Here's How You Can Spend One Month Studying Arabic in Istanbul

We Spent One Month Living and Studying Arabic in Istanbul 

Cappuccino at MADO's at Canpark Mall with Arabic HW from Aromer

Bismillah ArRahman ArRahiem. I’ve heard the long and varied list of things that draw people to visit the enchanting land of Turkey.  Some come for a deeply spiritual trip linking to the old virtues of great Islamic characters such as the host of Muhammad saws Ayyub Ansari whose tomb is by the way in Istanbul. Some come to take notes from this historic crossroads of empires, while others just want to eat amazing Doner Kabob and go shopping at the Grand Bazaar. For others, Turkish shows like Dirilis a.k.a. Ertugrul, Payitaht a.k.a. the AbdulHameed series or Yusef Emre ignited a deep yearning to see the seat of the longest standing Islamic Empire (Ottoman). For me, it is all of the above that brought me on my first trip to Turkey last November of 2018. But this July, I came mainly to do an intensive study of the language of the Quran and a little of the other things on the side.

For a link to apply for the 2020 Summer Arabic Program, please click here: Aromer Summer 2020 Arabic Program

Dr. Ibrahim Helalshah, Charles (Jibreel) Ashley Ustadh Ali

I’m one of the many Muslims who does not speak Arabic but can read it for purposes of the Quran. Aside from some oft-repeated Quranic vocabulary, I don’t understand what is being said. By the grace of Allah, my family was able to study Arabic at 29 Mayis University in Istanbul. 29 Mayis University is one of the top universities in Turkey. Within its university system is the Arabic Center for Education Implementation and Research known as Aromer.

The Director of the Arabic program at Aromer is respected Dr. Ibrahim Helalshah. The treatment and care we received at Aromer by Dr. Ibrahim and his entire staff called to mind a mini-lesson on Ihsan within Sheikh Yaser Birjas’s amazing course, "Heavenly Hues, A Thematic Tafsir of the Quran," which I had just taken earlier this summer. The local Imam in Dallas, Respected Sheikh Yasir Birjas, really hit the point home about Ihsan where we treat others and do unto others even better than they deserve. That is how I felt we were treated by Aromer’s staff.  Because of that level of care and  Arabic education I received, I feel not only comfortable but obliged to invite friends and family to trust this Arabic program as a great place to further your study of the language of the Quran.

It is definitely challenging to meet all the point requirements to pass one level but it is possible. If you do pass a level, you will receive a certificate stating so. Then you can move onto the next level. If you leave the program and go back home to the States for example, you will be given some homework assignments that will help you to keep up with your Arabic studies. 

This summer, there was a program for younger children to attend Arabic courses but I do not know if that will be repeated next summer. Please speak to the school directly to discuss the costs as they may not be exactly the same as what we paid for the summer. Generally speaking, the tuition is $2 to $3 per hour, depending on how many hours you're taking. If you decide to reside on campus, the dorm fee is about $11 per day which includes three cooked meals per day. Please do double check on those fees. There are start dates and other bits of information you will need to speak to the school directly about. 

Only 15 minute ride from Camlica Masjid

Some Points about Aromer 

• ·         The teachers are native speakers and all of our teachers are Hafidh of Quran (memorized the entire Quran)

• ·         You will learn Fusha (Modern Standard Arabic/Classical

• ·         If you speak Ammi (Colloquial Arabic) this is a great place to learn proper, modern standard Arabic.

• ·         There are 6 levels and you start at the level according to your interview/ initial screening.

• ·         All four components of language acquisition are addressed every single day. Each day, you will write, read, speak and listen to Arabic.

• ·         A typical homework assignment may require you to not only answer questions in Arabic but you may write a letter to your mother.  Other homework assignments may require you to record yourself reading Arabic.

• ·         The Arabic curriculum, scope and sequence is meticulously planned out so for my fellow educators out there, you will appreciate being in the hands of a well-oiled machine.

• ·         The requirements to pass the class is set up on apoints basis and very easy to understand

• ·         Completely immersive so you won’t hear more than a few words of English spoken by your teachers.

• ·         The teachers go through a highly rigorous, screening and selection process so that only the best of the best applicants are hired.

• ·        Classes are rigorous and intensive with no time wasted so you get the most out of your time spent

• ·         Facilities are modern and beautiful

• ·         Staff are professional and courteous

• ·         Gender separate dorms for men and women are available so you can stay on campus

      

We Were Welcomed to Class With Gift Bags Containing School Supplies and a Textbook

Dorms:

The dorms for both men and women are secured the most modern security system. You use your fingerprint and key cards to gain access to your room. For example, to get into the women’s dorm area, you must use your fingerprint to get through the turn-style then to get into your room you swipe a key card like you would at a hotel room. No men are allowed in the women’s dorms. So you are free to uncover if you wear hijab in the halls there. If a man needs to come up for maintenance reasons, an announcement is made so that you have time to prepare. There is a musullah on each floor of the girls’s dorms as well as several classrooms equipped with desks so you can study. There are also chill rooms and other areas to just kick back with your laptop or have chai. They also have a room with ironing boards and irons.

Laundry is on done for a 10tl a bag which comes out to be a little less than $2.00 at today’s exchange rate which is roughly $1.00 for 5.6 Turkish Lira. They even provide the laundry detergent. The ladies’ dorms are beautifully designed with large windows to let lots of light in. There is air conditioning in each room. One of my favorite things to do in the morning before class is look out the balcony. All along each floor of the dorms is a balcony with this Islamic geometrical design.

 I loved to use it to frame a shot with my camera and more often with just my eyes. Imagine looking out at the Camlica masjid through this. You can see mountains off in the distance and if you’re blessed to have a room on a high floor, in addition to the view, you get the benefit of a strong breeze of fresh air that seems to be coming in from the mountains off in the distance.

The View I Enjoyed from My Dorm

Eating on Campus

      

   

There are two eating options:

1.       Cafeteria where you can purchase hot food like burgers and fries, hot and cold drinks and a large assortment of snacks and candy for a fraction of the price in the USA.

2.       A large school style cafeteria and fully staffed kitchen where you take a tray and choose from a variety of  healthy, hearty items comprising a full course meal. The food tastes like your mom made it (if she was Turkish that is). It goes along well with an American's palette / taste buds. You simply pay for this through your account with the school. Here, the food is also a fraction of the price of food in the USA. They serve 3 meals a day here. 

Location of the School

The Aromer Arabic program is housed in Istanbul specifically on the Asian Side in the district of  Umraniye. You would take a ferry or a cab ride across to the European side where Hagia Sophia and the SultanAhmet (Blue Mosque) are located. 

Food Options Near the School

A Restaurant at Canpark Mall

Enjoying a Milkshake at Suppa's

Outside Suppa's Restaraunt

 

Lamb Soup at Antebim

Just like any place, you will find your favorite spots. Sometimes, a place is so good, you don’t feel like trying much else. Antebim was one of those neighborhood spots for us. I could see it from the school so it is a quick 7 minute stroll down the street. After a day of rigorous Arabic class, my favorite way to unwind was with the Lamb Soup at and cold cup of frothy Ayran at Antebim.

This lamb soup is unlike anything I’ve ever had. The meat is tender, there is just the right amount of spice and the broth is in between creamy and clear. It usually comes with a red tint to it and there is fresh garlic at the bottom along with just a few grains of soft rice.

Lamb Soup, Outdoor Seating and Some Good Study Time

The flavor is not Indian nor is it Arab. It is something else just like the Turkish kabobs. Turkish food has its own distinct, pungent and unforgettable flavor. They also make a full variety of kenefa which is served with fruit and chai. Sweet little side notes about Antebim is they have a separate musullah for men and women upstairs, outdoor seating and chai comes gratis or as they call it, ikramun, taking its root from the Arabic word Kareem which means kind.

Enjoying the View of My Ayran (Salty,Sweet, Cold Yogurt Drink) at Antebim

Unlike most places we eat at in the U.S., we felt welcome to stay and linger as long as we liked. They will keep offering you chai ikramun (gratis) even if you sit there for

5 hours. So as a student, I would take my books to a neighborhood restaurant with outdoor seating to enjoy the fresh air, the culture and joyfully engage with my Arabic studies. 

Enjoying Kunefe Fistick (Pistachio) and Arabic at Antebim

Masajid Are Plentiful, You Hear the Adthan Outside 

Across Turkey, there are masajid in every neighborhood so you don’t have too walk far to get to the next one. It is easy to not be able to tell which direction the adthan is being called from as it is coming from multiple masajid. There are several in any 10 minute walking radius. Sometimes you will come across a gorgeous new masjid while most others are a bit older and more deeply embedded into the neighborhood; each having its own charm.

Masjid a Few Minutes Walk from the University

Giant Size Ertugrul on the Bank Building Behind the Masjid

Getting Some Studying In at the Masjid

Making Friends with Friendly Full Time Students at 29 Mayis University

This Friendly Student on the Right Helped Us Out Alot

Malls Near the School in Umraniye

In Front of Canpark Mall

A note about the malls. They are in walking distance, multileveled with escalators, modern and have food courts just like in the US. You will find a musullah inside the malls so you can pray there. From 29 Mayis University, a shuttle leaves once every hour to drop people to the Canpark Mall.

• Akyak you can walk to in 7 minutes

• Canpark 10 minutes walk

Grocery Stores 

You Will Miss the Organic Tasty Fruit 

Shopping for Fruit on a Walk from the School

There is a chain grocery called Migros. You can find them standing alone or inside both Akyak and Canpark malls. Besides that, there are other local grocery stores with produce etc all around. Groceries are so much cheaper in Turkey than the USA. 

Groceries Walking Distance from 29 Mayis Next to a Masjid

Transportation In Istanbul

Buy the card for 6 lira and add money to it. 2.6 Lira per train/ferry/bus ride per person.

Ferry Ride 2.6 Lira

My View Taking a BiTaksi from the School to Fetih Area Across the Bosphorous 

Ferry: 2.6 Turkish Lira

Metro: (train/subway or above ground) 2.6 Turkish Lira

Taxi: Try to avoid the regular taxis. If you must take a taxi, try to make sure you have as close to the exact amount as possible. So keep small bills on you. Some of the drivers will not give you change back and either claim they have no change or demand an exorbitant amount for the cab fare. This happened to us more than once as well as to several American friends who were here as well. Also, try your best to negotiate on the price before they take off.  

Uber: Uber is a little weird in Turkey. You can get the Uber app and order an Uber but there are kinks. First of all, Uber is used by the regular Taxi drivers. So when you order an Uber, a taxi will show up...if he shows up that is. A lot of times, the driver will be circling around or going in the opposite direction because although he accepted to pick you up via the Uber service, he may be busy running taxi service which pays him more. So your little Uber ride is low priority. 
The other thing about Uber there is that the taxi driver just inputs the price at the end. You can negotiate and agree upon a price before you get it and then hope that he actually puts that in at the end. 

BiTaksi: This is the best way to go if you're jumping into a cab. Here is a link to their site. We used them as well and found it to be the cheapest, fairest car service. BiTaksi

 In Your Free Time, Enjoy Istanbul

Sulemaniye Masjid

Cell Phone Service

We used Turkcell because its cheap and it works. You can get your data for a 60 tl set up fee, no contract and you can renew it for free. The SIM is only good for your VISA time. You can add more data to it as long as you are using it within you VISA time-frame. We paid 105 Turkish Lira ($18.75) for 5 GB of data. 

There is a package going for 20 Gigs for 149 Turkish Lira which is valid for 30 days.
Here is another option which looks fine I just haven't used it myself.

Money Exchange 

You can go to the ATM to take out your money as Dollars or Lira. If you have dollars on you, there is a  currency exchange inside the Canpark mall across from Migros the grocery store.

May Allah bless everyone in their pursuit to learn the language of the Quran whether it is in Istanbul or elsewhere. I pray I've provided helpful information. I'm surprised at how much Arabic I've learned after only completing Level 1. I hope others in pursuit of Arabic will come to Aromer and enjoy all the blessings of this school and the Muslim country.

Link to the school website

Aromer Program at 29 Mayis University 

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