`alifbā`

This mini lesson is a part of a whole lesson that introduces three Arabic letters: `alif, wāw, and yā` (long vowels) in comparison to the short vowels: fatHa, Damma, and kasra.

 Learning Outcomes:

 By the end of this mini lesson, students will be able to:

1.      Identify the sound and letter of `alif.

2.      Specify the sound of fatHa.

3.      Differentiate between the sounds of `alif and fatHa.

4.      Recognize vocabulary containing `alfi and fatHa.

Philosophy of teaching:

1.      Beginning by long and short vowels is that most of Arabic words do not abandon or relinquish of them.

2.      Highlighting the sound of a letter firstly before knowing the shape of it.

3.      Teaching general and simple vocabulary (namely, nouns) which are integrating with the process of teaching them `alifbā`.

Lesson Procedures:

Teacher (T) provides greetings to students Ss saying أهْلاً.

Activity 1:Presentation and Practice (15 min.) alif:

T asks Ss to repeat these words after him: (T helps Ss notice the vowel)

Mad, sad, bad, fat, cat, hat, tab, cab

T asks Ss: what is the common sound between these words?

T tells Ss that the letter which resembles this vowel in Arabic entitled: alif.

T writes in the whiteboard while s/he telling Ss: This is the shape of alif: ا

While T is writing in the whiteboard, s/he tells Ss: Words in Arabic containing this long vowel are:

T helps Ss elicit the difference between the two sounds. Otherwise, T tells Ss that the sound of `alif in the first group is produced from the front of the mouth. But, the other one is pronounced from a deeper point of the mouth.

Listening (twice): 3 min.

T asks Ss to listen to these words and then specify the type of `alif for each one. If it is pronounced from the front, Ss write F; alternatively, they write D:

1.    Activity 2: presentation and practice 15 min.

fatHa:

In comparison to the above learned long vowels of `alif, T asks Ss to notice the difference between the two vowels in the following couple words:

For those which have a long vowel, T waves with two fingers. For those which have a short vowel, T waves with one finger:

Listening:

T asks Ss to listen to these words. For each, Ss must write L if they hear a long vowel; and writ S when they hear a short vowel:

جزر، دار، بنك، رجل، ساق، طريق، حارة