Rethinking how Arabic is taught to young learners
VenturesArabic is a diglossic language, meaning there is a clear distinction between its spoken and written forms. For many learners, especially children growing up in multilingual environments, this divide can make learning Arabic feel inaccessible or disconnected from everyday life.
Traditional teaching methods often focus on formal written Arabic, leaving learners without the tools to engage confidently in conversation or connect with their cultural heritage.
Kalamna Global is an award-winning social enterprise that empowers families to connect with and celebrate their culture through the Arabic language. Its core product, Kalamna Phonics™, is an innovative toolkit based on phonics principles and developed from research conducted at the University of Cambridge. The toolkit helps learners build conversational fluency first, then bridges into reading and writing in Standard Arabic.
Kalamna Phonics™ is now available through direct purchase and in partnership with an international community of teachers and learners. It sets a new benchmark in evidence-based best practice for teaching modern Arabic, offering a more engaging and accessible pathway for young learners and their families.
Kalamna’s award-winning approach has transformed how Arabic is taught to children, particularly those in diaspora communities. By focusing on spoken language first, the toolkit makes Arabic more approachable and enjoyable, helping families strengthen cultural ties and build confidence in language use.
From Cambridge research to a global learning community
Kalamna Global was established in 2024 by Dr Saussan Khalil, a Senior Teaching Associate in Arabic in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. Her research explored how phonics could be used to modernise Arabic language teaching, making it more reflective of the spoken Arabic used in everyday settings.
With support from the Cambridge Social Ventures Programme at Cambridge Judge Business School, Dr Khalil launched Kalamna CIC as a University of Cambridge social enterprise. The toolkit was further developed and tested with funding from the University’s Arts and Humanities Impact Fund, eventually leading to the founding of Kalamna Global in 2024.
Cambridge Enterprise supported Kalamna Global by managing the licensing arrangement that enabled the launch of Kalamna Phonics™. This partnership helped bring Dr Khalil’s research into practical use, allowing the toolkit to reach a growing international network of educators and learners.
“Working with Cambridge Enterprise has been a game changer for me. It has allowed me to harness my academic work and create real world impact on a global scale by commercialising my research output. It has opened my eyes to commercial possibilities I didn't know existed in the Arts and Humanities.”
Looking ahead in language innovation
Kalamna Global continues to expand its reach, working with schools, families and educators around the world. The team is focused on developing new resources, building partnerships and deepening its impact in Arabic language education. With its research-led approach and commitment to cultural connection, Kalamna is redefining how Arabic is taught to the next generation.
