The Cactus Course Outlines provide a learning framework for the Cactus Foreign Language Evening Courses. They are designed to provide you with a good idea of what you might cover over a 10-week period, and include typical themes, grammar and vocabulary fields. They are flexible rather than prescriptive, in that our teachers may decide to adapt their learning plans to the specific level, aims and interests of their classes.

• Arabic Beginner 1
• Arabic Beginner 2
• Arabic Beginner 3
• Arabic Elementary 1
• Arabic Elementary 2
• Arabic Elementary 3
• Arabic Intermediate 1
• Arabic Intermediate 2
• Arabic Intermediate 3

The course covers grammar, reading and writing practice as well as an insight into the culture of the region. Students will learn the basics of the language and be able to build up enough knowledge to read and write at a basic level. Given the subtle differences between eastern and western cultures, it is beneficial to the students to be aware of such differences which are embedded in the language.

Topics & Vocabulary:

• Basic Greetings and introductions
• Countries and saying where you are from
• Describing things
• Ordering drinks and snacks
• Describing where things are
• Describing characteristics and places
• Asking for directions and transportation
• Talking about yourself and your family
• Counting numbers from one to ten
• Talking about Jobs and occupations

Grammar:

• Plurals
• Using adjectives
• Feminine and masculine usage
• Possessive attached pronouns
• Nouns in definite and indefinite form
• Simple questions What’s this? Whose is it? Where is …

Cultural content:

• Introduction to Arabic culture in relation to:
• People at home and in public places
• Everyday polite language, everyday religious expressions
• Arabic as an international language and dialect
• Food and culture
• Arabic Hospitality

Skills Work:

• The Arabic alphabet, reading and writing
• Special emphasis on unfamiliar sounds, weak and strong, short and long sounds
• Joining letters to make up words and phrases
• Listening comprehension
• Practical drills to learn reading and writing and the alphabet

Topics & Vocabulary:

• Extensive revision of previous level but in more elaboration including:
• Greetings
• Masculine and feminine words
• Singular pronouns
• The family
• Jobs
• Describing things and adjectives
• Positions
• Describing places
• Counting; express how much and how many
• Shopping and using different Arabic currencies.
• English words in Arabic
• In the market
• What is it made of?

Grammar:

• Attached pronouns (possessive endings)
• Asking questions with yes or no answer
• Plural and dual
• Word order and sentence structure
• Using adjectives
• Plural and singular rule with numbers
• Sentence Negation

Cultural content:

• Use cultural expressions in a variety of contexts
• Further etiquette in private and public places
• Deeper insight into difference between Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects

Skills Work:

• Practical drills to master reading and writing
• Listening comprehension
• Write simple sentences using the Arabic script
• Communicative role plays
• Practical assignments and tasks.

Topics & Vocabulary:

• Colours (masculine and feminine)
• Plurals
• Describe what happened yesterday
• Dictionary work
• Preparing and shopping for a birthday party

Grammar:

• Arabic roots
• Plural pattern 1 and 2
• Broken plural
• Using question words
• Past tense verbs
• Use 5 question words
• Joining sentences together
• Masculine and feminine numbers
• Word order in a verbal sentence structure compared to a nominal sentence.

Cultural content:

• Use cultural expressions in a variety of contexts
• Further etiquette in private and public places
• Deeper insight into difference between Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects

Skills Work:

• How to use a dictionary using the root of a word
• Practical drills to master reading and writing
• Listening comprehension
• Write simple sentences using the Arabic script
• Communicative role plays
• Practical assignments and tasks.

Topics & Vocabulary:

• Talking about the weather
• Writing a letter or an email
• Talking about a vacation
• Days of the week
• The cabinet

Grammar:

• Plural pattern 3 and 4
• Plural pattern 5
• Singular and plural verbs
• Numbers from 11-100
• Idafa
• Sentence structure
• Hemza as a root letter

Cultural content:

• Use cultural expressions in a variety of contexts.
• Further etiquette in private and public places

Skills Work:

• Practical drills to master reading and writing
• Listening comprehension
• Write simple sentences using the Arabic script
• Communicative role plays
• Practical assignments and tasks

Introduction to present tense verbs which are used in daily life with more words to add to your vocabulary bank. Practice of speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Topics & Vocabulary:

• Revision.
• Telling the time.
• Talking about your everyday routine using present tense verbs.
• Using Negative statements.
• Education / school time table.
• Useful vocabulary used at the university.
• Forms of verbs
• At the kitchen

Grammar:

• Present tense conjugation.
• Past negative.
• Verbs form 2, 3 and 4.
• Using (لم ) changes the verb case ending.

Cultural content:

• Use cultural expressions in a variety of contexts.
• Further etiquette in private and public places

Skills Work:

• Practical drills to master reading and writing.
• Listening comprehension
• Write simple sentences using the Arabic script.
• Communicative role plays
• Practical assignments and tasks.

Introducing future verbs and different forms of verbs. Enrich your vocabulary bank with new words. After finishing this level you will feel more confident in speaking and ready to debate and open interesting subjects to discuss.

Topics & Vocabulary:

• At the car rental office.
• Comparing past and present.
• Future plans
• Months of the year.
• An international tour.
• The flying bicycle.
• Review and advice on further study.

Grammar:

• Comparative and superlative.
• Future tense conjugation.
• Using ‘’but’’ with attached pronouns.
• Forms of verbs five and six.
• Verbs form 7, 8 and 10.
• Using (كان ) in a sentence.
• Using ‘’since’’ in a sentence.
• Hollow verbs, weak verbs, defective verbs

Cultural content:

• Use cultural expressions in a variety of contexts.
• Further etiquette in private and public places

Skills Work:

• Practical drills to master reading and writing.
• Listening comprehension
• Write simple sentences using the Arabic script.
• Communicative role plays
• Practical assignments and tasks.

An engaging Arabic intermediate course. It offers lively dialogues, varied texts and exercise sand fascinating cultural insights.

Topics & Vocabulary:

• Talking about yourself.
• Asking about others.
• Describing characters
• Talking about childhood.
• The Arab world ( a look at Egypt)
• Describing your home.
• For rent.
• The Arab world( a look at Saudi Arabia)
• Talking about your daily routine.
• Talking about your work.
• Describing housework.
• Talking about your C.V.
• The Arab world( a look at Syria)
• Talking about sports.
• Talking about your free time and going out.
• The Arab world (a look at Morocco).

Grammar:

• Adjectives
• Plural.
• Present and past tense verbs.
• Using ‘’but’’ with attached pronouns.
• Talking about preferences.
• Verbal noun and participles.

Cultural content:

• Description about different Arabic cultures places and architects in among the Arabic peninsula and North Africa.
• A biography of famous Arabic writers and singers.

Skills Work:

• Practical drills to master reading and writing.
• Listening comprehension
• Write simple sentences using the Arabic script.
• Communicative role plays
• Practical assignments and tasks.

An engaging Arabic intermediate course. It offers lively dialogues, varied texts and exercise sand fascinating cultural insights.

Topics & Vocabulary:

• Travel and tourism in the Arab world.
• Means of transportation.
• Writing a blog.
• Writing a letter of complaint.
• The Arab world ( a look at Tunis).
• Food and cooking.
• Reserving a table at a restaurant.
• Food shops.
• Methods of cooking and ingredients.
• The month of Ramadan.
• Describing clothes and colours.
• The Arab world (a look at Iraq).
• Education and training.
• School system.
• The Arab world (a look at Algeria).

Grammar:

• Doubled verbs.
• Weak verbs: assimilated verbs, defective verbs, hollow verbs.
• Imperative verbs.

Cultural content:

• Month of Ramadan eating patterns.
• Most popular Lebanese food.
• Arabic proverbs.
• Description about different Arabic dialects.
• A biography of famous Arabic writers and singers.

Skills Work:

• Practical drills to master reading and writing.
• Listening comprehension
• Write simple sentences using the Arabic script.
• Communicative role plays
• Practical assignments and tasks.

An engaging Arabic intermediate course. It offers lively dialogues, varied texts and exercise and fascinating cultural insights. A wide variety of topics relevant to the Arab world including travel and tourism, food and cooking, news and media, and arts and cinema.

Topics & Vocabulary:

• News and media.
• Talking about news headlines.
• Broadcasting.
• Comparing media.
• he Arab world (a look at Yemen and the Gulf area).
• Talking about the weather and the climate.
• Holiday plans.
• The Arab world (a look at Libya).
• Health and happiness.
• The Arab world (a look at Sudan).
• Arts and cinema.
• Film genres.
• Critical reviewing.
• The Arab world (a look at Jordan and Palestine).

Grammar:

• Future verbs.
• Negating future verbs.
• If…..then.
• Present and past passive.

Cultural content:

• Cultural activities.
• Poets.
• Different languages used in Algeria.
• Traditional clothes.
• Wedding party.
• Arabic proverbs.
• Description about different Arabic dialects.

Skills Work:

• Practical drills to master reading and writing.
• Listening comprehension
• Write simple sentences using the Arabic script.
• Communicative role plays
• Practical assignments and tasks.