This is my second year studying at Al-Maktoum College and both courses were studying Arabic as a Foreign Language. Unfortunately due to the pandemic a majority of the learning was online but that saying the lessons were still valuable. However I did manage to squeeze a few lessons in the college when restrictions were eased. The college and staff are very accommodating. Every time I had a query it was satisfactorily resolved with a good time scale. My lecturer is very passionate about teaching the subject and that is evident. Extra lessons were available, which I utilised and that was to encourage the student passing all aspects of the course and is a keen vision the college has. Dundee is a beautiful city and the location of Al-Maktoum college is central with Dundee University, the city centre, mosques and teaching hospitals all close by. I highly recommend studying at Al-Maktoum where you can gain a reputable high education qualification.

It is amazing what you can learn from a foreign language and how quickly you can start conversing with natives. Yes like all languages, Arabic was difficult to learn but enjoyable and that is what makes it all worthwhile. We have an amazing lecturer who is very passionate about teaching. They listen, care and are very professional ensuring that the students get the maximum benefit from the course.

Firstly, an explanation my 'star rating' choices. As an online-only student, there are factors which don't apply. However, leaving these unmarked lowers the final rating to two stars, which in no way reflects my time with Al-Maktoum College. In order to end up with the 5-star rating I feel the college deserves, I've had to give ratings to factors which are not part of my life e.g. Students' Union. What has made Al-Maktoum a great experience for me is the dedication of the two lecturers I have known. Their dedication is second-to-none as regards preparation of materials, speedy marking of homework, enthusiasm and sense of fun in class and willingness to be on hand for whatever extra help one needs, whether this be staying behind after class to answer questions; answering questions sent by email; providing useful feedback for every piece of homework marked. The stamina of the lecturers is something to behold. Before retiring, I was a teacher but had the luxury of changing students every 30 mins. Our lectures are, in comparison, huge in length - 3+ hours and, although a feat of concentration for a student, this is much more impressive from the lecturers who hold the reins. The materials provided by the department are excellent - and free! Although there is a recommended reading list for further study, we have not had to buy additional materials. The files are uploaded to Moodle and available for us to download, save, print etc throughout the course. This, I find, is also a good way of appreciating the overall architecture of the course, which would not be so evident in the first weeks, or even thereafter if the materials were replaced each week. The course is hugely stimulating and I'm more convinced than ever of the 'use-it-or-lose-it' benefits of intensive study for my 62-year-old brain. Moreover, the international mix of students on the course makes for a fun and stimulating environment in which to study.

The course is entirely online. Several of the students are thousands of miles away. I'm happy with this too. I'd rather spend time studying than travelling to college. The course takes place over three consecutive mornings per week. We have one week to complete homework so there are no last-minute surprises and no panic. There are two longer-term components to the course - a writing assignment and a presentation and we have weeks to work on these. It's definitely a tough course but, if one keeps an eye on the passage of time, and looming declines, there's no reason for the fun side of things to be spoiled by avoidable panic.