Teaching tools and ideas for online language courses: How I created an online Arabic language class Maha Sweis- Dababneh, Ph.D. Moraine Valley Community College 1

Arabic Language has some challenging particularly for people who speak English for the following reasons: 2 The Arabic script is written in a Cursive style, Letters are connected The Arabic language is written right to left

Letters have slightly different shapes depending on where they take place in a word 3 In general Arabic sounds use a wider range of mouth and throat positions than English

4 Further, In Arabic language we use diacritics marks, or short vowels. These are symbols or signs that are placed on or underneath a letter, to indicate that it has a different pronunciation

5 Arabic has very few irregular verbs and does not use "is" or "are" at all in the present tense: "the boy tall" means "the boy is tall"

Teaching Arabic Online Technology Tools Teachers Tools Students Tools Teaching Methods Assessments Assignments Grading Connecting Voice Recording Engaging 6

Teachers Tools Students Tools 7

Teachers Tools 1- Learning Activities 2-Assignments 3-Assessments 4-Grading 8

A-Teachers Tools For Arabic 101, I have created 10 learn­ing modules, which include a series of videos using “Smart Pen” technology, smart pen allowing me to record everything I say or write. Those clips are linked to course documents that students can then follow Learning Activities

Teachers Tools- SmartPen 10

B-Voice Recording- PowerPoint voice recording

Smooth Draw with Tablets Bamboo Tablets SmoothDraw website 12

13 B-Voice Recording- Movie Maker

Engaging - Ning Website It is an online destination where students can submit photos, videos, homework, and blog posts Ning website allows students to be more engaged in the classroom; therefore they do not feel alone. 14

15 Teachers Tools- Ning

16 2- Assignments

17 Online Quizzes

Microsoft Word Paint Program 18 4-Grading

Students Tools 19

20 Blackboard – first page Expectation

Examples- Paint Program How to use Paint Program: While you are on your computer Desktop Click on START Then click on ACCESSORIES Then click on PAINT Write your answers, save and then Attach as a word document Upload to blackboard How to use Paint Program: While you are on your computer Desktop Click on START Then click on ACCESSORIES Then click on PAINT Write your answers, save and then Attach as a word document Upload to blackboard Guidelines 21

Example -Guidelines How to do voice recording If you are going to have any homework that required pronunciation (Audio record), you can use the following tools: MaterialsMicrophone InstructionsYou are going to prepare and submit only 1 voice recording in Arabic using the content that you have learned.Before you begin this assignment, I have 3 suggestions: 1) Have your responses in front of you already prepared so you do not have several pauses in your recording, 2) Listen to your recording a few times to make sure that you are satisfied with your responses and 3) Check your microphone volume. Step 1: Open PowerPoint. Step 2: On slide 1, write: your name, Voice recording number, ARB Step 3: Click on Slide Show located in the tool bar and select Record Narration or Record Slide Show. Step 4: Click OK to begin recording your responses. Step 5: Save your recording as, for example: Maha Sweis- Voice recording 1. Step 6: Finally, attach and submit the PowerPoint file in Blackboard- dropbox. You also, can use different tools, such as your cell phone, record, then upload and post in Blackbord- dropbox. You can use any other tools you are acquainted with to record your voice. 22

23 How to install Arabic keyboard Example -Guidelines GO TO START SETTING CONTROL PANEL REGIONAL AND LANGUAGE OPTIONS CLICK ARABIC APPLY THEN CLICK OK, AND CLOSE IT.

24 Students Tools - Connecting Paint Program Smooth draw

Cell Phone Paint Program/ smoothdraw 25 Students- Samples ( connecting)

PowerPoint – Voice recording Youtube- collaborate with another student 26 Voice Recording - Examples

27 Voice Recording – Voki website

28 Voice Recording- windows7

Thank you 29