Level 1 Classes: this course is for you if you are an absolute beginner, with no prior knowledge of the language, and if you would like to start communicating in Arabic in everyday life and holiday context. The focus will be primarily on reading and speaking before moving on to more writing and listening in subsequent levels. By the end of the course, you will be able to formulate simple in a conversational setting,read the Arabicscript at a basic level and understand some important aspects of the Arab culture, including aspects such as geography, religion or dialects..
Term duration: 9x classes, Wednesday evenings, 18:15 - 20:30
Please note: no class on Wednesday 28 October.
Your last class will finish at 20:15
Communicative themes may include:
Greeting and using simple politeness markers (sorry, thank-you, please…), exchanges basic pleasantries.
Expressing one’s hobbies and interests in simple phrases
Asking and answering basic personal questions on the same topics
Being able to count to 20
Listening and pronunciation objectives may include:
Producing Arabic sounds with reasonable intelligibility, including emphatic consonants and ʿaynع/ḥāʾح
Distinguishing Arabic sounds from each other, including minimal pairs
Recognising familiar words and phrases in slow, clear speech, including simple classroom instructions
Grammatical and script-reading/writing objectives may include:
Recognising and naming all 28 Arabic letters in their isolated forms
Identifying letters in initial, medial, and final positions and being able to copy letters accurately in all positional forms
Reading short vowels (fatḥa, kasra, ḍamma) and sukūn with support
Decoding simple syllable patterns (such as :CV (Consonant-Vowel) = a letter with a short vowel, like بَ (ba) or كُ (ku); CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) = a syllable where the vowelled letter is followed by a consonant with sukūn, like كَتْ (kat) or مِنْ (min)).
Reading familiar words slowly with vocalisation marks and writing simple, familiar words from memory with vocalisation, including one’s own name.
Please note that we adapt the pace of the class to the needs and interests of the group, so the listed objectives may be subject to change and are not meant to be exhaustive.
Homework may be set between classes, though we do understand that the constraints of everyday life may make it difficult to complete at times. You are under no obligation to complete the homework, but revision of the weekly lessons is strongly encouraged to allow you to make excellent progress and benefit fully from the course.
Each week you will practice most if not all four communicative skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). You will be encouraged to take an active part in all activities which can include games, pair and group work as well as individual tasks. We aim to establish a friendly, inclusive atmosphere in the classroom so that all students can express themselves freely and increase their confidence.
