Learn the Lebanese Dialect Online: Meet the Founders of Speaking Lebanese
I would have learned to speak Lebanese 30 years ago if a tool like this had existed
Speaking Lebanese is officially open, and you can now learn Lebanese online with us. We're not just a language app, and we're introducing ourselves because we want to get to know you.
I'm Justine Assal, co-founder of Speaking Lebanese. I married into a Lebanese family more than 30 years ago. For three decades I nodded along at the dinner table, catching every third word, and I never found a good way to learn. There were phrase lists, YouTube clips, and textbooks that taught a language nobody at that table actually speaks.
Everything changed when I started learning with Nidale Bachir, our Co-Founder and Course Designer. Nidale designed the course, and her structure and support are what finally got me speaking. Together we built this platform around her expertise and around the problems I faced as a student. I needed to hear every single word to get my pronunciation right, so every word in the course has its own audio.
Today I'm the resident student of Speaking Lebanese. I'm well on my way to fluency, but rest assured: I will never be the one teaching!
Meet Justine and Nidale
Who our Lebanese dialect course is for
Speaking Lebanese is for the diaspora, for friends of Lebanese people, for anyone marrying into the culture, and for everyone working in Lebanon or with Lebanese colleagues. If you've ever wished you could answer your teta in her own words, follow the jokes at a family wedding, or order a man2ouche in Beirut without switching to English, this was built for you.
We've put a lot of love and thought into it, because it means so much to us. We're the real people behind the platform, not a nameless AI.
More than a language app: a community for learning Lebanese
Speaking Lebanese is a whole ecosystem, designed to be friendly and never intimidating.
- Audio of every word. Every word and phrase has its own native-speaker recording, so you can hear it, repeat it, and get it right.
- Interactive games and activities that make practice feel like play.
- Small group conversation sessions, included every month with your subscription. Practise with fellow learners in a relaxed, supportive setting.
- 1-on-1 lessons with our expert team of qualified Lebanese language instructors, at special pricing for subscribers.
We want you to make friends here. We'll keep growing and improving, and your feedback and participation make a real difference. Come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Why the Lebanese dialect, and not the textbook version
Most courses teach Modern Standard Arabic, the formal language of news broadcasts and official documents. It's valuable, but it isn't what people speak at home, in the souk, or on a WhatsApp voice note from your cousin.
The Lebanese dialect has its own sounds, its own grammar, and its own rhythm, often with French and English woven in. We teach the language as it's spoken, from the very first lesson.
We also teach it in Arabizi, the Latin-letter system Lebanese people use every day to text. Numbers stand in for sounds English doesn't have: 3 for ع, 7 for ح, 2 for the glottal stop. You can start speaking straight away, with no need to learn a new alphabet first. Arabic script sits alongside for anyone who wants it.
What's inside the course: CEFR levels A1 to C2
The course follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the same A1–C2 scale used for French, Spanish, and every major European language. That means clear levels, measurable progress, and a path from your very first word to real fluency.
- A1 is open now. Eight lessons, each with 12 activities: games, videos, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, cultural lessons, and more. Try four Lesson 1 activities.
- A2 arrives in a few weeks.
- B1 and B2 follow in late 2026, with C1 and C2 rolling out in early 2027.
- Speaking homework with real feedback. Record a voice note and our instructors will listen and send you feedback within 48 hours.
- A certificate for every level. Finish a level and you receive a Certificate of Completion, included with your plan.
Live 1-on-1 Lebanese lessons on Zoom
Self-paced lessons give you structure. Live conversation gives you confidence. The learners who progress fastest do both, so we've made it easy.
Book a private Zoom lesson whenever you're ready, at special subscriber pricing. Our instructors are an expert team of qualified Lebanese language teachers, all trained in the Speaking Lebanese curriculum and here to help with the most important part of learning a language: speaking it out loud. Sessions follow what you're studying in the course, so you practise the exact words and patterns you've just learned.
When you want proof of your level, add the Official Proficiency Certificate. It's a live oral exam with our instructors, and passing it certifies your CEFR level. It's an optional upgrade, separate from the Certificate of Completion included with every plan.
How to start learning Lebanese
Every plan begins with a free 14-day trial. We recommend that everyone starts at the beginning, with A1. Even if you already understand some Lebanese, the lessons are rich in vocabulary, and the grammar lessons explain why sentences are structured the way they are.
If you already know and understand some Lebanese, you can take our free placement test to see where you stand.
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $24.99/month | Trying it out at your own pace |
| Annual | $199/year | Committed learners (save about a third) |
| Lifetime | $499 once | Every level, forever, including future levels |
Every subscription includes monthly small group conversation sessions and special pricing on 1-on-1 lessons. The Official Proficiency Certificate exam is $45 per level. See all the details on our pricing page.
Learning for a team, school, or organization? We offer group plans with placement testing, progress tracking, and bulk enrollment. Get in touch or email hello@speakinglebanese.com.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know any Lebanese or Arabic script to start?
No. Start with A1, Lesson 1. Everything is taught in Arabizi with audio for every word, and Arabic script sits alongside if you want it.
What is Arabizi?
Arabizi is the way Lebanese people write their dialect in Latin letters, using numbers for sounds English doesn't have, such as 3, 7 and 2. It's how most Lebanese people text every day.
Is the Lebanese dialect different from Modern Standard Arabic?
Yes. Modern Standard Arabic is the formal written language. The Lebanese dialect is what people actually speak at home, with friends and on the street, and that's what we teach.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Every plan starts with a free 14-day trial.
Who teaches the live lessons?
Our team of qualified Lebanese language instructors, all trained in the Speaking Lebanese curriculum. Lessons take place on Zoom.
When will the higher levels be available?
A1 is open now and A2 arrives in a few weeks. B1 and B2 follow in late 2026, with C1 and C2 in early 2027.
Come and say hello
You don't need to be fluent to start. In fact, you don't need to know a single word. You just need to start. Try your first lesson, join a conversation session, and send us your first voice note. We'd love to hear it, and we'd love to get to know you.
It's never too late, and I'm really enjoying my learning journey. If you've ever considered learning, come and meet us and sign up today. We'll make it fun, and you'll be amazed at how quickly you start speaking in sentences.
Start your free 14-day trial →Yalla, let's talk.
— Justine
hello@speakinglebanese.com
