Arabic Level 1, Part 3 (Spoken)

Spoken Arabic is an integrated approach which aims to create an authentic environment for developing communication skills using Arabic dialects. Grammar will be embedded in the communicative activities.

The course focuses on:

• Making a connection between Modern Standard Arabic and the spoken dialects (such as Egyptian and Levantine), highlighting common linguistic structures
• Developing learners’ written and oral communicative skills using regional dialects
• Exploring and understanding cultural, social and political elements of specific regions where Arabic is spoken.
• Acquiring basic speaking skills for those interested in travelling or working in the Arab region, communicating with friends in Arabic as well as understanding TV shows, songs and movies.

Students will not be required to purchase a course book, as all the syllabus content will be prepared by the teacher, using authentic resources. However, a list of books and online resources will be recommended for self-study.

Topics:

• Colours and clothes
• Weather
• Trips/holiday
• Expressing feeling
• Poems and Song
• Films and cinema

Functions:

• Describing the weather
• Talking about a trip/vacation/holiday
• Comparing things
• Describing feelings and mood
• Talking about your plans
• Understanding poems and songs’ lyrics
• Understanding the Arab culture from films and media

Grammar:

• Present and future tense
• Comparatives and superlatives
• Verb to be (past tense)
• Word order and verbs
• The negative

To acquire basic language skills and to achieve the equivalent of A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

By the end of the course you will:

• be able to communicate using regional dialects (Egyptian and Levantine) in very basic everyday-life situations, including greetings, daily activities, finding your way, telling the time and date, making simple purchases, ordering a meal, etc.
• be able to understand very simple oral and written texts and ascertain specific information on simple topics
• have developed an insight into Arab-speaking life, culture and society.

*The above is an indication of content that may be covered over the duration of the course but it could vary depending on the level and progress of students in the class.