Live Lessonsاردو بولیے اور پڑھیے
Learn Urdu live, in a small group
Two courses on Google Meet, with 4 to 10 learners in each group. First learn the script in one month, then speak Urdu every week for a year.
Teacher: Asghar Bashir, PhD candidate (Urdu), founder of Urdu in Translation.
Step 1 · one month
Urdu Script
For complete beginners, and for anyone who speaks Urdu but can't read it. By the end you can read and write any Urdu word, slowly but correctly, and you're ready for Urdu Speaking.
- 4 weekly live lessons of 60 minutes on Google Meet
- 4 to 10 learners, with a WhatsApp group for each cohort
- Between lessons: the Sounds and Script lessons on this site, a writing sheet and a voice note reading the week's words
- A new cohort every month
The four weeks
Week 1 · How the script works
- • Right to left, and how letters join
- • The letter ا and the ب، ج، د، ر families
- • sukuun and tashdiid
On the site: Sounds 1–7, Script 1–3
Week 2 · More letter families
- • The س، ص، ط، ع families
- • The letters و، ی and ے
On the site: Script 4, 5 and 8
Week 3 · The rest of the alphabet
- • The letters ف ق ک گ ل م ن ہ ھ and nuun ghunna
- • Reading whole words
On the site: Script 6 and 7
Week 4 · Reading for real
- • Extra signs and spelling tips
- • Reading signs, names and a Ghalib couplet
- • Writing a short paragraph about yourself, and a final reading check
On the site: Script 9
Cohorts
Urdu Script · November
Starts 8 Nov 2026, last lesson 29 Nov 2026
Sundays, 5:00 pm Pakistan time (12:00 noon UK, 7:00 am US Eastern)
10 of 10 seats left
Urdu Script · December
Starts 6 Dec 2026, last lesson 27 Dec 2026
Sundays, 5:00 pm Pakistan time (12:00 noon UK, 7:00 am US Eastern)
10 of 10 seats left
Step 2 · all year
Urdu Speaking
52 live lessons, one hour each week. It's live discussion, not lectures: you speak every week, and your batch talks together all week on WhatsApp.
- One live hour every week, all year: live discussion, not lectures
- 4 to 10 learners per batch, with the batch's own WhatsApp group to talk in all week
- The 41 Spoken Urdu chapters on this site, one a week, as homework; the live hour is for speaking
- New batches start on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October; join a running batch if it has a seat and catch up online
The year
Weeks 1–13
Orientation and a speaking check. Unit 1, Me and My School (6 chapters). A conversation week. Unit 2, Family, Home and Town begins.
Weeks 14–26
Unit 2 ends. Unit 3, A Day in My Life (5). Unit 4, To the Bazaar (4). Conversation weeks between units, and a mid-year speaking check.
Weeks 27–39
Unit 5, My Childhood (5). Unit 6, Rules and Responsibilities (4). Unit 7, A Trip to South Asia begins. Conversation weeks between units.
Weeks 40–52
Unit 7 ends (6 in all). Unit 8, Past Events and Experiences (5). The final showcase and certificate, and 2 flexible weeks for Eid and holidays.
In all: 41 chapters, 8 conversation weeks, an orientation week and 2 flexible weeks.
Batches
Urdu Speaking · Batch 1 (January intake)
3 Jan 2027 to 26 Dec 2027
Sundays, 7:00 pm Pakistan time (2:00 pm UK, 9:00 am US Eastern)
10 of 10 seats left
Urdu Speaking · Batch 2 (April intake)
3 Apr 2027 to 25 Mar 2028
Saturdays, 7:00 pm Pakistan time (3:00 pm UK, 10:00 am US Eastern)
10 of 10 seats left
Both courses include
- The full self-paced Beginning Urdu course on this site while your plan is active (normally US$97)
- Cancel any time: your seat stays until the end of the period you paid for
- Full refund if you cancel before the second lesson
- In Pakistan: pay in rupees by bank transfer or JazzCash, or by card
Questions
Which course do I start with?
If you can't read Urdu yet, start with Urdu Script: in one month you can read and write any Urdu word, slowly but correctly. If you already read Urdu, go straight to Urdu Speaking.
I know no Urdu at all. Is this for me?
Yes. Urdu Script starts from the first letters, and heritage speakers who speak a little but can't read are welcome too.
Can I join Urdu Speaking after it has started?
Yes, if the batch has a free seat. The chapters are all on the site, so you catch up on the ones you missed at your own pace.
How does paying for Urdu Speaking work?
Choose monthly, quarterly or yearly. Paddle renews your plan by itself at the end of each period until you cancel. Cancel any time and your seat stays until the end of the period you paid for.
What if I miss a lesson?
Do that week's lessons on the site and keep talking in your group's WhatsApp chat. We'll catch you up in the next live hour.
What time is it where I live?
Each cohort and batch shows its day and time in Pakistan, UK and US Eastern time. When you register, your own time zone is saved so we can help.
Can I pay from Pakistan?
Yes, in rupees. Choose bank transfer / JazzCash and we send the account details on WhatsApp, or pay by card in US dollars (about the same amount).