SIAL has developed a philosophy of teaching that puts emphasis on incorporating as many different types of learning media, methods, and materials as possible into the instruction.

As such, in addition to textbooks and course materials, students are encouraged to work with the multimedia software, audiotapes, videotapes, newscasts, newspapers and literature available at our institute. We feel that this method not only facilitates individual advancement in the Arabic language, but also ensures that students enjoy the learning process.

We believe that language learning should foster communication, and that the goal of learning a foreign language should be the ability to communicate effectively in that language. Therefore, our Arabic language program emphasizes communication, and all teaching activities in our program aim at serving this goal.

Students have the opportunity to develop their linguistic skills through group discussions, lectures, presentations, peer interaction, and day-to-day conversations with their Yemeni hosts. We believe that practicing a language is critical to acquiring it. Therefore, we encourage our students to speak only Arabic inside the Institute and to do their best to practice speaking Arabic with Yemenis outside the Institute every day.