How to Teach Arabic Bathroom Vocabulary to Your Preschooler

Learning Arabic vocabulary is the key to learning to speak and understand Arabic. Worksheets and formal lessons may not be the best solution for younger students. Use real life experiences and interactions related to bathroom use to teach them Arabic vocabulary that they can use.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• List(s) of Arabic vocabulary and phrases

1. If Arabic is not your first language, or you are not fluent in it, compile a list of Arabic nouns and phrases related to the bathroom. See the link in the resources section for a cute video that introduces some bathroom related vocabulary.

2. View the video with your child. Have him repeat the words after the speaker. View on a regular basis.

3. As you help your preschooler use the bathroom throughout the day, ask him questions about what he's doing or about different objects in the bathroom. Supply vocabulary and phrases as necessary. You can ask questions in English to begin with, if you don't know how to ask in Arabic or if child is confused by the question in Arabic.

4. Begin by asking child what certain objects are in the bathroom. (sabun-soap; toilet-mirhadh; etc). Supply words if child has trouble.

5. When child is using the toilet, ask, what are you sitting on? (Mirhadh-toilet). Teach child to say Anaa alaa al mirhadh (I am on the toilet).

6. When child is washing his hands, say, what are you washing? (yadayyi--hands). You can also ask, what you washing your hands with? (sabuun-soap).

7. When child is taking a shower, ask what are you doing? (matha tafalu (for a male); matha tafaleen? for a female). Guide child to respond with "anaa aghtasilu." (I am washing up). Again, you can ask child what he is washing up with (sabuun). Ask child what are you using to wash? (maa-water). You can also talk about whether the water is hot (haar) or cold (baarid).

Tips & Warnings

• Stick with bathroom vocabulary for a few weeks or more before moving onto another set of vocabulary. But don't stay on a category too long so as to bore child. You can always come back if child has not mastered vocabulary.
• If child has learned colors, ask what color certain items in the bathroom are.
• Use bathroom times as natural learning opportunities but don't overdo it by going over vocabulary every single time the bathroom is used if child seems weary.

Resources

• Arabic Bathroom Vocabulary Video for Kids