Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds

BUY FROM AMAZON.COM
Sorry, this product is not currently available.
By: Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas Al-Tonsi
(65 customer reviews)
Sorry, this product is not currently available.

EDITORIAL REVIEW

The beauty of the Arabic language, both spoken and written--and the richness of the Arabic-speaking world, its history and culture--has recently become of increasing importance and a matter of revelation for the English-speaking world. It is essential as this new century unfolds, that understanding develops between nations--and language is the magic key.

The Al-Kitaab Arabic language program is among the English-speaking world’s most widely used Arabic language learning texts. Alif Baa with DVDs: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds is the first part of the Al-Kitaab program. This revised, second edition contains updated readings, new and revised exercises, and completely new audio/video materials on two DVDs bound into each volume.

In teaching the sounds and letters of Arabic, Alif Baa provides a variety of exercises aimed at developing the crucial nascent skills of reading, listening, writing, speaking, and cultural understanding. In conjunction with learning how to read and write the alphabet, Alif Baa introduces about 150 basic vocabulary words, including conventional forms of politeness and social greetings.

Standard Arabic vocabulary is distributed throughout the book, enhanced by the visual and audio materials on the DVDs and implemented in practical exercises. It introduces a range of Arabic from colloquial to standard in authentic contexts, including social greetings in dialogues that take place in an Egyptian context, the most widely-used and understood Arabic dialect.

Finally, Alif Baa includes capsules on Arab culture as well as an English-Arabic glossary. Alif Baa provides the essential first twenty contact hours of instruction that are the foundation for the rest of the Al-Kitaab language program.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Publisher: Georgetown University Press
Pub. Date: 31st July 2004
Catalog: Book
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 168
Ean: 9781589011021
Isbn: 1589011023

ABOUT THIS BOOK

USER REVIEWS

Good book, bought it for a class
~ Written on Sep 24, 2009. out of users found this review helpful.

This is a pretty good book, although I think that they could have had a clearer, more extensive vocabulary list. They need to provide a definition everytime they use a word (which they don't always do) so that many of the words they included had no definition - and I only knew what they were after asking my Arabic teacher. Also the DVD is a little incomplete - it didn't have all the vocab words nor defintions either. However, it is a very good book for learning some basic pronunciation rules, and it's very good for teaching how to write the Arabic alphabet. All in all, a very good book for learning the basics of the alphabet, but other books are needed to learn vocabulary or conversation.

Never got it...
~ Written on Sep 12, 2009. out of users found this review helpful.

I ordered this book from Amazon and -never recieved it-. I don't know what the source of confusion was but I am extremely dissapointed and was forced to buy another copy at a campus store.

Private Study
~ Written on Jun 11, 2009. out of users found this review helpful.

I am quite pleased with this introduction to the Arabic alphabet. I am not using this in a classroom setting, and so wonder at some of the negative reviews posted. Many of the reviewers seem to expect rather a lot of spoon-feeding from a text designed for post-secondary education.

I find that the scattering of information across multiple lessons and units to be a plus. It forces me to make extensive notes providing further opportunity to hone my writing skills, while at the same time providing valuable practice.

For those wondering if this introduction is capable of standing alone, please see some of the other reviews. For myself, such was never the intent. In order to make the leap from studying the alphabet to grammar (the al-kitaab books) I will be using Rosetta Stone's version 3 to develop vocabulary. The combination is one that should suffice to give me reasonable preparation before I start actual instruction above the beginner level.

Finally, a gripe. This is not with the text but rather those that failed to read enough of the reviews. This text is not, nor does it purport to be, a phrasebook. As such anyone considering purchasing it as preparation for a holiday or extended visit to the middle east should look elsewhere. This text, while not perfect, is designed for those beginners with a more serious interest in learning Arabic completely.

ps the answer book is not expensive, so buy it. It is actually rather nice to be able to keep my place in the textbook while looking up answers to the latest drill. Why all the complaints?

got it for class
~ Written on Jun 11, 2009. out of users found this review helpful.

I got this item for my class that is starting in the fall and plan on practicing with it some this summer. From what I have seen and read so far, it teaches Arabic on a more personal level and could be used by a person by themself. Good program.

It's a right way to go.
~ Written on Apr 28, 2009. out of users found this review helpful.

I had no experience in Arabic before, but I started to learn and I see how powerful this book is!!! It's a better (occasionally found) solution for serious start... This is a right way to go: first alphabet and sounds , then words and sentences. They are excellent, DVD have a complete step by step data to learn writing and pronunciation basics.
They are very methodical, very clever done. Then book has 3 more parts for further development, that I plan to buy. (Already bought next part).
Take it, it's excellent for no experienced serious student that tries to learn alone.

SIMILAR ITEMS:

Search:
International
UK US
Browse Categories