Learning to Reading Arabic for Adults can seem daunting, but it is definitely achievable with the right approach.
Arabic reading is the way to understand what is written in the Arabic language, and for Muslims, it has a special status as it’s the first command to the prophet PBUH “Read”.
Previously, it was hard to imagine that adults can begin to learn Arabic and sometimes they were ashamed of it, they would make a great effort to begin. Now, after the technological revolution, it became more available and easier, Arabic Language online, and Arabic reading curriculum for adults are great solutions for those who intend to learn and find obstacles in their way.
Now we will begin our journey in learning about the Arabic reading curriculum for adults.
Understanding the Arabic Reading Curriculum
Arabic reading is how to pronounce and understand what is written in Arabic, and the Arabic reading curriculum is the way from illiteracy to fluency in reading Arabic.
Beginning from learning the Arabic letters, recognizing their shapes, and the written phonetic for every letter, till reading a whole script written in Arabic, you could imagine it’s a long and hard way, actually, it’s not easy but its important will make it easier.
the importance of reading in learning Arabic
The most essential learning branch in the Arabic language is Arabic reading, understanding what is written and recognizing it by analyzing each word into units(letters and syllables), so the main purpose of reading is to understand and recognize not only repeating words.
the benefits of reading in Arabic, include improving vocabulary, grammar
Arabic learning gate
As reading is the way to understand what is written, you can’t learn Arabic without reading, the most important benefit is that Arabic reading is the first step in learning and understanding Arabic.
Listening reading
Actually reading is not limited to what is written, for example, you could find people can read and recite Quran and the Arabic poems without learning to read the written Arabic text.
This kind of reading has additional benefits and they are:
1-increase the attention and focus of the learner as it depends on the listening sense only.
1-increase the memorizing ability.
3-increase the mental organizing ability due to concentrating on the order of words.
4-increase the representative and promotional skills as it depends on oral practices.
Increase the linguistic outcome
It’s The best way to increase your vocabulary as the Arabic language is very rich and variable, you could find more than one word that introduces the same meaning.
Increase the ability of creation
For all languages the more that you read, the more that you could be an author, politician, and scientist, as you can’t be a writer without having extensive knowledge, and you can’t be a politician without your wisdom which will be initiated from your tireless reading in the various political fields.
Good training in grammar, morphology, and rhetoric
The Arabic language is a tight building and its rules must be learned correctly, so reading allows continuous training on the different rules of grammar, morphology, and rhetoric.
the importance of understanding Arabic script and diacritical marks in the reading curriculum
As we previously mentioned, the Arabic language is a rich language, and although in different languages one letter difference could make a change in meaning, in the Arabic language only one diacritic mark could make this change, so learning grammar and its rules are essential for the correct understanding of the reading script
the key elements of a typical Arabic reading curriculum, including phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency
There are five essential key elements of learning Arabic reading curriculum and they are
Phonetics
This is the first step in learning any Language and here we learn:
1-recognizing the Arabic 28 letters (silent and vowels), and 34 sounds.
2-the exits of the letters(there are 10 exits)
4-the component of the word (the difference between (phoneme, morpheme, and syllable)
5-the linguistic phenomena, the short and long vowels, shadda, Tanween, and Sukon
6-combining letters and how to pronounce the adjacent letters and the differences between the letters that are pronounced from the same exit.
7-Intonation, pronouncing sounds in a way that gives an indication
The importance of phonetics learning:
- the correct pronunciation of the Arabic sounds to understand Arabic correctly as the wrong pronunciation will lead to a change in meaning
- For non-Arabs, distinguishing the differences between the Arabic sounds and the sounds of the other language
- Correct pronunciation means correct writing also.
Grammar rules
Actually many things included in phonetics are due to the rules of grammar, in phonetics, we learn how to pronounce but in Grammar, we learn how to use them correctly.
What to learn?
- The types of words as nouns, verbs, and prepositions.
- The types of sentences as noun sentences and verbal sentences.
- Syntax cases and marks as nominative, accusative, and prepositional marks.
- Training in grammar rules.
Create your vocabulary
All the words around you, nouns of things and verbs, the members of the family, types of food, synonyms, and antonyms, the pleural and singular.
You can increase your lexicon through more and more practice and contact with the Arabic language, at the start of learning driving you may struggle in your first tries but you will get better with more practice.
Use magazines, newspapers, and documentaries that use the Arabic language to increase your vocabulary.
Talk and listen to have more and more vocabulary.
Reading comprehension
As we previously mentioned reading is to understand what you pronounce, so this element is the core of learning Arabic reading curriculum for adults.
To reach this step we must be able to pronounce words correctly, then we must have good vocabulary content, but at first tries, you could use the glossary to understand the meaning of the words.
Then it’s time to understand sentences and texts, what the writer or author wants to say, what he said literally, and what he didn’t but you have to get and understand.
What are the differences between the different types of text, informational, narrative, and fiction?
Practice
Every step needs practice, and the more you practice the faster you will promote your level.
the different levels of Arabic reading proficiency (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
As with any course through your journey, you will pass levels and every level will contain its own curriculum and hardness.
The beginner Arabic reading curriculum
Here we begin from the zero level or a little bit more and began to recognize and pronounce the sounds of the Arabic Language.
The learner is going to learn how to recognize the shape of the characters and their sounds, then he can read the small words, then small sentences,
At the end of this curriculum, the learner will have 600 vocabulary outcomes.
The intermediate Arabic reading curriculum
Now the readers can read short stories and can understand what are the main idea and purpose of it, and their listening skills are improved.
The advanced Arabic reading curriculum
Now we are transmitted from the level of listening to the level of expression, here our ability improved and we can read articles, research, and books, of course, we can use the dictionary to understand foreign vocabulary, but we practiced many times in the skills of reading and comprehension.
The learner now has the ability to convert what he read into a written text.
how do you select the right curriculum based on personal preferences, reading level, and language goals?
To answer this question we have to determine the goals and purposes of learning reading
Arabic is the language of the quran
Learning Arabic reading is not optional for Muslims, as the correct reading of the Quran depends on the correct reading of Arabic.
In quranic Arabic, we learn All the basis, more linguistic basis related to Quranic reading (Tajweed), so the Arabic reading curriculum will focus on the correct letter exits, defining the letter shapes which present in the Ottoman book, and recognizing their sounds.
Non-arab Arabic reading curriculum for adults
Non-Arab could need to learn Arabic in order to live in Arabic communities for studying or working, so here the purpose is to contact Arabic communities with their language.
Here all the Arabic expressions are foreign and some sounds are hard for them so learning the essential vocabulary helps them to understand and express themselves and what they want to say.
the accent is a very important factor, as many expressions differ between the Arabic countries.
The standard Arabic language(cultural literacy)
Here the purpose is to read, talk, and even write in standard Arabic, reading more advanced and cultural books here the focus will be on reading comprehension and vocabulary.
the first step in learning Arabic reading useful resources for getting started
If you intend to learn Arabic, begin by searching for efficient Arabic reading courses, and now there are many platforms that offer Arabic Language online courses.
Search for the opinions of the previous learners of each course, and the certificates of the scholars.
Through your journey, increase your knowledge by searching for books, practices, and quizzes.
Learning Arabic Reading: Challenges and Solutions
When you intend to learn Arabic you could face many challenges but all those changes could be solved and overcome.
the common challenges that adult learners face when learning Arabic reading
Place and time
You may be in a foreign country where you can’t find Arabic scholars, but technology makes it easier as you can learn the Arabic Language online on many platforms.
Also, those online courses could solve the problem of time, you can rearrange the time according to your work, school, and even your sleep, also you can use the recorded sessions if the time of the live sessions is not suitable for you.
Fees
One of the obstacles you can face during your journey but now scientific curriculum is available online for free on many websites.
Fearing difficulty and attention weakness
Both problems could be solved by searching for interactive courses, videos, and quizzes.
summary
There are about 420 million people around the world who use the Arabic language, and Muslims who exceed 1.5 billion around the world must learn the Arabic language as it’s the language of the Quran.
The Arabic reading is the gate to learning the other Arabic branches and listening is its core.
Arabic reading curriculum consists of phonetics, grammar rules, vocabulary, and comprehension.
There are three levels of the Arabic reading curriculum for adults, every level has different content and needs special practice to be promoted to the next level.
Although the Arabic language is a very rich language and many people may find it hard, learning Arabic now became easier due to the recent technology, so search for the appropriate Arabic reading curriculum and start your journey.
