Day 1: Dream Big Intensive - Arabic Class Overview

Class Schedule and Format

• Class Time: Starts at 7 PM sharp every day. No exceptions. Be on time.
• Setup and Q&A: Instructor will be available from 6:40 PM for informal Q&A.
• Prayer Breaks: ASR prayer at 6:30 PM, ISHA prayer at 10 PM.
• Post-Class: Class ends after ISHA, instructor will leave promptly.

Class Nature

• This is a class, not a lecture. Interaction is encouraged.
• Students can interrupt with questions; no need to raise hands.
• Focus is on learning, not merely listening.

Homework and Note Taking

• No Homework: Due to time constraints and lack of trust in completion.
• Notes: Instructor provides detailed notes post-class via email.
• Purpose: Read notes the following day to reinforce learning.
• Notetaking Advice: Don't take notes during class until instructed. Focus on understanding.

Class Focus

• Arabic Learning: This is an Arabic class, not for other discussions like finance or culture.
• Primary Goal: Understand the Quran in classical Arabic.

Types of Arabic

• Spoken Arabic: Regional dialects, not covered in this class.
• Standard Arabic: Media and formal communication, not the focus.
• Classical Arabic: The focus of the course, the language of the Quran.

Skills in Language Learning

• Four Skills: Listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking, writing.
• Class Focus: Prioritize reading and listening comprehension.
• Output Skills: Speaking and writing are secondary and less emphasized.

Understanding Classical Arabic

• Historical Context: Language before and after Islam's spread.
• Language Preservation: Focus on ancient grammar and vocabulary.
• Study Areas: Nahu (grammar) and Sarf (morphology).

Key Concepts in Arabic

• Three Types of Words: Ism (noun), F'il (verb), Harf (particle).
  • Ism: Person, place, thing, idea, adjective, adverb.
  • F'il: Words indicating time (past, present, future).
  • Harf: Words needing another word to complete meaning, e.g., prepositions.
• Sentence Components: Doer (Raf’a), Detail (Nasb), and After 'Of' (Jarr).

Arabic Grammar Mechanics

• Word Endings: Determine word status (Raf’a, Nasb, Jarr) through sound and combinations.
  • Raf'a: U or Un sound, or Ani for two; Una for plural.
  • Nasb: A or An sound, or Aini combination.
  • Jarr: I or In sound, or Aini combination.
• Note on Endings: Always check for combinations before sounds to determine word status.

Memorization Key

• Muslim Forms: Memorize table format for singular, dual, and plural forms with their corresponding status endings (page 6 reference).

Summary

• Class focused on Arabic grammar foundation, particularly classical Arabic relevant to the Quran.
• Interactive and comprehensive approach to understanding and applying Arabic language rules effectively.
• Emphasized memorization and understanding of key grammatical structures (e.g., noun statuses, word endings).