Lebanese Arabic with Hiba
Experience Lebanese Arabic in a Fun and Engaging Way
Our Story
Back in 2010, I had a beer at Dany’s bar in Hamra and met a group of enthusiastic Italian colleagues who had moved to Beirut for work. As we drank and laughed, they shared their disappointment with me: after studying classical-formal Arabic for years, they discovered they couldn’t really use it in everyday conversation.
Lebanese people mostly use the local dialect, not formal Arabic. This is when the idea of teaching Lebanese Arabic struck me. I made the first YouTube video with the help of my friend Naim, who was able to handle video editing and more. We started recording videos and shared them with friends, initially as a joke. But that joke turned into almost a full-time occupation, thanks to the Italian group of friends! After teaching on YouTube for years with over 18,000 subscribers, the channel grew. Naim and I decided to expand it to offer online lessons.
Since then, we’ve been joined by many teachers who offer prepared lessons and conversational ones, both in groups and one-on-one. During this journey, we’ve met wonderful students, some of whom we’ve even visited in person. Some of our students have become real friends and continued to support us. We’ve also published two books, the “Lebanese Arabic Phrasebook” volumes 1 and 2, and I’ve had the opportunity to teach live in some of Beirut’s charming cafes.
Whether they came to impress their Lebanese partner, mother-in-law, boss, parents, or simply to try a new activity, our students have loved the courses and have been able to speak the language with ease. They’ve also been relieved to find that they can use Lebanese not only in Lebanon but throughout the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region.
Today, “Lebanese Arabic with Hiba” has expanded, but it will always maintain its casual, stress-free approach to teaching and learning. I want my students to be able to express themselves in Lebanese, understand jokes and food menus, while also learning grammar and conjugation. A bit of fun never hurts, whether during the course or in life!
So, dear potential student, I’d be happy to teach you and share my approach to learning Lebanese. I look forward to sharing my love of Lebanese with you!
Salam,
Hiba.
Our Team
Founders
Hiba
I’m a co-founder of Learn Lebanese Arabic. Since 2011 I worked on sharing my love of the Lebanese culture and dialect through my YouTube channel and books. Teaching has allowed me to meet new people who became real friends, and, for that, I’m really grateful! After years of teaching I decided along side with Naim to focus on management and curriculum development of this school, and we love it!
Naim
I’m Naim, the other co-founder of Lebanese Arabic with Hiba. Hiba and I have been slowly building this school from almost nothing, for the past years, and it has been quite fun to do!
Teachers
Mireille
Hello! I am Mireille, I’m a 39-year-old teacher. I’m Lebanese and I live in Beirut. I like reading, yoga, hiking, and discovering the Lebanese natural scenery; add to it my love for keeping in touch with people. I have a teaching degree and more than 10 years of experience in the field.
Adon
I’m an actor, puppeteer and clown doctor. I’m Lebanese, I speak Lebanese and I write in Lebanese. I love what I’m doing, and I love to give all I know about my Lebanese mother language.
Fatima
I’m a performing artist. I’m Lebanese. I know something about everything and everything about something, One of them is Lebanese Arabic! I joke too much sometimes, but hey what’s better than fun learning!
Ella
I am Ella. I am Lebanese and live in Beirut. I love the richness and unique identity of the Lebanese culture and I find a great pleasure in sharing this experience through the doors of Lebanese Arabic. I have a wide range of interest that include learning about other cultures, reading, writing, sports, music… I have a background in Philosophy and Science and more than 10 years of private tutoring experience.
Four Ways of Learning Lebanese
We offer many resources to help you learn the Lebanese dialect.
Some Words From My Students
We would be grateful if you left us a review on our testimonials page
“I’ve been taking remote lessons from Hiba for a few months now and can say she is a wonderful tutor and has helped me take my conversational Arabic to a whole new level. Highly recommended!”
— Zack
“Hiba´s lessons are great and insparing : you want to go further and know more and more of this beautiful langage. She is a very good teacher because she seems to talk to you personnally in her videos, giving you the best advices to help you to memorize.”
— Valerie Perez
“Hiba has helped me transform my broken arabic into something much more conversational and fluid! I always cannot wait for the next video… now another book will be out soon. She has the very best lebanese dialect lessons you can find.”
— Khalil
“I’m a big fan of Hiba’s channel. I found it last year after searching for so long to find somewhere to learn Lebanese. I also like the videos where she goes around the city, I feel they give a nice contextual side to the dialect.”
— Nassim
