About the Arabic At Your Hands Series

            This series is the first program in a series of other programs in the project called ‘AL ARABIYYA’L-IL JAMEE’  Arabic for all.

            This series comprises a comprehensive curriculum in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers.  It begins from basic level i.e.: with real beginners and ends when they nearly master the language to a degree that enables them to continue their further studies in universities where the medium of study is Arabic.  The following is a brief summary about the series.

I. Characteristics of the series:

·The latest series in teaching Arabic to the speakers of other languages.

·A systematic organization of the structure of the units.

·Sound and phonetic features have been treated in a variety of ways and some of which are totally new.

·The structure of each book took a form that suits the level it is intended to.

·Each book is encased with its tapes in a compact case for easily handling.

·The series was uniquely produced.

·The series focuses and addresses both genders (male and female).

II. The aims of the series:

The series aims at achieving the following competencies.

·Language competency that includes the following:

a.    The four language skills:

       1.Listening.

       2.Speaking.

       3.Reading.

       4.Writing (mechanical and creative).

b.    The three language elements:

       1.Sounds (Various phonetic features).

       2.Vocabulary (contextual and idiomatic expressions).

3.       Grammar Structures (A suitable dose of grammatical and morphological rules).

·Communicative competency.

·Cultural competency.

III.The series addresses adult learners.

IV.The language used in the series is the modern standard Arabic.  No medium language is used.

V.The components:

            The series is composed of three levels:

• The basic level             :    Student’s book + Teacher’s book.

• The intermediate level  :    Student’s book + Teacher’s book.

• The Advanced level      :    Student’s book + Teacher’s book.

• An Arabic illustrated dictionary.

• Eight recorded tapes or CD accompany each book.

VI. Guides of the series:

·The integration between the skills and elements.

·Taking great care of the Arabic sound system on both distinction (recognition) and production levels.

·The language material is well graded in presentation.

·Individual differences are taken care of.

·A variety of texts are selected:  dialogues, topics, stories etc…

·The functional aspect was taken care of when presenting grammar structures.

·Oral skills were taken care of in basic level.

·There is great balance between language elements and skills.

·A variety of drills and exercises are used.

·Unit system has been use in the presentation of materials.

·The number of words and grammar structures in each unit is highly controlled.

·New words are presented in full context.

·Word glossary and expressions are listed for each book.

·Benefit has been made of word lists available in the Arab world.

·Benefit has been made of common grammar structures lists.

·A variety of tests are made at phases for each book.

·Benefit has been made of other programs dealing with the preparation of teaching material of other language.

·Cultural concepts have been presented in interesting ways.

·Illustration has been used overwhelmingly specially in the first book.

VII.Time allotted for teaching the series:

            The time expected for teaching all the series is 300 periods approximately (one period lasts about 45 minutes).

VIII. Symbols used in the series:

listen        look             write

read         speak           reference to supporting vocabulary

Student Book I

            The student book contains 16 units; each has 6 lessons which are designed as follows:

Lesson One  :    Presentation; 3 pages that includes three dialogues, except the firs unit which includes six dialogues.

Lesson Two  :    Vocabulary; 3 pages that include

                      a.  basic vocabulary.       b.  additional vocabulary.

Lesson Three:    Grammar structures; 4 pages that includes exercises and grammar summary.

Lesson Four :    Sounds and listening comprehension; 3 pages that include minimal pairs, Quranic verses, sound recognition and production etc…

Lesson Five  :    Speaking; 3 pages that include: dialogues, completion, describing pictures and communicative drills.

Lesson Six    :    Reading and writing; 4 pages that include reading and writing on word, phrase, sentence and paragraph levels.

Tests and Evaluation:  There are eight short ‘test your self” tests; each two pages, and two extensive tests; one for midterm after the eighth unit, and a final test after the sixteenth unit.

            At the end of the book, there are lists of supportive illustrated vocabulary, a list of vocabulary, a list of vocabulary for each unit and a word list of all the words in the book arranged alphabetically.

 Student Book 2

 Units and Lessons:

            As the first book, student book 2 contains 16 units and 96 lessons, 6 lessons each.  Each unit is designed as follows:

Lesson One  :    (4) pages that include: a dialogue, comprehension drills, vocabulary, sounds, grammatical notes, listening comprehension and speaking drills.

Lesson Two  :    (3) pages that include:  a reading text, comprehension exercises, vocabulary and grammar notes.

Lesson Three:   (4) pages that include: a dialogue, comprehensive drills, vocabulary, sounds, grammar notes, listening comprehension and speaking drills.

Lesson Four :    (3) pages that include; a reading text, comprehension drills, vocabulary and grammar text.

Lesson Five  :    (3) pages that include: a guided composition, handwriting and orthography.

Lesson Six    :    (3) pages that include:  extensive reading, comprehension and vocabulary drills.

Tests and Evaluation:  The student books contains eleven tests:

 a) Test yourself (2 pages) after each two units i.e. 8 tests. 

 b) One placement test at the beginning of the book. 

 c) A midterm test at the end of unit eight. 

 d) A final test at the end of the book.

            At the end of the book, there are lists of vocabulary used n each unit and another list of all the vocabulary of the book arranged alphabetically.

Student Book 3

Units and Lessons:

            As the two previous books in the series, this book contains 16 units; each unit has 7 lessons with a total of 112 lessons.  Each unit is designed as follows:

Lesson One  :    (3) pages that include and intensive reading text followed by in depth.

Lesson Two  :    (3) pages that include comprehension exercises and vocabulary drills.

Lesson Three:   (2) pages that include grammar and  grammar exercises.

Lesson Four :    (2) pages they include listening comprehension drills.

Lesson Five  :    (2) pages they include oral and written drills.

Lesson Six    :    (2) pages that include grammar and grammar exercise.

Lesson Seven:   (6) pages; that include an extensive reading text, comprehension and vocabulary drills.

Tests and Evaluation:  the books contains five tests

 a) Placement test at the beginning of the book (7 pages). 

 b) A short test – yourself test after unit 4 (5 pages). 

 c) One mid – term test at the end of unit 8 (7 pages). 

 d) A short test – yourself test after unit 12 (5 pages). 

 e) A comprehensive final test at the end of the book (12 pages).

     The listening script, one at the end of the book in addition to the list of words of each unit and the whole book arranged alphabetically.

Teachers’ Books 1, 2 and 3

The teachers’ books aim at providing the teacher with a host of methods, procedures and suggestions that may be of good help in teaching in and effective and productive way. 

These books include a miniature picture of the student book at the left hand side. 

This may be helpful for the teacher to follow the teaching material without resorting to the original student book copy.

The Teachers’ books contain the following:

General guidelines to the teachers (these guidelines were mentioned in the first book).

• 35 general points.

• 24 classroom management points.

• 67 points in how to teach the language skills and elements and how to tackle language tests.

• There are 126 direct benefits in addition to the instructions of the procedures of drills and the additional activities.

• Suggestion, on how to proceed with the various drills and exercise of the book.

• Suggestions on doing additional activities.

• The teacher books contain the listening scripts.

• The teacher books contain all key answers (except the answers for communicative drills and oral or written composition).

• The teacher books contain all the answers of the tests.

• All books contain an orientation and introduction explaining the contents of each unit pertaining grammatical structures, vocabulary used and sounds.

• All books contain an orientation dealing with aims of each unit, the topic in units and the way it could be presented.

• Useful suggestions of how to present basic and additional vocabulary.

• A brief description of the grammar structures for each unit and how to present the grammar summaries.

• Each book contains a fruitful introduction and lists of words used in the series.

Arabic Between Your Hands Dictionary

 (Arabic-Arabic)

• Illustrated Arabic/Arabic dictionary.

• Contains the vocabularies of the series and many other common vocabularies.

• More than 7000 Arabic terms.

• Distinguished alphabetical order.

• Easy access to words (as written).

• Useful for Arabic and non Arabic learners.