When an Indian or expat child starts failing or struggling in Arabic class, the immediate reaction of most parents in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah is to look for an online tutor.
A quick search online returns hundreds of results. You will find native Arab tutors, freelance university students, and large tutoring platforms. But choosing the wrong tutor can waste months of time and thousands of dirhams, leaving your child even more frustrated. Here is a checklist of exactly what to look for when choosing an online Arabic tutor.
1. Do They Understand Expat Students?
This is the most critical question. There is a huge difference between tutoring a native Arab student and tutoring an expat student.
Native Arab tutors often explain Arabic concepts using Arabic, which is completely ineffective for a beginner. You need a tutor who is fluent in English or Hindi/Urdu. They must be able to use the child's home language as a bridge to explain complex rules of grammar, sentence construction, and pronunciation.
2. Are They Familiar with Your Child's Specific School Curriculum?
An American school following the MOE B curriculum has different textbook chapters than a CBSE school preparing students for school board exams, which is different again from a British school preparing for GCSE Arabic.
Before hiring, ask: "Are you familiar with the Grade 7 Arabic syllabus for [Your Child's School Curriculum]?" A qualified tutor will instantly recognize the syllabus requirements and know what exams are coming up.
3. Do They Offer a Free Demo Class?
Any confident and professional tutoring service should offer a free, no-obligation trial or demo class. This allows you to evaluate:
- The tutor's communication style and tone.
- Your child's comfort level and engagement.
- The quality of the online classroom technology (audio, video, whiteboard).
Never pay upfront for packages or long-term contracts before your child has completed a successful trial session.
4. Check Reviews from Expat Parents Specifically
A tutor might have a 5-star rating, but check who is writing the reviews. If all reviews are from native Arab families praising the tutor for teaching Quran recitation or classical literature, that tutor may not have the skillset needed to help a struggling Indian kid pass basic school Arabic exams.
5. How Do They Track and Report Progress?
Tutoring should not just be about doing homework help. It should be structured. A good tutor does a baseline assessment of the student, creates a learning roadmap aligned with the school syllabus, and shares monthly progress reports with the parents.
Why School Arabic Online Was Built For Expat Kids
At School Arabic Online, we specialize exclusively in teaching Arabic to Indian and expat children in the UAE. Our tutors are bilingual, experts in school curricula (CBSE, MOE B, British, American), and use interactive tools to make learning fun and effective.
6. Confirm Timing and Scheduling Flexibility
Tutoring should fit seamlessly into your child's weekly schedule. Tutors must work in the UAE time zone (GST, UTC+4) and be available during peak student hours (usually 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM on weekdays or Saturday mornings). Check if they allow easy rescheduling if the child has school exams or events.