Pedagogy
University - Modern Standard Arabic

The Arab Academy offers an intensive Arabic language program for adults that runs from novice to intermediate levels. A student with no prior knowledge of Arabic will need to spend at least two years of intensive studies in order to complete those levels. While the novice level focuses on communication that is used in daily life situations, the second level focuses on newspaper articles. Each of the language levels, novice and intermediate, are divided into three sub levels. Hence we have novice low, novice mid, novice high and intermediate low, intermediate mid and intermediate high. Each of the sub levels is composed of 45 contact hours. Hence, a language level is comprises 135 contact hours. It is worth mentioning though that the novice level has an extra level that aims at teaching the Arabic sound system and script. That level is referred to as novice zero. It comprises 15 contact hours. One of the powerful features of the Arab Academy's courses is that it provides the translation and sound files of every word and sentence used. The transcription is also provided for beginners' level courses. It is also important to note that the Modern Standard Arabic courses at the novice low and novice mid levels offer students an option to listen to the same words and sentences in colloquial. This important feature prepares students from the very beginning to deal with diglossia (two varieties of the same language used). The phonetic rules that are followed to transfer sounds from Standard Arabic to Egyptian Colloquial are given (more dialects to be added). This has proven to be very useful tool that assists students at envisioning the similarities and differences between the two varieties and develop a familiarity with them.

Course Content & Its Organization

Level 1 - Novice Levels

Novice Zero The novice level is a pre-requisite to all courses at the Arab Academy. It introduces the Arabic sound system and script and offers a historical review on the origin of the Arabic language, script and the art of calligraphy.

Novice Low & Novice Mid Each of the novice low and novice mid levels is split up into 4 units. Every unit revolves around a situation. The two levels are based on a single story that continues throughout the program. They comprise a total of eight units. Each of the eight units comprises a number of sessions. Every unit revolves around a situation and three language functions. In other words, the two levels present students with eight situations and 24 language functions. The situations presented are all related to daily life. A unit comprises the following sessions: - Session 1: Main Story The main objective of the Arab Academy's programs is to teach students how to communicate. Communication is the focal point of our courses. Hence, we begin by introducing sentences within a story or situation. We follow the global method, which enables students to learn words and expressions in the context of the story. Session 1 presents the main story of the unit. - Session 2: Vocabulary For each situation six semantic groups of words are given. This enables students to talk about the same situation but personalize it to his or her needs. For example, if the situation was related to accommodation, and the main story was about a visit to a beautiful apartment, then other relevant words are needed to enable students to talk about apartments they do not like. In addition to the group of words (nouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc.), a group of verbs is given. This group is based on form. There are ten verb frequently used verb forms in Arabic. They are spread out throughout the eight units. (Unit 1 presents verb form 1; unit 2 presents verb form 2, and so on). - Session 3: Functional Expressions Every unit introduces three functional expressions such as greetings, apologies, etc. Those expressions are used in the main story. However, variants of the expressions are presented. So if the story presents "good morning", then under 'greetings' students learn other variants such as "good evening", etc. - Session 4: Link Words Students were presented to the story in the form of a dialogue. So they have been exposed to isolated sentences. This part introduces them to narration. Hence, link words are introduced to help students understand how ideas are connected. - Session 5: Listening Listening is a skill that this program focuses on. Five short stories that are related to the situation are given and students practice listening. In addition, students are exposed to the different levels of formality in Arabic. Those levels are: * Formal standard Arabic that is pronounced with case endings. * Informal standard Arabic that is pronounced without case endings * Colloquial Arabic - Session 6: Grammar - Words This session teaches students how to inflect Arabic words. In other words, they are shown how words change according to number, gender, etc.). Arabic morphology is presented in an interactive and visually stimulating environment. The words used are those presented in the vocabulary session. Some of those words were used in the situation. - Session 7: Grammar - Sentences This session, which focuses on Arabic syntax, explains the structure of Arabic sentences. Sentences that were used in the situation are analyzed here and the learner is given two types of explanations. The first is based on a functional approach to teaching grammar. The second is based on the traditional approach that is based on grammar analysis. Both approaches are presented in a harmonious way. One of the strong points of the syntax sessions is that all sentences are automatically generated and controlled. An indefinite number of sentences are automatically generated and those sentences are used in the activities. This enables students to review the vocabulary studied previously (in the vocabulary session) and get to understand further the construction of sentences that they have viewed before (in the session of the situation). - Session 8: Enhancement (more stories related to the situation) This session makes it possible for learners to review the material provided above in an interactive format. A number of stories based on the same situation, that use the same functional expressions are given. - Session 9: Reading (Folk Tales - Juha) The unit ends in a light note with one of the stories of Juha in simplified language. The idea is to break the tension after all the efforts put in the session and let students develop a liking for reading Arabic short stories.

Novice High The novice high level aims at bridging the gap between the novice and intermediate levels. The main objective of this level is to prepare students for studying at the intermediate level. The course is based on songs and short stories. It is composed of ten units. Each unit comprises the following sessions: - Session 1: Short Story - Akhnaton The story of Akhnaton, a famous Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, is presented in simplified Arabic throughout the ten units. Session 2 of each unit presents part of the story. It aims at enriching students Arabic through provoking them to discuss the history of mankind and remarkable personalities in Arabic. - Sessions 2 - 4: Folk Tales - Juha Three stories of Juha in simplified Arabic are presented in sessions 2, 3 and 4. Stories of Juha are short and funny. The vocabulary used is repetitive and it is related to simple situations. - Session 5: Songs This session presents an Arabic song by singers from different parts of the Arab world. It also presents a relevant text prepared in simplified Arabic. This is the longest of the sessions and possibly the most difficult. However, it is the most entertaining as it is based on a popular song. Songs were chosen to revolve around different topics: from music, love and relationships all the way to society and politics. The novice mid levels provides an excellent way to prepare students to move up to the next level.

Level 2 - Intermediate Levels

Intermediate Levels Intermediate level courses are based on newspaper articles. The objective is to enable students to read and understand Arab media as well as to communicate in standard Arabic on professional topics in the oral form. Thirty topics were chosen where each represents an area of interest. Examples are: politics, economics, environment, leaders, wars, sports, etc. Under each topic, three newspaper articles were chosen from a variety of Arab newspapers or media web sites: Al-Hayat, Al-Ahram, Al- Jazeera, etc. Intermediate level courses are divided into sessions. Each session deals with a topic. Within the session, there are three articles. The student is given the following: - Vocabulary list: this list comprises the important words in the session - Expressions: meaningful units that are composed of more than one word are given separately - Text: then the text itself is given along with the translation of every word, expression and sentence - Link Words: link words are grouped by semantic group and are distributed along the sessions. Every session, a group of link words are given - Syntax: Arabic grammar is given again but in more details in the intermediate level courses. While the grammar is distributed along the sessions, it is easily to pinpoint at and reach a grammar item within the courses. This is what you should do: * Go to a Syntax Session * Click on Learn * At the bottom of the page you will have a links to all grammar topics given by subject: al-marfuu3aat (nominative/indicative), al-mansuubaat (accusative/subjunctive), al-majruuraat (genitive), al-majzuumaat. (jussive).

Teaching Methods: Tips and Tricks

Presentation The presentation depends on the topic to be taught. Here are suggestions on how to run the different types of presentations. Vocabulary - Novice Low & Mid - Before you begin, explain that you are about to present groups of words that are organized by theme. The themes were chosen for their relevance to the situation. You are also going to give them a list of verbs that is not related to the topic but is related to its form. The first level presents form 1, the second form 2, and so on. It is important for students to understand what they are studying and why. - Select a word list - Before showing the words, invite students to tell you any words they already know that are related to this topic -Then run through the list of words (with sound) - Start again and ask each student to read the word then repeat it yourself and play the sound - You might like to ask each student to put each word in a sentence and you can give more sentences yourself. - Repeat for all words then move on to the next group. Functional Expressions - Novice Low & Mid - Explain to students that they are about to learn 3 language functions that are going to be used in the situation. Language functions are like expressions that are used to convey a certain meaning such as greetings, congratulations, etc. They are presented separately because of their importance. Each language function is composed of a number of scenes. For example, under the greetings section, you will have "Good Morning" and the response "Good Morning". Then you will have "Good evening" and the response "Good Evening", and so on. - Run through each set of language functions and ask students to repeat - Then ask every 2 students to simulate the different language functions. Let them practice them together for 5 minutes. Change partners and ask them to practice again. - Now you are ready to move on to the activities. Ask students to turn around and give you their attention. - Ask students one by one to go up to the screen to respond to the questions on the board. - Students may then turn around and work on their own (if they have computers) Situation - Novice Low & Mid - Explain to students that the story branches according to their request. All stories though have the same teaching goals. Those who are more advanced can read more stories in the lesson than those who are less so. The test will be on the story the student chose. So not all students have to read the same stories although the teacher might wish to choose one to present in class. - Run through the whole story with sound - Split the class in groups and ask each group to simulate the situation - Then go to the activities section and let students respond to questions on the white board - Discuss what students think the other stories could be. Try to force students to produce and talk as much as they can Morphology - Novice Low & Mid - Explain to the students that they will learn how to inflect the words that they have previously studied in the vocabulary session. They will learn how to conjugate verbs and inflect nouns (change them according to number, gender, etc.) As a matter of fact, the morphology session re-enforces their vocabulary while they study word inflection - Go through he learning parts of the morphology session one by one. Use the data show to display the examples. Click "Next" to get more examples. - Then go to the "Apply" screen. The morphology session is one that provides students the opportunity to apply what they have learned before going on to the activities. Here is how you ho should handle the "Apply" screen. The word is given to you in its default setting (usually the single form). Tell them that you will click on the dual option and ask them how the word will change. After they respond to you, click on the word and let them see the result. Repeat with other features. Then go on to the next word and repeat. - Ask a student to come and do what you have been doing. The student should tell students that he/she will click on 'feminine' as an example. What would the word be? Students enjoy being questioned by fellow students and this elevates their attention further. Repeat as time allows. - Now students are ready to move on to the activities. Let them go up to the board and respond to the questions one by one. - Ask each student to turn around and work on their computers (if available) Syntax - Novice Low & Mid - Explain to students that the sentences that they will learn here are the same ones that were used in the situation. Also, let them know that there are 2 ways to explain grammar: a functional approach and a traditional approach. This program offers both approaches to students. Syntax is explained in a modern way (how and when to use such constructions) as well as the traditional way (Grammar analysis or i3raab). - Go to each point in the Learning part of the program and present it on the white screen. Press "next" to get more examples. (Let students know that sentences are automatically generated and that the words used to generate them are those presented in the vocabulary session). - Ask students to generate sentences following the pattern of the subject taught - Students are ready to go on to the activities. One by one ask them to come up to the white screen and respond to the activities. Newspaper Articles - Intermediate - Explain to students that each session revolves around a topic and presents three articles on that topic. Topics include political, social, environmental, and other issues. The objective is to help them attain a professional level in Arabic. - Begin by presenting the topic and discussing it briefly. Then display the newspaper article on the white board. Ask students to listen carefully and play the sound files. Click on each sentence, one by one till the end. - Return to the first sentence again and analyze each word within it along with the expressions. Repeat with other sentences. - When you have finished the presentation of the piece ask students to tell you their views on the subject. Run a discussion on the topic. - Then ask students to summarize and write their views - Correct their written work. Students who finish should work on all activities (if they have computers) Ask more advanced students to read optional articles at home (or in class if they have computers)