Being fluent in Arabic can open a great opportunity for you since many people want to learn Arabic nowadays. However, being able to speak the Arabic language is not enough to be a good teacher of Arabic, especially if your intention is to teach Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.
Teaching Arabic can be challenging if you are teaching non-Arabic speakers. You have to deal with students who know nothing about Arabic. You will face several challenges. This can take us to the question of how to become a good teacher of Arabic for students who know nothing about the language.
How can language teaching be improved online?
Teaching does not have to stick to the old classical image of a teacher and students sitting around him or her in a physical room. Now, you can easily teach students who are present in other countries with the help of the Internet.
Adding computers and the internet to the teaching process can greatly impact both students and teachers. The internet can help teachers take advantage of several advanced tools while teaching. Therefore, they can make them learn and improve their skills faster and more efficiently.
1. You can use video calls to contact your students
Nowadays, there are a lot of programs and services that allow you to have video conferences with your students. These programs and services enable you to teach many students at once and enable your students to collaborate and help each other during the class.
Furthermore, having a video conference with your non-Arabic students will allow them to watch you closely and see how you pronounce Arabic words. This can help them improve their pronunciation.
2. You can share videos
Defining and using the proper learning material is one of the best characteristics for a good tutor. The internet is full of all kinds of the resources that can be used to make your students understand faster.
Videos are among the main resources of learning that language teachers use. This can include videos that are specifically made to teach something or some other materials like movies and songs.
The teacher can share either the video or the link to the video that is already uploaded on a site like YouTube. This will help the student have access to them whenever they need to and help them practice and learn the language.
3. Using screen capture
Listening to the teachers and looking at images and videos may not be enough sometimes. In some occasions, teachers will need to show the students some things especially when they are teaching them how to write words and letters in Arabic.
Most online platforms make it possible for teachers to share their screens with the students to help them explain certain examples. Screen capture and screen share will allow teachers to share what is on their screens with language learners to let them benefit from some of the tools that are only available with the teacher.
4. Enhancing your communication with your students
Let us face it! Many students may have a problem asking questions to the teacher when they do not understand something. However, with the internet, you will be able to solve this problem.
Your students will be able to contact you privately and ask you about things they find unclear, which can help you explain it to them the right way. Moreover, the teacher will have more time to answer the questions. Therefore, they will not be limited with the duration of the lesson sessions.
How do I become a good Arabic teacher?
Being a teacher is somehow easy, but being a good teacher is a challenge. Many Arabic teachers will ask How to be a good Arabic teacher and look for ways to improve their teaching skills.
If you want to become a better teacher and find some ways to help others learn Arabic and turn them into fluent speakers, you have to work hard and try to enhance a set of skills. This can include:
1. Having remarkable Arabic pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar
It may seem that we are stating the obvious here, but what you need to know here is that you need to improve your skills and knowledge in the Arabic constantly to be a good teacher of Arabic.
Being a language teacher means that you will be teaching the necessary grammar to form correct sentences, be teaching the right way to write the words and letters in the correct shape, and be teaching a lot of common and necessary words and phrases in daily life.
You will be responsible for teaching the correct sounds of letters and way of pronunciation to help non-native speakers gain the ability to communicate with locals.
On top of that, you need to expect being asked about new vocabulary, grammar that is not related to what you are explaining along with many more things.
2. Having unique teaching methods
Teaching is not a simple routine process. You have to understand that the way you teach should be flexible and be able to change slightly depending on the students’ abilities and skills.
For example, if you have students with a learning difficulty, you should consider a different learning model and plan a different teaching plan.
3. Having the ability to assess your students’ progress
It is known to every teacher that some students learn faster than others do. Therefore, it is vital that you have the ability to assess the progress of your students and see both their strengths and weaknesses to help them get over their weaknesses and make advantage of their strengths.
4. Having a clear idea of Second-language acquisition
Teaching Arabic to English speakers is not the same as teaching it to Arab children. Your non-native speaker apprentices will always compare Arabic to their mother language, try to form sentences in their mother language and try to translate them and they will mistakenly use English grammar.
To teach Arabic as a second language to your students, you need to understand the aspects affecting learning a second language and use your knowledge to help your students get past their difficulties.
5. Having a clear knowledge of the culture of Arab countries
Linguistics are not the only thing you need to know to become fluent in Arabic. Of course, you need to know how to use the right grammar rule to make correct sentences but you also need to know more about Arabic culture.
How do I get certified to teach Arabic?
The requirements to become a certified teacher of Arabic are different depending on where you are planning to teach. For example, some learning platforms will make it easy for you to become a certified teacher. All you need is to have a proof that you have a degree in Arabic or a teaching certificate.
Teaching Arabic in schools can be a bit harder. Many schools will require you to have a level of expertise before you are hired as an Arabic teacher. Some of them ask you to have special training before you can teach their students.
The requirements for having a certificate to teach Arabic will be different from one country to another. You need to consider the laws of the country you want to teach in before applying for the title of Arabic teacher.
How can I teach Arabic in the USA?
Being a teacher of Arabic in the USA is a little bit complicated since the requirements can differ from one state to another. Some of the states will require some kind of advanced training while others may need you to pass a certain exam to be certified.
In general, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree in Arabic to be a teacher of Arabic. Your diploma should be recognized and approved by the state you are willing to teach in. Another thing is that you need to be available and accessible, since a lot of schools and institutes do not use online methods to teach.
Another thing to keep in mind while applying for the position of Arabic teacher in the United States of America is that there are three main types of Arabic teaching in the USA. The first one involves teaching the language and the culture, the second involves only teaching it alone, and the third involves teaching the language and some kinds of religious subjects mainly involving Islam.
Are you still feeling confused about being an Arabic teacher in the USA? Just look for the requirements of an Arabic teacher in the state you live in and you will find all the information you need.
How do I start teaching Arabic?
If you want to start teaching Arabic, you can begin by using some of the online platforms. Some of the platforms will enable you to teach Arabic without many requirements. However, the pay can usually range from 5 to 10$ per hour.
You can even start teaching Arabic in private lessons in your neighborhood if someone is interested in learning Arabic. If you live in place with Muslims or people with Arabic origin, you are likely to find many people who want their kids to learn Arabic.
If you are interested in becoming a teacher of Arabic in school, you can see the needed papers and degrees and prepare them to apply for the job.
Is using another language in teaching the Arabic language is good?
As a rule, it is always better to use Arabic when teaching Arabic. However, every rule has some exceptions, and the exceptions to this one should be “only when greatly necessary.”
When you are teaching Arabic, try to use only Arabic. Undoubtedly, the students will find it difficult to understand at the beginning, but they will adjust with time and have a better understanding.
Using only Arabic to teach the language will be beneficial to help the students overcome their fear of the language and encourage them to make mistakes without feeling ashamed from doing so.
What are the useful techniques in learning and teaching Arabic?
Learning and teaching Arabic should and can be a fun experience. To make this happen, you can use plenty of good methods to teach the language, such as:
1. Songs
Listening to Arabic songs can play a great role in teaching Arabic. Listening to songs will improve listening skills and improve the ability to understand Arabic. What makes songs a great tool for teaching Arabic is that they can be a fun way to learn and easier to remember than normal texts with rigid rules.
2. Mirroring
Mirroring means repeating after someone or after a video. Trying to copy a native speaker improves pronunciation. Just remember that it is important to talk aloud, and it can be helpful for the learners to record their pronunciation and compare them to the original.
As a teacher in Arabic language, you can say the words and ask your apprentices to repeat them. Letting them mirror you will benefit them since you have excellent speaking skills.
3. Constant practice
Practice is vital to learning Arabic. You can improve your language skills significantly with constant practice. You can get even better results if you practice with a native speaker. Native speakers not only correct any mistakes you might make, but also teach you some phrases and slogans specific to Arabic, which might not be found in text books.
Final Word
Many people want to learn Arabic and seek the help of fluent teachers. However, many of them are now turning to apps since these apps provide a reliable alternative to Arabic teachers.
AlifBee is an app that can help you be fluent in Arabic without a teacher. Since the app has several levels, from beginner to advanced, it can teach you Arabic even if you know nothing about the language and work with you until you become fluent in Arabic.
To know more about AlifBee, just sign up for free and give it a try!
