Read Arabic!
Online Reading Materials for
American High School Learners of
Arabic
Fatima Almutawakel, University of Maryland
Dr. Gerald Lampe, Independent Consultant
Dr. Frederick Jackson, University of Maryland
Overview of Program
•Description of Read Arabic!
•Short demonstration
•Discussion
Read Arabic!
Project
Funder: U.S. Department of Education I.R.S. Grants
Goal: to provide online e-learning reading lessons for
beginning and intermediate readers
Target Audience:
American Students in Grades 8-12
Current proficiency level from ACTFL Novice (0-0+) to
Intermediate (1-1+)
Computer-literate
Feature: available on a public website, no cost, no registration
Adaptation:
The authoring system was originally designed for advanced and
superior-level government employees’ work requirements.
We adapted LangNet for secondary school learners for voluntary
self-study and teaching material
Read Arabic! since June 2010
Read
Design:
Arabic!Text
TextPlus
Levels
Novice: Materials designed for beginning readers, after the writing system
has been learned.
Learner develops decoding skills and recognizes basic vocabulary,
memorized expressions and core grammatical structures in short
meaningful contexts. Begins to understand very simple sentences.
Intermediate: Materials intended for learners who are already able to read
relatively simple connected sentences in Arabic.
Learner reads straightforward sentences in meaningful contexts from
authentic text types. Understands familiar language used in new contexts.
Begins to “read to learn.”
Cultural: Materials at a more advanced linguistic and cultural level that
provide insight into Arabic traditions and values.
Learner encounters and learns to recognize and appreciate linguistically
complex authentic passages that reflect critical cultural values.
Texts
• Topics are selected to interest HS learners
• Some are authentic texts (e.g., signs, menu, classified ads)
• Some are adapted from authentic texts online (e.g., biography)
• Some lower-level texts were composed for instructional purposes
• English translation and audio recording
Based on ACTFL “Communication” Standards and on the ALIF Arabic Curriculum
developed by Professor Wafa Hassan and her team
Read Arabic! Some Text Topics So Far
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*Basic Language: Greetings
*Basic Language: Family Members
*Basic Language: Colors
Online Lunch Menu
Weather Report
Geography: Some Arab countries and their capitals
Travel: Visit to the Middle East
Counting and Numbers
Recipe for a Grilled Salad
Letter from a Friend
The Singer Fairuz
Historical and Cultural Heros and Heroines
Interview with a Pilgrim (to Mecca)
Common Signs and Classified Ads
Design: Source Text
Design: Text Plus
Design: Notes and Glossary
• Notes: includes grammatical and cultural notes that
provide a better understanding of basic grammatical
structure and highlight general traditions and norms of
the region.
• Glossary: deals with high-frequency words occurring in
the text, including English translation, pronunciation
guide in Arabic script, and the words in Arabic phrases or
sentences (for intermediate levels).
Example: Notes
Design: Glossary
Design: Glossary
Provides
• Words and phrases to be learned, display in
masculine/feminine and singular/plural forms
• Example sentences and phrases for Intermediate level
• Full voweling to show pronunciation
Glossary Example
Learning Activities
Learning
Activities
• Matching
• Word in Arabic with English translation
• Word in Arabic with image
• True or False
• Multiple-choice
• Categorizing words and phrases
• Completing a paragraph
• Constructed response
Activity: Match Text With Images
Activity: Which is the most accurate rephrasing of
Activity:
or False?
selectedTrue
text excerpt?
Activity: Categorize the Items
Activity Feedback: Positive
Activity Feedback: Negative
Some Unique Issues Related to Arabic
– Some feedback terms cannot be translated well
– Need to capture meanings of complex morphology
– Differences in the use of gender in verbs for instructions
– Dialect forms in authentic texts
– Translation difficulties
Sample Lessons
Let’s look at a few examples of
the actual online lessons.
When and Where Read Arabic! is used
• Students can work on their own, even if they
do not have a class.
• As teaching material in class or for assigned
homework
Guide for Learners
User Feedback
Link to online evaluation form on the
Finish screen for every lesson
User Feedback
Read Arabic!
http://readarabic.nflc.org
International Research and Studies
grant number P017A090366 (2009-2012)
Thank you!
Comments or Questions?