How to teach arabic?

[Umm Rumaisa]

assalamoalaikum


Does anyone have any advice on the best way of teaching adults arabic?
Currently I'm going through Madinah book one but to be honest I didn't think it was very good, some of the grammer points can get a bit confusing and all over the place, not very well structured. I considered going through the SOAS arabic books but I figured my students would probably find it too political and boring. I have the 'Gateway to Arabic' which seem ok.. is there anything else anyone could suggest? and also best ways of teaching the language?

jazakallahukhair

[Abu Muqatil]

May Allah reward you for your valuable endeavour.

You can learn valuable teaching skills and insight inexpensively and in a short period by doing a CELTA and perhaps adapt it for Arabic teaching.

I am unable to advise regarding specific books as I only know the SOAS series, and I regard it as rather poor by the simple 3rd rate level of its graduates.

And Allah knows best.

[Umm Rumaisa]

Yes I did seriously consider doing the CELTA thinking it would most definitely help in adapting to teaching Arabic, but it's not quite possible for me right now...

[Catalyst]

assalamoalaikum


Does anyone have any advice on the best way of teaching adults arabic?
Currently I'm going through Madinah book one but to be honest I didn't think it was very good, some of the grammer points can get a bit confusing and all over the place, not very well structured. I considered going through the SOAS arabic books but I figured my students would probably find it too political and boring. I have the 'Gateway to Arabic' which seem ok.. is there anything else anyone could suggest? and also best ways of teaching the language?

jazakallahukhair

Yes, I agree, the Madinah books are not that good. The structure of the rules is muddled up, for example, they wouldn'n introduce the whole of the maadhi table/pattern together, but would muddle it up into different lessons. Also they don't introduce the rules in the beginning, but stick in at the end.

I think a better way would be to learn would be to learn the tenets of Arabic verb conjugation first, master them and then go on. A book that I came across in English recently: Fundamentals of Classical Arabic seems good (but I haven't tried it out on students)

You can buy here (http://onlineislamicstore.com/funofclasarv.html)

The first few pages (http://www.madrasaprogram.org/intro.pdf)

I've seen the 'gateway for arabic' basic Level 1 books. How are the higher level ones?

Also, as you teaching adults, you can take the harder method for maximum benefit, as they would be able to take more in.

[Abu Muqatil]

A possible teaching technique could be to familiarise students with everyday vocab with each being an example of a specific form e.g. Xth form passive participle mustashfaa (hospital) and I am sure there are many other examples but this is the only one that immediately comes to mind. Make sure they know how to spell and say it correctly. Perhaps keep pictures of it around the room with the names, or make sure they are words frequently used in the classroom so that they are using them even if it isn't in full sentences.

This way they already have a stock of essential grammar even if they don't know, so when it comes to them learning, say about the Xth verb form, they will experience the eureka moment which is the best feeling a learner can get and encourages him or her to learn further.

Another idea is that even before you teach imperatives and their different forms, always use it in class along with mime so that they get used to it e.g. whenever doing an exercise say, yaa 'Umaru unzur ilal-kitaab, yaa faatimatuh unzuree ilal-kitabaa, yaa Hasanu wa Mujaahidu unzuraa ilal-kitaab, yaa shabaab unzuroo ilal-kitaab.

With that constant repitition the form inshaa'allah will insidiously map itself onto their wee brains.

And Allah knows best.

[talibatun ul ilm]

sis, u know the course that i went on, well inshallah the book will be published around december time. i would recomend that coz its so clear and simple mashallah.

[talib-fil-Islam]

try the book "Learning the Language of the Qur'an" by Muhammad Abdul Haq Ansari....

its made like a text book... and if ur teaching non-arabs...i find it best to start with verb conjugations... thats how i learned...or am still learning...

[Umm Rumaisa]

jazakallahukhair Abu Muqatil I will try those methods inshalah.

Talibatul ilm can I go through what you went through at the course sometime, and see what it's like?

talib-fil-islam inshalah I'll try get a copy of that book if you think it's really worth it??

[Catalyst]

I am unable to advise regarding specific books as I only know the SOAS series, and I regard it as rather poor by the simple 3rd rate level of its graduates.

.

I want to have a look at the SOAS series. Do you know where I can see a sample or so forth?

[talibatun ul ilm]

sis, inshallah jus warn me before hand- i dont want to lug those folders around for no reason inshallah! :)

[Umm Rumaisa]

Next time we plan to meet inshalah, will ask you to bring them along! Iftaar at mine maybe? :)

[Abu Muqatil]

I want to have a look at the SOAS series. Do you know where I can see a sample or so forth?

The new academic year is starting soon so you can have a look at the text books and study packs which are sold in their bookshop. Be warned for simple binded books they are vastly overpriced. I always advise students to just buy one copy amogst themselves, photocopy it and bind it, that is much more cheaper than buying the wretched thing which still has the USSR in its vocab. last time I checked. A friend of mine at Durham said how loathed a teacher was to teach from it that he wanted to burn it.

There are four parts to the series which are studied across two years, a syntax summary and a vocab. collection. Copy Cats in the ULU building on Malet Street is the cheapest place in the local area for photocopies. The cheapest place for spiral binding and its like is the printing shop on Keppel Street.

[Catalyst]

The new academic year is starting soon so you can have a look at the text books and study packs which are sold in their bookshop. Be warned for simple binded books they are vastly overpriced. I always advise students to just buy one copy amogst themselves, photocopy it and bind it, that is much more cheaper than buying the wretched thing which still has the USSR in its vocab. last time I checked. A friend of mine at Durham said how loathed a teacher was to teach from it that he wanted to burn it.

There are four parts to the series which are studied across two years, a syntax summary and a vocab. collection. Copy Cats in the ULU building on Malet Street is the cheapest place in the local area for photocopies. The cheapest place for spiral binding and its like is the printing shop on Keppel Street.

Ok, so it can only be brought from their shop? Well, no chance for me then.

You mentioned 'across two years'. Is that the first two or last two years of the degree programme?

[Catalyst]

Ok, i'll try this inshaa'Allaah: bookshop@soas.ac.uk

[Abu Muqatil]

Ok, so it can only be brought from their shop? Well, no chance for me then.

You mentioned 'across two years'. Is that the first two or last two years of the degree programme?

The Owen Wright course books are studied for the first two years (moreso the first with other options such as literature in the second). Third is abroad either: Damascus or Alexandria; and fourth is two steps back when there is a mish-mash of things all taught in English and not really building upon the year abroad. And Allah alone is the giver of success.

[talib-fil-Islam]

jazakallahukhair Abu Muqatil I will try those methods inshalah.

Talibatul ilm can I go through what you went through at the course sometime, and see what it's like?

talib-fil-islam inshalah I'll try get a copy of that book if you think it's really worth it??


personally i found it good...ya3ni, its like a textbook type book, designed for students that have gone thru highschool andl maybe university, each chapter builds on the previous...kinda like calculus... i found it beneficial.and i use it to teach...then again most ppl i studied it with were brown...

[Umm Rumaisa]

...then again most ppl i studied it with were brown...

huh?

Is it available from dar as salam??

[talib-fil-Islam]

huh?

Is it available from dar as salam??

u can find it here... the books on this page are arranged in alphabetical order. however check ur bookstores and u might find it cheaper, i mean wlay cheaper inshaAllah...

"Learning the Language of the Qur'an" by Muhammad Abdul Haq Ansari

http://www.halalco.com/quran_c.html