• To help students study contemporary Arabic with an emphasis on competent communication bringing students to a place where they can confidently communicate well in spoken and written Arabic.
• To help students maximise their resources for continued progress in Arabic at their own pace with a language helper after completing their studies at CLI (barefoot learning*).
• To familiarise students with local culture and history by giving occasional lectures on history, culture, religion, the economy, and other topical issues.

* A guided programme that brings students into contact with local Yemenis in order to consolidate the language that they have been taught in the classroom.

After one and a half years a student who has diligently followed the curriculum will, among other things, be able to:

• Converse with Arabic speakers on a range of subjects;
• Understand the media with the help of a dictionary;
• Correspond in Arabic;
• Continue to progress in all these areas through self-initiated study.

This is an intensive, full-time language programme, leaving little time for other activities. The period of language learning can be a difficult time for some. Students will need to come ready to face some challenges.