Arabic

Listening and speaking are the main focus of the Arabic program in preschool. The program follows a communicative approach, a proven way to teach a foreign language. Teachers incorporate stories, chants, songs, conversations, and lingual games to provoke students’ motivation. Grammar is introduced through functional situations using story-telling, hand puppets and other materials designed to attract students’ attention and develop their interest in learning the language. By the end of preschool, students will be able to follow simple instructions in Arabic, acquire some Arabic vocabulary, and conduct basic conversation.

In lower elementary, the program continues to focus on listening and speaking skills while gradually introducing reading and writing skills. Teaching basic vocabulary enables students to communicate effectively in Arabic for different real-life purposes. Teachers incorporate stories, songs, dialogue, lingual games, and visual support materials to teach skills.

In upper elementary, the program puts an emphasis on reading and writing while extending listening and speaking skills. Students are able to communicate more effectively in Arabic in a variety of situations. They have the opportunity to present Arabic skits using the vocabulary and language structure they have developed throughout the year. They gain competency over vocabulary as they participate in the school annual Arabic Spelling Bee. Using the Arabic Accelerated Reader program, students enhance their reading and comprehension skills through reading high-interest books, completing interactive quizzes and self-monitoring of reading level. As students learn basic grammar, they are able to write simple sentences to describe pictures and express ideas.

With more language immersion in middle and high school, students are able to communicate effectively and creatively in Arabic for a variety of purposes; interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. Students learn Arabic linguistic elements, such as words, expressions and grammatical constructions, through the use of real-life situations. They engage in class discussion of the rich culture surrounding the Arabic language. Using the Arabic Accelerated Reader program, students enhance their reading and comprehension skills through reading high-interest books, completing interactive quizzes and self-monitoring of reading level. With strong emphasis on writing, students employ the Arabic language conversions to express their ideas and summarize stories.