Arabic Alphabet Connected Forms

The youngest of my middles hasn’t picked up Arabic reading as quickly as the older three, so we are doing some remedial work. I worked up a little presentation for this as well as worksheets of writing practice for each letter and its forms. You can download those and some simple Arabic flashcards (previously posted at TJ) for those at TJ Arabic Studies:

http://tjarabicstudies.blogspot.com/2011/06/arabic-alphabet-connected-forms.html

You will need WinZip/WinRar, etc to unzip the files.

 

Arabic Alphabet Letter Formation Cards

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11026810/arabic/alphabet/arabic-alphabet-letter-formation-cards.pdf

 

Arabic Alphabet Handwriting Practice (Connected forms)

To help practice the connected forms of each letter of the Arabic alphabet, I’ve completed a series of worksheets.

There are four worksheets for each letter which allow students to practice each letter in 3 letter connected combinations:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11026810/arabic/handwriting/handwriting-practice-alphabet-initial-final-focus.pdf

 

If you are looking for practice of the standalone forms, you can find worksheets for those, here in sha Allah:

http://tjarabicstudies.blogspot.com/2010/10/arabic-alphabet-handwriting-practice.html

 

Arabic Alphabet: Sounds, Names, and English Equivalents

A bit ago, I received a comment from a visitor who was looking for names of Arabic letters and English equivalents, which is one (well one of many) things that I did not have.

I put together a little something to that effect (really basic).  Most of my present materials assume that the teacher knows the names and sounds of the letters, so I hope this helps for those who don’t.

Letter names/English “equivalents” (if any)
(Sometimes an equivalent is given, but it may not be 100% equivalent but is what is generally designated).

The letters are in alphabetical order, so please refer to one of my (or any other) alphabet chart to correlate if you are not able to recognize the letters by sight).

Alif – short A, e, or u (depending upon which short vowel is present on it), but it is mostly commonly used as an A in alphabet charts.
Baa-B
Taa – t

Thaa – th sound (voiced), as in “thick”
jeem – J
haa- h (soft h sound)
khaa – no equivalent, sounds like a kh
daal – d
thaal – th sound (voiceless) as in “the”
raa – r
zaa – z
seen – s
sheen -sh
saad – s, but pronounced differently than the seen, the mouth is more rounded
daad – d but different than the daal, the mouth is more rounded
Taw – like a t but different than the taa, the mouth is more rounded when pronounced
Thaw – similar to th sound , but the mouth is more rounded
Ein – no equivalent
ghein – g (hard)
faa – f
qaaf – q
kaaf – k
laam – l
meem – m
noon – n
Haa – h but more hardy
wow- w
yaa- y

I would just rely on this for the teacher and not get into equivalents for the students. Many think that transliteration and comparing to English will serve as a crutch. However, for teachers  for whom Arabic is not their native language and who don’t have a teacher themselves, then it is probably essential in the beginning.

If you can find a book or software on tajweed, this will help more accurately with the pronunciation of sounds, in sha Allah, than what I have provided here.

 

Arabic Alphabet Lessons for Preschoolers: Lesson 14

 

Lesson 14: Wrap Up/Assessment ; Maintenance– Optional

Test student on all letters learned thus far and give student certificate of completion (make your own or see TJ’s Arabic alphabet section).

Be sure to review the flashcards on a daily basis as well as recite the alphabet in order. After a while, reduce review to weekly, then monthly as needed.

The next learning step is to learn the different forms of the letters of the alphabet……………….

 

Arabic Alphabet Lessons for Preschoolers: Lesson 13

 

Lesson 13: Yaa, Hamza

Go through steps 1 and 2 below. If student has no trouble recognizing the letters, then move onto the new learning. If student still has trouble, repeat lesson 1 routine or play games such as bingo to reinforce recognition of the letters.

Opening	Looking at Alphabet Reciting Chart, point to each letter of the alphabet, in order, and say its name while student looks on.
Review of past letters	Use flashcards of letters alif – wow, and flash them to student in random order to call out the name. Lay out the even cards and have student select the letters you call out.
New letter introduction	Write the letters alif, – wow on the board or paper in order, saying the names as you write them. Now, add on the new letters in order: yaa and hamza, saying the names. Read back now through all letters alif – yaa and Hamza while pointing to them. Point to the new letters and say them a few more times. Now, have student pronounce the new letters. Be sure to watch student’s mouth as sometimes the word may sound correct, but student is really saying something different. Repeat a few times to make sure the pronunciation is clear.
New letter drills	Using generic gameboard , write each of the following sequences in their own spaces on the board. Say the names as you write them and have student watch Sequences, one per square: Start at right side of game board and write the letters from right to left: yaa yaa yaa Hamza yaa yaa Hamza Hamza yaa Hamza hamzah Hamza yaa hamzah hamzah yaa yaa hamzah hamzah yeah hamzah yaa Hamza yaa Let student read through the drills on the board from start to finish. Repeat a few times if student shows interest.
Enrichment	Choose one more of the following activities as time and student’s interest allows: 1. Make large, bubble letters of each new letter and have student color in the letters 2. Take the colored in bubble letters and make a puzzle of each letter. Student must put the puzzle pieces together to recreate each letter. 3. Writing: Show student how to properly form each letter in writing and have student write the letter (see TJ Dotted letter alphabet tracing pages) or have student write in air, sand, etc. 4. Provide a worksheet where student must circle all of a given letter in a row..

 

Arabic Alphabet Lessons for Preschoolers: Lesson 12

 

Lesson 12: Haa, Wow

Go through steps 1 and 2 below. If student has no trouble recognizing the letters, then move onto the new learning. If student still has trouble, repeat lesson 1 routine or play games such as bingo to reinforce recognition of the letters.

Opening	Looking at Alphabet Reciting Chart, point to each letter of the alphabet, in order, and say its name while student looks on.
Review of past letters	Use flashcards of letters alif – noon, and flash them to student in random order to call out the name. Lay out the odd numbered cards and have student pick out the ones you call randomly.
New letter introduction	Write the letters alilf – noon on the board or paper in order, saying the names as you write them. Now, add on the new letters in order: haa and wow, saying the names. Read back now through all letters alif – wow in order while pointing to them. Point to the new letters and say them a few more times. Now, have student pronounce the new letters. Be sure to watch student’s mouth as sometimes the word may sound correct, but student is really saying something different. Repeat a few times to make sure the pronunciation is clear.
New letter drills	Using generic gameboard , write each of the following sequences in their own spaces on the board. Say the names as you write them and have student watch Sequences, one per square: Start at right side of game board and write the letters from right to left: haa haa haa wow haa haa wow wow haa wow wow wow haa wow wow haa haa wow wow haa wow haa wow haa Let student read through the drills on the board from start to finish. Repeat a few times if student shows interest.
Enrichment	Choose one more of the following activities as time and student’s interest allows: 1. Make large, bubble letters of each new letter and have student color in the letters 2. Take the colored in bubble letters and make a puzzle of each letter. Student must put the puzzle pieces together to recreate each letter. 3. Writing: Show student how to properly form each letter in writing and have student write the letter (see TJ Dotted letter alphabet tracing pages) or have student write in air, sand, etc. 4. Provide a worksheet where student must circle all of a given letter in a row..