How to Learn the Arabic Alphabet for Kids

"Peace" written in Arabic

Arabic is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world. Arabic is also the language of the Quran, the holy book of the Muslim faith. Many Muslims, both Arab and non-Arab, like to teach their children Arabic so that they can read the Quran in the original language. Today, Arabic is also considered a strategic language to learn, given its widespread prevalence as well as the numerous commercial and government activities in Arabic speaking countries.

Things You'll Need

• Arabic alphabet chart
• Paper
• Pencil
• Whiteboard
• Whiteboard marker

Instructions

Instructions

1. Show children the Arabic alphabet chart. Point out each of the letters, saying their name and sound aloud for the children to hear. Point out that there are 29 letters, similar to in English. Point out that Arabic is written and read from right to left; opposite to English.

2. Break the alphabet into sections of four letters and teach these in order starting with Alif, Baa, Taa and Thaa-----he first four letters of the Arabic alphabet.

3. Draw each letter on the whiteboard and get students to copy the shape on their pieces of paper with a pencil.

4. Draw the connecting shapes (singular, beginning, middle and end forms) on the whiteboard for each of the four letters and get children to copy the shapes on their pieces of paper with a pencil.

5. Draw different combinations of the letters in "linked" form, and get children to single out which letters are which until they can recognize, name and pronounce each of the four letters in each of their various forms. Make sure to point out the letters like Waw and Raa that only connect from the right side, and hence have no "middle" form.

6. Repeat these steps with subsequent groups of four letters--leaving out the last letter
   "Hamza" for special attention. Make sure as you progress through the alphabet that students have not forgotten previous lessons; it is also important that students can recognize the combinations of all of the letters learned in any form presented. This can be assessed by quizzing the children about different letter combinations on the whiteboard.

7. Periodically revise previous lessons to ensure that student are remembering the whole alphabet.

8. Teach the short vowel symbols and Hamza once the whole of the alphabet has been learned in a separate lesson. Write a consonant combination on the whiteboard, and show how placing the different short vowel symbols above or below the letters changes the sound.

9. Hamza makes a particular "glottal stop" sound in Arabic, and this needs to be given special attention--the best word for learning this is lu'lu' meaning pearl: it has two Hamzas in it and is easily remembered.

Tips & Warnings

• Learning the Arabic alphabet may take some weeks.

References

• Abjad.com
• Talibidden Jr.