Bilingual English/Arabic BBC Radio Podcast : Classroom Size – عدد التلاميذ فى الفصول الدراسية

BBC Arabic (Learning English) has a dedicated bilingual radio programme aimed at teaching English to native Arab speakers. As an Arabic learner yourself, you may benefit hugely from listening to this interactive programme where the host (an Arabic speaker) interviews a guest (an English speaker) in English about a particular news item. The interview is then interpreted in Arabic immediately by the host.

اليوم فى بي بي سي أكسترا إنجليش دوج يتحدث إلى رشا عن عدد الطلاب فى الفصول الدراسية فى المدارس البريطانية

Today Doug and Rasha are talking about class sizes.
Here in Britain state schools have a class size of 30 students. But is that too many?
Many teachers say that it is, but not everyone agrees. In some schools with large classses the teacher is helped by a classroom assistant. In this way individual students get more attention.
We asked people what they thought the ideal class size is.
Here are some of their comments:
– I don’t think one person can look after 30 children properly and give them the right amount of attention.
– I think class sizes should be smaller, probably about 15 students.
– I would say that 30 is too big.

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Bilingual Eng-Ar BBC Radio Podcast : Australian auctions entire life on eBay بداية جديدة

BBC Arabic (Learning English) has a dedicated bilingual radio programme aimed at teaching English to native Arab speakers. As an Arabic learner yourself, you may benefit hugely from listening to this interactive programme where the host (an Arabic speaker) interviews a guest (an English speaker) in English about a particular news item. The interview is then interpreted in Arabic immediately by the host.

اليوم في بي بي سي أكسترا إنجليش نتحدث عن رجل قرر بيع كل حياته علي موقع للمزادات علي شبكة الإنترنت لانه يرغب في الإنفصال من ماضيه تماماً و الشروع في حياة جديدة.

In this podcast,Somaya and Doug are talking about making a fresh start.
An Australian man is putting his whole life up for sale on eBay.Normally on eBay people sell small things such as clothes or books.Ian Usher is selling his three bedroomed-house, his car and his job.His friends are also included in the sale.His marriage has just ended and he wants to escape from painful memories. He wants to make a clean break.So how much can he hope to make from selling his life? Bidding starts at $Aus1, but he hopes his life is worth around $Aus 500,000.When it’s sold, he wants to walk away with the money in one pocket and his passport in the other. He’s going to jump on the first plane to anywhere.

Bilingual English-Arabic BBC Radio Programme : Importance of the English Language أهمية اللغة الإنجليزية

BBC Arabic (Learning English) has a dedicated bilingual radio programme aimed at teaching English to native Arab speakers. As an Arabic learner yourself, you may benefit hugely from listening to this interactive programme where the host (an Arabic speaker) interviews a guest (an English speaker) in English about a particular news item. The interview is then interpreted in Arabic immediately by the host.

In this podcast, Sam and Doug are talking about the role of English as a global language.

The 21st of February is UN International Mother Language Day, a day which promotes linguistic diversity and multilingualism. Being multilingual means that you are able to speak different languages.

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Bilingual Eng/Ar BBC Radio Programme : Origins of Happiness – أصل السعادة

BBC Arabic (Learning English) has a dedicated bilingual radio programme aimed at teaching English to native Arab speakers. As an Arabic learner yourself, you may benefit hugely from listening to this interactive programme where the host (an Arabic speaker) interviews a guest (an English speaker) in English about a particular news item. The interview is then interpreted in Arabic immediately by the host.

This is the latest BBC bilingual radio programme for learning English. It is hosted by Mr. Louay Ismail, the BBC producer who came to interview us here at CASAW, University of Edinburgh last Tuesday 4th Mar. 2008

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Music Video Realia : Arabic Alphabet – “A is for Allah” by Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)

A is for Allah is the name of a Muslim-themed double album for children by Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) released on July 11, 2000 through Resurgence UK Records.The musician used the song as a vehicle to teach his daughter, Hasanah, the 28-letter Arabic alphabet. This kind of Islamic music is also known as nasheed.The album had been in the works since 1994, although the title track dates back to 1980, when it was written after the birth of his first child. (Wikiped
   

Song Lyrics:

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Classical Arabic Musical Video Realia: “We shall return – سنرجع يوماً ” by Fairuz فيروز

For those of you who prefer to learn Arabic (MSA) through music and song lyrics, here is a classical song by Fairuz along with with English and Arabic lyrics

Fairuz (فيروز‎, ) is a distinguished Lebanese singer and legend.
Born Nouhad Haddad (نهاد حداد‎) in ‘Jabal al Arz’ (‘Cedar Mountain’), Lebanon, on 21 November 1935, Fairuz is known as:
Our (Lebanese) Ambassador to the Stars”,
“The Arabs’ Ambassador”,
“Neighbour to the Moon”,
“The Poet of the Voice”.

Bilingual Eng/Ar BBC Radio Programme : Controlling your Anger السيطرة علي الطبع الحاد

BBC Arabic (Learning English) has a dedicated bilingual radio programme aimed at teaching English to native Arab speakers.

As an Arabic learner yourself, you may benefit hugely from listening to this interactive programme where the host (an Arabic speaker) interviews a guest (an English speaker) in English about a particular news item. The interview is then interpreted in Arabic immediately by the host.

Read the following article before listening to the podcast:

Today Kaz and Louay talk about controlling your anger.

A new study says that controlling your anger helps the body repair itself. It speeds up the healing process.

100 participants were given blisters on their arms and asked to fill in a questionnaire on how well they controlled their temper. Then scientists studied the speed of recovery.

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Bilingual En-Ar BBC Radio Programme : Housewives’ Salaries – رواتب ربات البيوت

BBC Arabic (Learning English) has a dedicated bilingual radio programme aimed at teaching English to native Arab speakers.

As an Arabic learner yourself, you may benefit hugely from listening to this interactive programme where the host (an Arabic speaker) interviews a guest (an English speaker) in English about a particular news item. The interview is then interpreted in Arabic immediately by the host.

Read the following article before listening to the podcast:

رواتب ربات البيوت – BBC Arabic – Learning English

Today Louay and Cath talk about housewives. According to a new survey in the UK, housewives would be paid more than the average worker, if they received the going rate for their household chores.
The average annual salary in the UK is £23,700.
An average mum apparently works for nearly nine hours a day, every day, which would mean that housewives could earn almost £30,000 a year.
4,000 housewives were involved in the survey and most of them agreed that successfully running the family home was a full-time job.
The way they worked this out was by comparing the various chores with actual jobs. So for child care they would look at what a nanny would earn; cleaning and tidying would be compared to what a cleaner would get. Other jobs in the calculation included being an accountant and a taxi driver.

Do you think housewives should be paid?

هل تعتقد انه يجب دفع رواتب لربات البيوت مقابل مجهوداتهم لقضاء في الاعمال المنزلية؟

Listen to the programme :

http://download-v5.streamload.com/JJbVVFva~DhcF~E9lC~SnSn~Sked42hTukX2/earabic/FileManager/BBC%20Xtra/BBC%20Xtra_Housewives.mp3?action=save

Key Vocabulary:

  • housewives : ربات البيوت
  • the going rate : المعدل السائر – المعدل السائد
  •  household chores : الواجبات المنزلية
  •  salary : راتب
  •  full-time job : وظيفة بدوام كامل
  •  child care: رعاية الطفل – العناية بالطفل
  •  nanny :مربية اطفال
  •  cleaning and tidying :التنظيف و الترتيب
  •  accountant : محاسب
  • taxi driver :سائق تاكسي – سائق سيارة أجرة

Further reading

Housewife ‘would be paid £30,000’ – BBC News

Source of Realia:

BBC Arabic – Learn English – تعليم الإنجليزية

 

BBC News Podcast: Canadian Newspaper bans bad news for one day – صحيفة كندية تنشر الأخبار السعيدة فقط

Pre-Listening task:

To gain some understanding of this news read the following article:

The Calgary Sun newspaper in Alberta, Canada, chose Monday to publish no bad news and made the story of a found dog its front page banner piece.

The tabloid said it was filling the paper with “good news” on a gamble “the news gods would cooperate with us and not deal us any world catastrophes or local tragedies that would elbow for space on Page 1.”

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Arabic Podcasts – Masculine & Feminine Plural

Masculine Plural

In Arabic there are certain rules to follow when forming masculine plural.

Fortunately, you have ArabicPod to help explain these rules and make it simpler.

It’s not as easy as changing mu3alim (teacher) to mu3alims, but it’s not difficult either.

If you’re at an intermediate level then join the discussion.

Listen to the podcast – Masculine Plural (Arabic Pod)

Feminine Plural

In this intermediate lesson we teach you how to form feminine plural.

There is a lot of grammar in this lesson and we teach you the rules to follow when changing singular feminine to plural feminine, so tune in and learn how to make Sayara (car) plural.

Listen to the podcast – Feminine Plural (Arabic Pod)

Find out more

Arabic Pod

Cultural/Religious Virtual Realia: The Islamic Call to Prayer (Adhan) – الآذان

Adhan (Azaan) (آذان ) is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin (المؤذن).

The root of the word is ( أذن – adhana) i.e. “to permit”, and another derivative of this word is أذن (uḏun), meaning “ear.”

Adhan is called out by the muezzin from a minaret of a mosque five times a day summoning Muslims for fard (mandatory) salah (prayers).

There is a second call known as إقامة iqama that summons Muslims to line up for the beginning of the prayers.

Text of the Adhan

Arabic
أَذَان
Transliteration
aḏān, azaan, adhaan
Translation
call to prayer
Recital Arabic Transliteration Translation
4x

الله اكبر

Allah u Akbar God is The Greatest*
2x

اشهد ان لا اله الا الله

Ash-hadu allā ilāha illallāh I bear witness that there is no lord except God
2x

اشهد ان محمدا رسول الله

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasūlullāh I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God
2x

حي على الصلاة

Hayya ‘alas-salāt Make haste towards prayer
2x

حي على الفلاح

Hayya ‘alal-falāh Make haste towards welfare [success]
2x

الله اكبر

Allah u akbar God is greatest
1x

لا اله الا الله

Lā ilāha illallāh There is no lord except God

Video clip of the Adhan

Watch this video clip of the Adhan from Makkah (this is one of the most-known Adhan among Muslims in the Muslim world)

Adhan from Tureky

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This video clip shows the transliteration and meaning of the Adhan

__

Amzing facts about the Adhan

  • Wherever there are Muslims around the world, the Adhan is recited 5 times a day in the following times :
    • ِdawn الفجر
    • noon, الظهر
    • mid-afternoon, العصر
    • sunset, المغرب
    • night العشاء
  • So, if you happen to travel to the Arab world, you will defenitely hear the Adhan throughout the day.
  • One of the amazing facts that has been establised is that there is not even a single moment when hundreds of thousands of Muazzins (callers to prayer) around the world are not calling the Adhan on the surface of this earth. Even as you read this material right now, you can be sure there are at least thousands of people who are hearing and reciting the Adhan! Read more

This video illustrates the continuity of the Adhan around the earth

    Poster of the Adhan & Iqama transcript

    The Adhan at the Dawn prayer is slightly different from the other Adhan.

    What line is added to the Adhan at dawn time? (Look at the red arrow above)

    What happens when the Adhan is announced?

    • What do you understand from this TV advert?

    Screenshot of an electronic Adhan software

    The software allows you to hear automatic Athan at the right time five times a day. The most popular religious software according to download.com

    Many Muslims (Arabs and non-Arabs) who live outside the Muslim world rely on electronic tools to remind them of the exact prayer times.

    As a language learning exercise, compare the following screenshots:

    Notice the prayer times, different types of Adhan, volume controls etc…

    What new words did you learn?

    Source of screenshot: IslamicFinder.org

    _______________________________________________________________________________

    Where is the Adhan called out from?

    Minarets (manara (lighthouse) منارة, but more usually مئذنة) are distinctive architectural features of Islamic mosques. Minarets are generally tall spires with onion-shaped crowns, usually either free standing or much taller than any surrounding support structure.

    As well as providing a visual cue demarcating a Muslim community center and territory, the call to prayer is traditionally given from the top of the minaret.

    In some of the oldest mosques, such as the Great Mosque of Damascus, minarets originally served as watchtowers illuminated by torches (hence the derivation of the word from the Arabic nur, meaning “light”).

    In more recent times, the main function of the minaret was to provide a vantage point from which the muezzin can call out the adhan, calling the faithful to prayer.

    In most modern Mosques, the adhan is called not in the minaret, but in the musallah, or prayer hall, via a microphone and speaker system.

    In a practical sense, these are also used for natural air conditioning.

    As the sun heats the dome, air is drawn in through open windows and up and out of the shaft, thereby causing a natural ventilation.

    Minarets have been described as the “gate from heaven and earth”, and as the Arabic language letter alif (which is a straight vertical line).

    The world’s tallest minaret (at 210 meters) is located at the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.

    The world’s tallest brick minaret is Qutub Minar located in Delhi, India.

    There are two 230 meter tall minarets under construction in Tehran, Iran.

    ____________________________________________________________________

    Find out more

    Adhan – Wikipedia

    The Sound of Music – Learn Arabic with Music Video Clips – الموسيقى العربية

    music-arabic.jpg

    Immerse yourself in Arabic/Egyptian language and culture by watching subtitled videos!

    All videos are subtitled in three different texts:

    1. the Arabic subtitle,
    2. the literal translation,
    3. the real translation.

      This section can be a great resource to learn new words/idioms and develop your listening comprehension.

      Enjoy!

      Find out more

      ArEg – Multimedia Music Video clips

      Photo Diaries & Podcasts of Arab Students in the UK and the Arab World

      dairy.jpg

      Diaries available:

      1. Nadia Abou-Al-Raghib : My (life) experience between Jordan and Britain نادية أبو الراغب: تجربتي بين الأردن وبريطانيا
      2. Zakariah Isam between his brithplace and his ancestors’ land زكريا عصام بين مسقط الرأس وأرض الأجداد
      3. Yasin Abdullah while he is away from his homeland ياسين عبد الله في غربته
      4. Ahmad Al-Ghamdi – Achieving aspirations أحمد الغامدي: تحقيق الطموح
      5. Helen Torrington: My experience with the Arabic lifestyle هيلين تورنجتون: تجربتي مع نمط الحياة العربية

      Find out more :

      BBC Arabic

      BBC Arabic Online Radio

      radio-bbc.jpg

      Although this online Radio station is designed for a native-Arabic audience and Advanced Arabic Learners, there is a lot of useful and basic vocabulary and expressions you may be able to pick up, especially when they broadcast bilingual Arabic-English programmes. (e.g. Song Lines)

      Song Lines is an Interactive Radio programme in Arabic where English Music is used as a teaching tool to teach English to Arabic speakers.

      In Song Lines you can learn useful Arabic phrases with the stars of rock and pop music.

      There is a nice collection of short audio clips with explanations in Arabic of the songs’ titles.

      You may also request from BBC Xtra to broadcast your favourite song and expalain it in Arabic

      Go to Song Lines page تعّلم الإنجليزية من خلال الأغانى (i.e. Learn English through Music)
      Also, when they have English-speaking guests, the Radio host always makes sure to interpret in Arabic what the guest is saying.

      To access the online Radio, click on

      (i.e. Listen – Live)

      ………

      Find out more :

      BBC Arabic Radio Programmes

      BBC Arabic News

      SongLines Collection 1

      SongLines Collection 2

      Survivial Arabic Phrases : Short Audio Podcasts

       

       

      Lesson #1 – Thank You!

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to Morocco.

      Today’s Survival Phrase is شكرا, the most common way to say thank you in Arabic. To learn more about Moroccan culture and phrases be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip!

      Duration: 6:55

      Download the PDF Guide

      Lesson #2 – You’re Welcome!

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you!
      Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.
      Download the PDF GuideLesson #3 – Please (This Please)Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you!

      Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.

      Download the PDF Guide

      Lesson #4 – Basic Greetings

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the North Africa.

      Hello and السلام عليكم (Peace be Upon You). Today will be learning basic greetings in Arabic. For more information on Arabic language and culture, be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip!

      Lesson #5 – Parting greetings (Goodbye)

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.

      Previously we covered basic greetings in Arabic, and today we’ll learn how to say goodbye. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip, and be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com and leave us a post!

      Lesson #6 – Where is the Bathroom?

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Morocco.

      Today we will be learning how to ask “Where is the bathroom?” in Arabic! Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip to Morocco, and be sure to leave us a post!

      Lesson #7 – I Don’t Understand.

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to Morocco.

      Today we learn how to say “I don’t understand.”, a phrase that will certainly prove useful if you are a tourist in an Arabic speaking country. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip to the Arab world, and be sure to leave us a post!

      Lesson #8 – Can You Speak English?

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.

      Today we learn how to ask “Can you speak English?”, a question that will certainly prove useful traveling through North Africa or the Middle East. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com before you set out on your trip, and be sure to leave us a post!

      Lesson #9 – Can You Say It Again?

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to Morocco.

      Today we provide you with a linguistic tool to help take your Arabic language skills to the next level. Today we will be learning how to ask the speaking party to “say it again”. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com and leave us a post!

      Lesson #10 – Apologies(I’m Sorry)

      Learn Arabic travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Arabic can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling, visiting, or sightseeing, survivalphrases.com has all the essential travel phrases just for you! Today we cover a high frequency Arabic phrase sure to be of use on your trip, travels or vacation to the Middle East or North Africa.

      As you are traveling and speaking a foreign language, you may need to ask forgiveness or apologise for something. For this reason and many more, today we’re learning apologizing in Arabic. Be sure to stop by SurvivalPhrases.com and leave us a post!

      Find out more:

      Survivalphrases.com/arabic