaching experience in Arabic and Islamic Studies, I have taught learners of different ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds. My aim is always to create a supportive and engaging environment in which students can grow in confidence and make steady progress. I also incorporate Islamic culture into my teaching, helping students deepen their knowledge and appreciation of their religion while strengthening their Arabic language skills.

My teaching places a strong emphasis on speaking and dialogue, as I believe students make the best progress when they actively use Arabic in every lesson. I focus on helping learners develop Arabic that can be used in day-to-day life. For this reason, lessons include practical conversation, guided speaking tasks, pair work, quizzes, mini tests, and interactive activities that build confidence in real-life communication.

I support learners in developing their speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension skills. My lessons are carefully differentiated to meet a range of learning needs, so that every student feels supported, challenged, and encouraged.

Using the Umm Al-Qura curriculum, I aim to provide learners with a clear, structured, and enriching learning experience that builds confidence, fluency, and the ability to use Arabic in meaningful everyday contexts.