BrillKids Forum

We'll be completing the first draft of the Arabic curriculum in the coming weeks and would like to see if any of you who are native Arabic speakers would be willing to have a look at it and give your precious comments.

If so, please let me know your interest here and I will get back to you when we're ready!

If you don't mind, please give me some information regarding your language background.  If you don't want to say it here, then please PM me the information (but still post here for the record).

Thanks lots!

Hi KL,

I would love to help in any way that I can!! I already PM'd you my language background :)

I'm also very interested in an Arabic language learning program. Which do you use, KL? I'd like to communicate better with my extended family.

Oh i'm so excited, it would be fantastic to have LR Arabic curriculum. It's just what we need :D
Though I can't fluently speak the language, I can understand most of it, and ofcourse read and write it. our home languages are Somali and English with some arabic.

how soon do you think it will be ready KL?

I'm not using any arabic program as I have no plans to teach Felicity arabic, at least not yet! :)

Thanks for all your offers, everyone!

Very very hard to say when it will get done, but it is unlikely to be soon, and more likely to be towards the end of the year at the earliest, or early next year.  But it also depends on whether a distributor comes along who wants the arabic curriculum right away, in which case we may accelerate the pace.

HI KL :)

I'm always interested to help with the arabic curriculum! I don't have any formal language background except for the fact that I've been speaking, writing, reading and was schooled in arabic all my life ;)

Noha

hi KL,

thanks for reply my PM. really interested to involve with this Arabic curriculum,...

i'm not an arabic native speaker, but i've graduated in arabic language studies from Al-Azhar University in Egypt last two years. i'll help as long as i can,...

-ummuumar-

Hi KL & Everyone.

I just saw this.  And this is exciting.  For the native Arabic speakers - how well versed in Arabic grammar are you?  I ask because it is a very important issue that may not be apparent!!!  The Arabic words also need to have tashkeel/correct vowel markings!  and the sound clips should be in two forms - with the last tashkeel/vowel marking pronounced and without, and it should be pronounced in fushah and not pronounced in a dialect !!!  These are small details, but very important! 

I will check around with some associates who are masters in grammar to see if they are available. 

Also, KL - do you have the Arabic materials availble in an excel or ms-word doc format, because it will be easier for those who do not actually have LR (such as the professionals I will be consulting with.) 


Thanks!!!

~ Ayesha :)

Great to see some 'old-timers' on this thread! (Yes, looking at you, Nohayo, and Ayesha!) :)
(Where have you guys been anyway?? :) )

Yes, we'll be reviewing the curriculum in Excel format.  Not too long now before I get a working group together to review and comment. However, it would only be the beginning of a very long process, so please don't think the curriculum (playable in LR) is going to be finished anytime soon!  But with all your help, we can get it done sooner rather than later!

 Hey there KL.  :D

Well, I am busy with Noorani lessons which are time consuming, along with other projects.

This is good to know that it is in excel.  Also the Arabic curriculuum will have to begin with a different format than the English program, which begins with whole words, and then phonics is added, etc.

Arabic is different from English, in that it is written as it is pronounced and pronounced exactly how it is written. And it is also a consonantal root system, in which the vowels are written above and below the line of joined letters that create words.  By the 4th grade, the vowels are taken away from words (unless necessary for distinguishing the context of the word) and grammar rules are taught, so you know the word in the context, without the vowel markings.  It will need to be the same educational method/technique of Noorani, which also applies to Modern Standard Arabic/fushah.  It begins with the alphabet and the short vowels, nunnation, long vowels, dipthongs, doubled letters, vowel-less letters, etc. and how to connect them into syllables, and words, and couplets, etc. There is also a timing issue of pronunciation of the syllables, where it is either short or long, and if mispronounced with the wrong timing, it changes the meaning of the words.  So, these small distinctions are taught in Noorani and it is the traditional foundation for teaching Arabic.  Noorani method is specifically for Qur'anic reading with words from the Qur'an, and has phonics rules governing strict rules of pronunciation to keep the meanings of the words in tact; and the rules also apply to Modern Standard, although in a less strict sense, for some aspects of it.  However the Classical Arabic grammar structure and the vocabulary is the basis of Modern Standard and the dialects.  A lot of Qur'anic/Classical Arabic vocabulary is in use today, while some of it is not, so this is one thing that may have be adapted for BR curriculuum. 

And of course, we have to see how BK is setting up the curriculum - because I believe that a translation from English to Arabic, will be problematic for grammatical reasons.  This is something that will be discussed with my colleagues and teachers for their input and see what they advise after reviewing the proposed draft of the curriculuum.

Thanks.
Ayesha :)

Wonderful, thanks for your input! You'll hear from me shortly when the first draft is ready! :)

Hi KL and all,

Have PM'd you KL - I am very excited about this and happy to get in touch with our contacts to see how we can assist with this.

I am inspired by Ayesha's post she seems like a pro - I am still figuring out the whole educating thing...
 
In the meanwhile I will email a few of my contacts for their views on this as well.

Look forward to hearing more in due course...hopefully soon

Reshmi (Umm amani - mother of Amani)

Hello Dear,

I am native Arabic speaker and ready to help, ready to help you and i will be very glad to do so.

I am Hanane the mother of Abdarrahaman (Abboud).
waiting for your reply as soon as possible.

Thank you very much.

 
I can also help you if you want.
My name is Nourah, from Saudi Arabia, and I live in the U.K. I’ve a baby who is five months now.

I have a comment on the issue of tashkeel mentioned by sister Ayesha:
Arabic words are often read without tashkeel as we see in newspapers, magazines and the Internet. So, tashkeel is not a necessary for reading the word in the Arabic language.
But from my point of view, I think it is better to teach the child reading the words without tashkeel; because it is written in most of books without it.

All the best
Nourah

My email adress is
[email protected]

 

O my gosh I am so excited!  I would pay 500 dollars for this curriculum.  Please don't make me do it though.  :/

I am not a native speaker, but I have quite a large body of grammar knowledge about the language and my husband IS a native speaker.  Together we would be able to give some very valuable input, I think.

We would LOVE to take a look at it for you.

I am Also a native Arabic speaker and would love to land a hand in any possible way!!!!
thanks,
Tarek's Mom

ASA Nourah,

While it is true that most texts are written without tashkeel/vowel markings; that is for native Arabic speakers who were immersed in the language from either birth or very young age and repeatedly hear the words spoken.  Otherwise, teaching without tashkeel is a disaster for non-native Arabic speakers who wuold then have to study Arabic grammar in depth to be able to determine which vowel markings go on the words and to be able to understand them in context - in short, the native Arabic speaker's approach to learning Arabic, does not work for non-native Arabic speakers in an English speaking environment or non-native Arabic speaking environment. 

I would also suggest to BrillKids that we consult with language specialists who have specialized degrees in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers - because the approach will be both effective and efficient. 

Another non-native speaker's thoughts on the tashkeel issue:

http://readkutubkids.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/to-tashkeel-or-not-tashkeel/

JAK
ASA

I've just read this post! I hope it's not too late! I totally agree with Ayesha about being VERY careful about pronunciation, diacritic signs, grammar, etc. I am ready to help. Arabic is my mother tongue, my dad is an Arabic literature professor and my sister-in-law is preparing her PhD in Arabic etymology. So plz don't hesitate to contact me.

BTW, is there any expected date for the curriculum release? OMG! I can't wait!

ASA,

I believe the is that LR Arabic curriculuum should have BOTH - just as does Rosetta Stone Arabic does - a toggle switch (or categories) with correct diacritics, and without. 

I can say from experience, that my children are about to begin Noorani Lesson 11, which are exercises; and are able to accurately spell-read/sound out words (and then they memorize them and recognize them instantly) from the Qur'an; whereas before beginning the Noorani reader - they were utterly confused with the whole word approach for Arabic because the diacritics are above and below the letters, and do affect the pronunciation; and without any diacritics; one has to guess at the pronunciation, which may or may be correct, since one vowel change - changes the entire meaning of the word; unless they know the word in context from hearing a million times in an immersed environment.

I think of the diacritics as "training wheels" in the beginning, and then they can be removed, and still understand; but not vice verse, as a non-native learner of the Arabic language.

I also believe that a few Arabic stories should be selected, and the Doman steps created from it (sentences/phrases/couplets/words) - otherwise, it will be a headache from a grammatical/vocabulary standpoint to start from scratch and it actually all come together correctly at the sentence/book stage.

Wa Allahu 'alim.
JAK
ASA
Ayesha

salam alicom
I am a native arabic speaker from morocco, and i would love to help,
P.S: I just logged hurrily...sorry for the short note

hello
i am Ru'a from Saudi Arabia.
my first language is Arabic. Born in the States and lived, raised, schooled in Riyadh (saudi arabia)
I would love to help :-)