How to Design an Arabic Language Curriculum

"Ahlan we sahlan" (welcome). Arabic -- from the lands of belly dancers, camels and strong coffee -- is spoken by over 200 million people in the world, according to Kwintessential. There are three levels of Arabic. The first is classical or Quranic Arabic, the formal language of the Quran. The second -- and most commonly taught Arabic -- is the modern or formal standard Arabic. The final category is colloquial or spoken Arabic. While everyone in North Africa and the Middle East can read Arabic, people from Morocco are incomprehensible to those from Saudi Arabia because of the difference in dialects. The word "curriculum" is Latin for a course. Designing one for Arabic can be done by following certain steps.

Instructions

    • 1

      Start with your objectives. Draw up a list of the skills you want students to have by the end of the course. Think of your objectives as the skeleton to hang your Arabic curriculum on.

    • 2

      Design a placement test. See if students know simple words such as "aiwa" (yes), "la" (no) and "shukran" (thank you).

    • 3

      Teach the Arabic alphabet. Arabic has 28 letters and is written from right to left. Numbers are written from left to right. Determine if you are going to teach Arabic characters or use modified Roman orthography.

    • 4

      Introduce phrases and teach students that Arabic is a loud language that must be spoken enthusiastically. So when they say "shismak?" (what is your name), they should speak at the top of their voices.

    • 5

      Include an Arabic diary section in your curriculum. Instruct the students to download a translation program and to write in their diaries every day. Have them read their entries aloud in class to reinforce Arabic reading and speaking skills.

    • 6

      Develop oral materials and lessons. Use materials developed in Egypt. The Egyptian dialect is the most widely understood, because most television shows and movies broadcast in North Africa and the Middle East are filmed in Cairo.

    • 7

      Create a final test. By the end of the Arabic curriculum, you will want your students to be able to say, "ana afhan," (I understand).

    • 8

      List resources and support materials at the end of your Arabic curriculum. Students wanting to do further study can use the final section of your curriculum as a starting point.

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