Arabic (Version 8.4)

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Context statement

The place of the Arabic culture and language in Australia and in the world
Arabic is spoken by approximately 280 million people in 22 countries over two continents.

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PDF documents

Resources and support materials for the Australian Curriculum: Languages - Arabic are available as PDF documents. 
Languages - Arabic: Sequence of content
Languages - Arabic: Sequence of Achievement - F-10 Sequence
Languages - Arabic: Sequence of …

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Years 7 and 8

Years 7 and 8 Band Description

The nature of the learners

Students who enter the background language learner pathway in Arabic in Year 7 may have strong connections to Arabic language and culture through family and community and varying degrees of oracy in Arabic. Their textual knowledge developed through English literacy supports the development of literacy in Arabic. Skills in analysing, comparing and reflecting on language and culture in both languages are mutually supportive.

Arabic language learning and use

Learners use modelled and rehearsed language in familiar and unfamiliar contexts and increasingly generate original and personal language. They interact in class routines and activities, expressing their ideas and feelings ( أحب جدي كثيراَ), exchanging opinions ( هذا الواجب صعب؛ الإمتحان طويل) and managing shared tasks (أولا؛ نختار أفراد الفريق؛ ثانيا نوزع الأدوار). They listen to, read and view a range of texts and create spoken and written texts to present ideas and information to a variety of audiences in different contexts. Learners work both collaboratively and independently, exploring different modes and genres of communication with particular reference to their current social, cultural and communicative interests. They explore and discuss themes, characters and events in Arabic folk tales, fables and films, and plan, draft and present imaginative texts, such as stories, plays, cartoons and comics. They make cross-curricular connections and explore intercultural perspectives and experiences through interaction with an increasing range of Arabic speakers.

Contexts of interaction

Learners come to the classroom understanding and using Arabic within the world of their experience, which is likely to be the home and community domains. At this level, possible contexts of interaction could include the world of learning, for example, discussing the shift from primary to secondary school, the concepts of home and friendship, family, shared events and leisure activities. Learners contextualise and use their background language and culture as much as possible while socialising and exchanging information. They pool language knowledge and resources to plan, problem-solve, monitor and reflect. This will not necessarily be characterised by the fluent use of Arabic, but rather by the way they use their background knowledge of Arabic language and culture in communication. Interactions are authentic in relating to the world of teenage experience, and performance based. Additional opportunities for interaction are provided through purposeful and integrated use of information and communications technologies (ICT), for example, videoconferencing and online activities such as e-learning.

Texts and resources

Learners work with a range of texts designed for language learning, such as textbooks, audio recordings, teacher-generated materials and online resources. They also use authentic materials such as blogs, newsletters, advertisements, magazines, video clips and apps. Their knowledge is extended through exploration of Arabic texts on the internet, and audiovisual materials, cultural performances, and community events and activities, such as the Arabic Film Festival. As background language learners, they are also likely to engage with bilingual, subtitled and captioned texts.

Features of Arabic language use

Learners understand and use features of the Arabic sound and writing systems, and make connections between spoken and written texts. They use appropriate pronunciation and intonation when communicating and interacting in a range of contexts, and apply spelling rules when writing in Arabic script. They explore Arabic syntax and linguistic structures and begin to use metalanguage by identifying grammatical terms. They apply elements of Arabic grammar to the production of texts, such as articles, nouns, adjectives, personal pronouns, verb tenses, conjunctions, adverbs, statements, negation and questions, to describe people, actions and events ( أستيقظ في الصباح), discuss preferences ( أحب طعام أمي؛ لا أحب الأكل السريع), expand on expression ( في الطريق إلى المدرسة ), and link ideas and information ( أو؛ أيضا؛ كذلك). They understand ways in which the English language works as a system and how English is similar to and different from Arabic. They discuss the influence of other languages and cultures on Arabic language, and recognise variations in language use across Arabic-speaking countries, regions and communities. They make connections between texts and cultural contexts, identifying how cultural values and perspectives are embedded in language and how language choices determine ways in which people, issues and circumstances are represented.

Level of support

Learners have varying degrees of Arabic oracy and literacy competence and are supported through multilevel and differentiated tasks. Support includes scaffolding, modelling and monitoring, explicit instruction and feedback, structured activities for practising new language, and the use of gesture and movement. Students are supported to develop autonomy as language learners and users, and to self-monitor and adjust their language use in response to their experience in diverse contexts. Opportunities to review and consolidate are an important component of learning at this level.

The role of English

Arabic is the main language of instruction and interaction. Arabic and English may be used when discussing concepts, functions and structures relating to language use, and when exchanging and comparing experiences in learning Arabic and English. English may be used for conceptually demanding explanations and discussions, particularly when making connections between Arabic and other languages and cultures and discussing how language and culture connect to make meaning. Learners are encouraged to reflect on how they interact in Arabic and English, and on their own sense of identity from a bilingual perspective.


Years 7 and 8 Content Descriptions

Socialising

Interact with peers and the teacher to exchange information about self, family and friends, routines, leisure activities, interests and special days, and express feelings, likes and dislikes

[Key concepts: personal world, leisure; Key processes: interacting, describing, socialising] (ACLARC001 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • greeting the teacher and peers, and introducing themselves, family and friends, using formulaic expressions and appropriate body language, for example,

    مرحبا؛ صباح الخير؛ كيف حالكَ/حالكِ؟؛ بخير شكراً

    إسمي عادل؛ أنا مريم

    هذا صديقي علي؛ هذه صديقتي ريم؛ هذا أبي وهذه أمي ؛ اسم أخي رامي؛ عمري ست سنوات؛ عمر أخي سنة

  • exchanging information about a range of topics, such as family, friends, routines, school and leisure activities, for example,

    أنا طويل؛ أنا شاطر؛ بيتي صغير؛ غرفتي واسعة؛ صديقي علي ذكي؛ مدرستي كبيرة؛ معلمتي طيبة

    أستيقظ باكراً؛ آكل الفطور؛ ألبس ثيابي؛ أشاهد التلفاز؛ أكمل فروض المدرسة؛ أرتب سريري؛ أنظف غرفتي؛ ألعب كرة القدم؛ أذهب إلى المسبح

    بعد المدرسة ألعب كرة القدم؛ في الساعة الثامنة أذهب إلى النوم

    يوم السبت ألعب التنس مع أبي؛ في عطلة نهاية الأسبوع أذهب مع عائلتي إلى المطعم؛ أحضر حصة الموسيقى يوم الجمعة؛ أشعر بالسعادة في حصة الموسيقى؛ أحب العزف على البيانو كثيراً؛ أتعلم اللغة العربية يوم السبت صباحاً

  • asking about and expressing likes and dislikes using simple language such as

    من تحب في العائلة؟ ماذا تحب في المدرسة؟ هل تحب المدرسة؟ أحب جدّي كثيرا؛ لا أحب الرياضة في المدرسة

  • asking and answering questions about personal experiences in relation to self, peers, friends and family members, for example,

    أين ولدت؟ أي لغة تتكلم في البيت؟ ماذا يعمل أبوك؟ أين تذهب يوم السبت؟ من هي صديقتك؟ لماذا تحب جدتك؟ ماذا تفعل بعد المدرسة؟ أي رياضة تلعب؟

    ولدت في العراق؛ أتكلم العربية في البيت؛ أحب الحلوى كثيراً؛ أحب أبي وأمي جداً؛ أبي يعمل في المستشفى؛ أمي طبيبة؛ أخي يدرس في المدرسة؛ أختي في الجامعة؛ يوم السبت أذهب إلى بيت جدّي؛ يوم الأحد اذهب إلى المطعم

  • exchanging correspondence such as notes, invitations or birthday cards in print or digital form, for example,

    هل تحب أن تأتي إلى حفل عيد ميلادي؟ سمير، أدعوك إلى بيتي يوم السبت؛ تعال نلعب معاً

    عيد ميلاد سعيد؛ كل عام وأنت بخير؛ أتمنى لك عيداً سعيداً

  • sharing experiences with family and friends in a variety of ways, for example, by recounting events such as special celebrations in conversations and through social media

    ذهبت البارحة مع عائلتي إلى المتحف؛ شاهدت مع أخي فيلماً جديداً في السينما؛ كانت لعبة الركبي ممتعة؛ كانت الرحلة المدرسية إلى حديقة الحيوان مملّة

Participate in collaborative planning, decision making and shared transactions, using different modes of communication

[Key concepts: collaborative learning, performance, presentation; Key processes: planning, listening, deciding, transacting] (ACLARC002 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • making decisions about roles, using simple expressions such as

    ماذا عن دور الأب؟ أنت لا تقدر ان تكتب كل القصة؛ أنا اكتب النصف الأول وأنت النصف الآخر؛ ليكن دوري المشتري وأنت دورك البائع؛ هل تحب أن تكون البائع؟

  • planning, rehearsing and presenting a group activity for class or school relating to a familiar situation or event such as Mother’s Day, using expressions such as

    اليوم سوف نقدم لكم عرضاً عن عيد الأم؛ شكراً لاستماعكم؛ أنا كامل وهذه لينا وهذا محمود؛ نرجو أن تستمتعوا بالعرض.

  • making collaborative decisions and arrangements using expressions of counting, sequencing and organising ideas, for example,

    أولاً نختار أفراد الفريق؛ ثانيا نوزع الأدوار؛ ثالثاً نعرض الأفكار؛ أخيراً نقوم بدورنا

    في البداية أنا سوف أجمع الصور؛ وأنت تبحث عن المعلومات في الإنترنت وفي النهاية سنجمعها

  • participating in transactions by asking for and providing information such as price, and requesting goods and services, for example,

    ما سعر ...؟ بكم هذه اللعبة؟ ما سعر كيلو البرتقال؟ بكم كيس الخبز؟ كيس الخبز بدولار ونصف؛ سعر كيلو التفاح ثلاثة دولارات

    أحتاج مساعدة من فضلك؛ هل تستطيع أن تساعدني؟ أبحث عن خوذة لقيادة الدراجة أين أجدها؟ هل عندكم الفيلم الكارتوني الجديد؟

Interact in classroom routines and activities, developing language for a range of classroom functions and processes, such as following instructions, asking and answering questions, and requesting support by asking for repetition, permission and help

[Key concepts: roles, routines; Key processes: listening, responding, contributing] (ACLARC003 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • participating in everyday classroom routines such as roll call, taking turns, giving and following classroom instructions, and asking questions and responding to the teacher and peers, for example,

    نعم؛ أنا هنا؛ حاضر؛ ممكن أن أتكلم؟ ممكن أن أقول شيئاً؟

    أكتب التاريخ هنا؛ أرسم خطاً على الورقة؛ أكتب العنوان فوق؛ إغلق الباب؛ إجلس في مكانك؛ إفتح الدفتر؛

    ضع الحقيبة على الأرض؛ إرفع يدك؛ إنتظر دورك متى يدق الجرس؟ كيف أكتب ...؟ ما معنى...؟

  • making polite requests such as attracting attention and asking for help in classroom situations, requesting repetition, asking for and providing clarification, asking permission and responding appropriately, for example,

    ممكن أن أتكلم؟ عندي فكرة رائعة!

    ممكن أن تعيدي السؤال؟ لم أفهم السؤال؟ من فضلك أعد السؤال. ما معنى ...؟

    أين أضع الصورة؟ أين أكتب الجملة التالية؟ ماذا تقصد؟ أقصد ضع الصورة تحت الكتابة. أكتب الجملة بجانب الصورة

    هل يمكنني الذهاب إلى الحمام؟ هل يمكنني أن آخذ الكتاب ؟ شكراً يا معلمة! مع السلامة؛ إلى اللقاء

  • responding to the teacher’s questions, taking turns, praising and encouraging peers, and using formulaic expressions and interjections, for example,

    لماذا تأخرت عن المدرسة؟ نمت كثيرا؛ أمي تأخرت في البيت؛ توقفت سيارة أبي في الطريق؛ أخي سبب لنا التأخير

  • contributing to classroom activities, such as by developing classroom rules, expressing opinions on procedures and tasks, and giving advice and sharing ideas with peers, for example,

    إستمع للمعلمة؛ إحترم الجميع؛ إنتظر دورك؛ إذهب إلى الحمام في الفرصة؛ أكمل كل دروسك في الصف؛ كن مؤدباً؛ لطيفاً؛ هادئاً؛ عادلاً؛ ودوداً؛ كوني هادئة؛ لطيفة؛ صادقة

    هذا الواجب صعب؛ الإمتحان طويل؛ ما عندي وقت؛ لم تصحح المعلمة إمتحان الإملاء بعد؛ الأفضل أن نوضّح العنوان؛ هذا الخط أفضل من الآخر؛ أقترح استعمال الألوان في الرسم

Informing

Listen to, read and view a range of spoken, written and multimodal texts; identify, sequence and classify key points of information such as details about people and events; and use the information in new ways

[Key concepts: information, text; Key processes: listening, reading, viewing, locating, transposing] (ACLARC004 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • listening to and viewing texts such as stories, songs, notices or video clips and identifying key points of information, using intonation and visual cues such as gestures and facial expressions to assist understanding
  • identifying letters, words and phrases in written Arabic, for example, titles, labels and captions
  • participating in shared reading of print and digital texts such as short stories or other texts relating to familiar events and contexts, using pictures, intonation and contextual cues to predict meaning and identify key information
  • locating and sequencing information used to describe people and events, for example,

    البنت تدرس؛ الولد يساعد أمه؛ الأب ينظف الحديقة؛ في الصباح أمي تحضر الفطور؛ في المساء أبي ينظف السيارة

  • responding to questions that elicit details such as colour, quantity and place about participants and objects, for example,

    ما لون الفستان ؟ لون الفستان أحمر؛ ما لون المقلمة؟ لون المقلمة أحمر

    كم عدد الأقلام؟ كم كتابا يوجد هنا؟ يوجد أربعة كتب

    أين تعمل أمك؟ تعمل أمي في المستشفى؛ يدرس أخي في المدرسة

  • classifying and categorising information gained from others, such as favourite foods and places to visit, for example,

    سالم يحب التبولة؛ عادل يحب الدجاج؛ سعاد تفضل الخضار؛ علي يحب كرة القدم؛ ماجد يفضل السباحة؛ رامي يفضل العزف على الغيتار

    تحب البنات الموسيقى بينما الأولاد يحبون الرياضة

  • listening to short spoken texts with unfamiliar language, and identifying specific details, for example, the name and number on a recorded voice message

    مرحباً

    إسمي سهام

    اود التكلم مع سامر بخصوص الإمتحان

    أرجو الإتصال بي على الرقم 0456566777

  • gathering information about other peers’ activities through conducting interviews about weekend activities and selecting specific information to use in a short report
Convey and present ideas and information obtained from different sources relating to home, school, leisure and interests

[Key concepts: information, text, personal world; Key processes: presenting, conveying, reporting] (ACLARC005 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • describing personal possessions and classroom items using simple sentences, for example,

    حقيبتي كبيرة وثقيلة؛ صفي صغير وجميل؛ طاولة المعلمة غير مرتبة؛ النافذة في الصف مكسورة؛ عندنا لوح ذكي جديد في الصف؛ صديقي وليد يجلس معي

  • reporting on information gathered from peers using simple structures such as

    وليد لا يحب الرياضيات ولا القراءة؛ عند فادية أخ صغير في المدرسة؛ فاطمة تسكن في شقة؛ مازن يحب الديناصورات

  • contributing to a class photo story, such as by writing or reading aloud captions to own photos and other aspects of personal information, for example,

    هذه أنا عندما كان عمري أربع سنوات؛ كان شعري طويلاً؛ هذا مازن؛ كان يبكي في الصباح؛ على حقيبتي صورة أميرة؛ هاني يحب أفلام الحركة؛ هذه أنا أكتب الحروف؛ هذا شادي يشاهد التلفاز؛ هذه عبير تشرب العصير

  • using simple sentence structures, familiar vocabulary and supporting resources to describe immediate environment, family members and friends, and discussing relationships and personal information relating to own background and experiences, for example,

    وليد عنده ثلاث أخوات وأخ صغير؛ يسكن وليد في منطقة ريفية في بيت كبير مع عائلته؛ جاء وليد من مصر عندما كان عمره أربع سنوات؛ يحب وليد بيته وعائلته كثيراً

  • creating a class book, visual/digital display or collection related to a school excursion or camp
  • presenting information in spoken or written form about own and peers` leisure activities, describing experiences and expressing feelings, for example,

    ألعب كرة القدم جيداً؛ أسبح بمهارة؛ اقرأ بطلاقة؛ ألعب الألعاب الإلكترونية كثيراً؛ سمير يلعب التنس

    عندما أعزف الموسيقى أشعر بالفرح؛ بالحزن؛ بالملل؛ بالنشاط؛ بالسعادة؛ أحب الرسم

Creating

Participate in imaginative experience by listening to, viewing and reading texts, such as songs, cartoons, folk tales and other stories, and sharing opinions, ideas and responses relating to characters, settings and events

[Key concepts: imagination, plot, tradition, character, message; Key processes: identifying, relating, describing] (ACLARC006 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Ethical Understanding
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • participating in shared reading of imaginative texts, sharing opinions and responding to questions
  • responding to imaginative texts such as stories, rhymes and songs through play-acting, or using illustrations, captions and movement, or miming favourite characters
  • listening to, reading and viewing a range of texts in print, digital and oral formats, and participating in guided discussion, for example, by responding to questions about characters, ideas and events
  • discussing imaginative texts and making short statements about aspects such as characters, settings or events
  • listening to and viewing imaginative texts such as folk tales and fables and sharing opinions or feelings about them using expressions such as

    أحبّ قصة علاء الدين لأنها مسلية؛ قصة علاء الدين مملّة لأنها قديمة

  • describing characters, events or contexts in different types of imaginative texts such as films and cartoons, and listing words or expressions associated with a character’s personality and explaining how they can relate to them, for example,

    أنا أحبّ دور الولد في الفيلم لأنّه شقيّ مثلي؛ البنت غيورة جداً؛ الأب في الفيلم حنون مثل أبي

  • comparing favourite characters or events in imaginative texts such as cartoons, stories or digital games using expressions such as

    البنت في القصة أفضل من أخيها لأنها صادقة ولا تكذب؛ عادل صديق مخلص أكثر من سمير

Create and adapt texts with imaginary scenarios, characters and events, using modelled language and different modes of presentation

[Key concepts: imagination, genre, performance; Key processes: creating, experimenting, presenting] (ACLARC007 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • creating own version of a story by sequencing a series of pictures with captions or by creating a storyboard with labels using modelled language, for example,

    استيقظ سامر صباحاً؛ غسل وجهه؛ بعدها ذهب إلى...؛ في طريقه شاهد ... في النهاية عاد إلى ...

  • creating and presenting own story in digital form based on imaginary scenarios, using familiar contexts and modelled language, for example,

    في يوم من الأيام؛ كان هناك...؛ كان يوجد مرة...

  • producing and presenting picture/digital books or short plays or animations that use familiar Arabic words and expressions
  • creating and performing alternative versions or endings of known stories, using voice, rhythm and gestures to animate characters
  • creating and performing alternative versions of known songs or raps by creating new lyrics and using new voices to convey mood
  • composing, performing or filming texts for own and others’ enjoyment and interest, for example, a description of an imaginary character or animal, a commercial for a new product, a short film, or a poster advertising an event

Translating

Translate and interpret short spoken and written texts, such as dialogues, speeches, labels, signs and messages, from Arabic into English and vice versa, using contextual cues and textual features, and recognising aspects that are similar or different in each language

[Key concepts: equivalence, difference, context; Key processes: translating, interpreting, comparing, explaining] (ACLARC008 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • demonstrating and explaining hand gestures and facial expressions that can be used without language to convey meaning
  • using a picture or digital dictionary to find the meanings of words and expressions used in class, comparing English and Arabic versions of each word
  • comparing Arabic expressions used in everyday interactions such as greetings with equivalent English expressions, identifying differences and similarities that reflect cultural associations or nuances, for example,

    مرحبا؛ كيف حالك؟ السلام عليكم؛ سلام ونعمة؛ صباح الخير؛ صباح النور

  • interpreting Arabic expressions in dialogues and speeches and discussing how these expressions reflect aspects of Arabic language and culture, for example,

    لا؛ حقاً؟ يا إلهي! كلامك عجيب! لا لا قل لي الحقيقة؛ صدقني يا سامي!؛ مع السلامة؛ الله معك؛ الرب معك

  • translating texts such as labels, public signs and messages from Arabic into English and vice versa to identify differences in elements of language structure and vocabulary use, for example, ‘no parking’, ‘no dogs’, ‘no-smoking zone’, ‘insert card’
  • creating Arabic versions of school signs, notices, timetables and class rules, and considering why some words and expressions require flexibility in translation, for example, ‘the oval’, ‘the office’, ‘the canteen’, ‘out of bounds’, ‘no hat, no play’
Create bilingual texts such as posters, games and signs for the classroom and school community, making decisions about words and expressions that do not readily translate

[Key concepts: bilingualism, audience, meaning; Key processes: translating, reasoning, explaining] (ACLARC009 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • creating a digital bilingual dictionary for classroom use
  • making bilingual greeting cards for family celebrations such as Mother’s Day, using greetings in Arabic alongside English ones, for example,

    عيد أم سعيد؛ عيد أم مبارك؛ كل عام وأنت بخير؛ كل عام وأنت بألف خير؛ دمت لي سالمة

  • creating captions in Arabic and in English for a display of a class event or experience such as a sports day or school concert
  • producing a parallel bilingual word list by relating known Arabic words or expressions to English equivalents and vice versa, noticing that direct translation is sometimes inappropriate
  • designing bilingual texts such as posters or signs for class or school assembly performances, a sports carnival, displays or events
  • creating parallel lists of informal Arabic and English expressions for own use in everyday interactions with friends and family, including expressions drawn from various Arabic dialects represented within the classroom, for example, ‘see you later’, ‘no worries’
  • composing bilingual texts such as a board game or an instruction manual for a game

Reflecting

Reflect on personal responses and reactions during interactions in Arabic, recognising how interaction involves culture as well as language

[Key concepts: intercultural exchange, language, culture, response; Key processes: identifying, reflecting, explaining] (ACLARC010 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Ethical Understanding
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • discussing their own level of comfort with using particular gestures when interacting across cultures, for example, making or not making eye contact when communicating with older people, kissing on the cheek, and hugging or not hugging when greeting someone
  • sharing with peers how it feels to use Arabic and English in different contexts, for example, at home, at school and in the Arabic-speaking community, reflecting on instances when these interactions have felt comfortable, awkward or difficult and explaining why this might be the case
  • developing language to describe personal reactions to and feelings about intercultural experiences, for example,

    أشعر بالراحة عندما...؛ لا أشعر بالراحة عندما...؛ أشعر بالخجل حين...؛ أشعر بالحزن...؛ أشعر بالتعب...

  • noticing how their Arabic/Lebanese/Egyptian/Iraqi culture influences their linguistic choices, for example, changing terms of address and level of formality depending on the context of interaction and the relationship between participants, such as the use of ‘عم؛ خالة’ or title plus first name, for example, سيدة هناء؛ عم كريم؛ إستاذ هاني, when addressing people formally
  • discussing how language reflects cultural concepts and values, for example, the importance of seeking agreement and compromise as reflected in the way Arabic people express disagreement ( بالرغم من إحترامي لك؛ لا اتفق معك), the importance of respect as seen in the way Arabic people greet each other or when showing emotion by hugging and tapping on shoulders
Reflect on own identity, including aspects that relate to personal observations, experiences and feelings, and recognise how elements of identity such as family background, school and interests impact on intercultural exchange

[Key concepts: self, profile, identity; Key processes: recognising, relating, discussing] (ACLARC011 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • mapping their own linguistic and cultural profiles, for example, by creating a timeline or web profile to highlight formative elements such as family languages, traditions and beliefs, key relationships and intercultural experiences
  • identifying events, relationships and experiences that have contributed to building a personal and/or collective sense of identity, for example,

    مكان الولادة؛ جنسية الأهل؛ أسس القيم التي تربّى عليها؛ المجموعات أو الفرق التي ينتمي إليها مثل فريق كرة القدم؛ فرقة الرقص؛ فريق التمثيل المدرسي؛ فريق المناظرات

  • identifying aspects of personal identity such as age, gender and social status that are important when interacting in Arabic, for example, using the correct personal pronouns to address elderly people (أنتَ/أنتِ), shaking or not shaking hands depending on gender, and the number of kisses on the cheek
  • comparing cultural and intercultural experiences and language capabilities with peers, and exchanging views on the benefits of being bilingual

Systems of language

Understand features of the Arabic sound system, including intonation and pronunciation, and how these are represented in written form, and apply writing conventions to form letters, words and texts

[Key concepts: alphabetical systems, writing conventions, sound and letter differentiation; Key processes: distinguishing, relating, applying] (ACLARU012 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • exploring the Arabic alphabet and script, noticing that sounds differ in both systems, for example, خ؛ ح؛ ط؛ ظ؛ ع؛ غ؛ ص؛ ض؛ ق, and that letters are joined in different ways to make words, for example,

    باب؛خال ؛ حال ؛ هذا؛ هي؛

  • discriminating between simple vowels, for example, تَ؛ تِ؛ تُ, long vowels such as تا؛ تي؛ تو, and consonant letters in a syllable block
  • recognising that letters change form depending on their place in the word, for example,

    ح: حصان؛ محب؛ سامح؛ ي: يد؛ لين؛ سامي

  • inferring from familiar sounds and contexts how to spell new words, for example, predicting how to spell هادي؛ وادي؛ شادي having learnt how to spell فادي
  • noticing that vocalisation such as َ؛ ِ؛ ُ may change the function of the word depending on where it is placed, for example, كَتَبَ؛ كُتُب؛ لَعِبَ؛ لُعَب
  • comparing the different ways to write the letter (أ), for example, ى؛ ؤ؛ئ أ, أ؛إ؛آ
  • pronouncing words following basic pronunciation rules
  • recognising the different ways of sounding the long vowel (ا), for example, ندا؛ ندى؛ لذا؛ لدى؛ متى؛ فتى, and writing the ء, for example, شيء؛ قراءة؛ مسؤول recognising variations in forms of spoken Arabic associated with particular regions, such as the pronunciation of رِز and سِكر in the Levant compared with سُكر and رُز in other Arabic-speaking regions
Understand and use aspects of key grammatical forms and structures in spoken and written texts, such as articles, nouns, adjectives, personal pronouns, verbs and verb tenses, conjunctions, adverbs, statements, negation and questions, and use vocabulary that relates to familiar environments and activities

[Key concepts: grammar, syntactic relationship; Key processes: understanding, applying, comparing] (ACLARU013 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • learning frequently used words related to the home and school environment, for example,

    بيت؛ عائلة؛ أب؛ أم؛ إخوة؛ معلمة؛ مدرسة؛ حصّة؛ صف؛ كتاب؛ دراسة؛ فرصة؛ وقت فراغ؛ ايام الأسبوع

  • understanding the effect of word order in phrases and sentences, for example,

    الجملة الفعلية: كتب الولد القصة؛ جاءت البنت إلى المدرسة؛ يعمل أبي في المطار

  • recognising the different parts of speech and categorising words into groups, for example, الاسم؛ الفعل ؛ الصّفة؛ الحرف
  • recognising definite and indefinite articles with nouns and knowing that nouns have a gender, for example, تلميذ/التلميذ؛ مُعلّمة العلوم؛ المعلمة
  • understanding that adjectives have a gender and that they follow the noun and its gender, for example, الأب حنون؛ الأم جميلة؛ الكرسي كبير؛ الطاولة صغيرة
  • describing aspects of own daily activities, using simple present tense verbs, for example, أستيقظ في الصباح؛ اتناول الفطور؛ أستقلّ الباص؛ أدخل الصف؛ أكمل الواجب؛ ألبس ثيابي
  • understanding and using simple verbs to express likes and dislikes, for example, أحب طعام أمي؛ لا أحب الأكل السريع؛ أحب الرياضة ولا أحب الرسم
  • using demonstrative pronouns to identify people, objects or animals, for example, هذا كتاب؛ هذه مسطرة
  • using singular possessive pronouns, for example, بيتي؛ سريري؛ معلمتي؛ غرفتكَ؛ كتابكِ؛ حقيبتها؛ دفتره
  • using singular personal pronouns, both masculine and feminine, with appropriate simple present tense verbs to describe aspects of home or school life, for example, تحبّ أمي العمل؛ هي نشيطة؛ يحب أبي الطبخ؛ هو ماهر
  • understanding and responding to basic familiar instructions using imperatives, for example, إفتح الباب؛ أجلس في مكانك؛ لا تتكلم دون إذن؛ نظّف غرفتك؛ اكمل عملك
  • exploring the use of simple conjunctions such as و؛ أو؛ أيضا؛ كذلك
  • using adverbs of place and time to expand expression, for example,

    باكراً؛ صباحاً؛ بعيداً ؛ قريباً؛ شرقاً؛ غرباً

  • understanding and using singular nouns and regular plural noun endings in masculine and feminine forms, for example, معلم/معلمون؛ معلمة/معلمات؛
  • expressing negation in simple sentences, for example, لا أحب السفر؛ ليس لدي إخوة
  • using a range of adjectives in singular form to describe appearance, feelings and personalities, for example,

    أمي طويلة وأبي وسيم؛ صديقي سعيد ومعلمتي حزينة؛ أخي ظريف وأختي مزعجة

  • using past tense verbs to recount events related to home and school contexts, for example,

    قدمت فرضي للمعلمة؛ تأخرت عن الدرس؛ نمت متأخرا؛ نسيت كتبي في البيت

  • understanding and using simple question words in their interactions with peers, for example,

    متى أتيت إلى البيت؟ من أعدّ لك الفطور؟ ماذا احضرتِ للغداء؟ كيف أتيت إلى المدرسة؟

  • developing knowledge of cardinal and ordinal numbers to describe time and date, for example, (آذار) الساعة الواحدة ظهراً؛ اليوم السادس من إبريل (نيسان)/اليوم أربعة مارس
  • applying rules of present tense verb conjugation when speaking to peers and the teacher, for example,

    أنتَ تدرس كثيرا؛ أنتِ تلعبين مع غيري؛ أنتم تلاميذ مجتهدون

  • building metalanguage to describe grammatical concepts and develop learning resources, for example, verb charts, vocabulary lists, and groups of pronouns, adverbs or adjectives
Identify the structure and textual features of a range of personal, informative and imaginative texts, and recognise how these contribute to meaning

[Key concepts: meaning, genre, structure; Key processes: identifying, sequencing, organising] (ACLARU014 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • understanding that texts in Arabic can be short or long, spoken, written, digital, visual or multimodal, for example, labels, stories, signs, songs and captions
  • understanding that texts have a purpose, for example, train timetables indicate the time the train arrives or departs the station, recounts describe past events and experiences, greeting cards convey feelings, and labels tell us information about an item
  • recognising how elements of texts such as the title, layout and the size of the script all combine to make meaning
  • identifying and comparing the features of different types of texts, observing similar patterns and identifying differences, for example, the opening and the signature of an email and a letter, a description in a recount and in a diary entry
  • identifying the purpose, context and audience of a range of familiar texts, for example, songs, poems, short plays and video clips
  • comparing texts on a common topic, for example, a print report, a television report and an internet announcement about an accident, and discussing how features of texts assist in making meaning
  • describing key features of different types of texts and discussing audience and purpose, for example, a shopping list serves as a reminder to self to purchase particular items, while a permission note seeks permission to do or have something
  • analysing how different types of texts in Arabic create specific effects through the use of different language features, for example, the use of superlatives in advertisements designed to persuade, or the use of repetition for emphasis in speeches

Language variation and change

Understand that spoken and written Arabic varies according to regions and countries, and according to context, situations and relationships

[Key concepts: variation, dialect, context; Key processes: identifying, distinguishing, relating, analysing] (ACLARU015 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • recognising that forms of address and greetings may vary according to the time of day, gender, a person’s background and the social status of the participants, for example,

    مرحبا؛ أهلاً؛ صباح الخير/ مساء الخير؛ سلام ونعمة؛ السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته؛ سلام الرب معك

    سيد أمين؛ الآنسة هالة؛ ؛ الأستاذ فارس

  • recognising that informal forms of address are commonly used and are accepted as the norm in various Arabic-speaking communities, for example,

    عم جوزيف؛ عمة سناء؛ خالة عبير؛ ست صباح؛ عم سليم

  • identifying how they communicate with their family and friends and with people less close to them, noticing differences in word choice and language use and communicative behaviour
  • explaining how their spoken language at home may differ from the language spoken in class, and recognising similarities and differences between various dialects represented within the classroom
  • understanding that the Arabic language has a standard form called Al Fusha, اللغة العربية الفصحى, which is mainly used in writing, and a range of oral dialects that differ greatly from region to region, for example, regional dialects from Lebanon, Palestine, Morrocco, Iraq, Egypt
  • understanding how gestures and tone are used to change the meaning of speech, and how the purpose of interactions, such as to command or invite, would change the emphasis on words being used, for example,

    زينب؛ تعالي! تعالي يا زينب. ضع الكتاب على الطاولة؛ الكتاب؛ ضعه على الطاولة الآن!

Understand that the Arabic language has changed and continues to change through interaction with other languages and cultures

[Key concepts: change, language contact, intercultural contact; Key processes: observing, identifying, classifying] (ACLARU016 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • recognising that Arabic has borrowed many words from English, for example, إنترنت؛ كومبيوتر؛ تلفاز؛, and English has borrowed words from Arabic, such as ‘admiral’, ‘alcohol’, ‘algebra’, ‘coffee’, ‘genie’, ‘hazard’ and ‘sultan’
  • recognising that Arabic as a language has experienced many changes over time and that classical Arabic is only used in ancient literature and religious texts
  • understanding that Arabic, like all languages, is constantly expanding to include new words and expressions through interaction with other languages and cultures, for example, التواصل الإجتماعي؛ دردشة على الإنترنت؛
  • recognising that the Arabic alphabet has similarities with the Aramaic alphabet system (alpha being the first letter, and beta the second), and that the Arabic ordering system أ؛ ب؛ ج؛ د is based on the Aramaic alphabet
  • recognising that many words in Arabic are borrowed from indigenous languages of the Arabic-speaking world such as Aramaic, for example, أب؛ رأس؛ دم؛ أخ؛ أخت؛ شمس؛ لسان؛ أنا؛ أنت؛ هو؛ نحن؛ كلب؛ بيت؛ سمع؛ كتاب, and that many colloquial words, for example, بوظة؛ دولاب؛ دولمة؛ بسطرمة؛, are borrowed from regional languages such as Persian and Turkish

Role of language and culture

Explore how language use reflects one’s thoughts, perceptions and culture, recognising that language and culture are interrelated systems for meaning-making

[Key concepts: perception, influence; Key processes: reflecting, discussing, questioning, making meaning] (ACLARU017 - Scootle )

  • Literacy
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Personal and Social Capability
  • Ethical Understanding
  • Intercultural Understanding
  • exploring the meaning of ‘culture’, and understanding that it involves visible elements, such as ways of eating and behaving, and invisible aspects, such as how people live, what they value and how they think of themselves and others
  • noticing similarities and differences between naming systems across languages represented in the classroom, and noticing that Arabic-speaking students may have names from other cultures and languages
  • understanding that particular Australian-English terms and expressions have no equivalent in Arabic, for example, ‘billabong’ and ‘the bush’, and that terms such as ‘the movies’, ‘footy’ and ‘backyard’ reflect aspects of Australian lifestyles
  • recognising and explaining to others the significance of some common Arabic cultural practices and events, such as offering visitors food and drink, for example,

    تفضل صحة وهنا؛ بالهناء والشفاء

  • exploring the importance of music and traditional dance in some Arabic cultures as an expression of identity and emotions, for example,

    الدبكة الفلسطنية والعراقية؛ والرقص الفلكلوري

  • exploring words or expressions commonly used in informal Australian interactions, and deciding how to interpret or explain them to young Arabic speakers, for example, ‘mate’, ‘fair dinkum’

Years 7 and 8 Achievement Standards

By the end of Year 8, students use written and spoken Arabic to exchange information about their personal worlds and to express feelings, likes and dislikes. They use formulaic language for a range of classroom functions and processes, such as asking and responding to questions, following instructions, requesting repetition and asking for permission and assistance, for example, متى أكملت البحث؟؛ من ساعدك في إكمال الواجب المدرسي؟؛ هل يمكن أن تعيد السؤال؟؛ لو سمحت؛ ممكن أن أستخدم الهاتف؟؛ من فضلك ممكن أن تساعدني في حمل صندوق الكتب؟. Students use rehearsed and some spontaneous language to engage in planning, transacting, making arrangements and negotiating. They apply features of pronunciation and rhythm in spoken Arabic to a range of sentence types. They locate, classify and sequence key points of information from a range of sources and communicate information and ideas related to home, school, leisure and interests using different modes of presentation. They share their responses to different imaginative texts by expressing feelings and ideas about the ways in which characters, settings and events are represented. Students use modelled language to create imaginative texts or alternative versions of texts they have listened to, read or viewed. They use key grammatical forms and structures in spoken and written texts, such as articles, nouns, adjectives, personal pronouns, verbs and verb tenses, conjunctions, adverbs (for example, ال التعريف البيت؛ المدرسة؛ الدراسة؛ العائلة؛ المواد الدراسية؛الهوايات كبير/كبيرة؛ طويل/طويلة؛ ممتع/ممتعة؛ مفيد/مفيدة؛ مدرستي كبيرة؛ عائلتي صغيرة؛ بيتي واسع؛ شارعنا ضيق؛, أنتَ؛ أنتِ؛ أنتم؛ هو؛ هي؛ هم؛ أذهب إلى المدرسة؛ نذهب إلى السينما؛ ذهبت إلى السينما؛ ذهبنا إلى زيارة الأقارب و؛ أو؛ كذلك؛ أيضاً؛ لأنّ يوميا؛ غالبا؛ أحيانا؛ بكيت بشدّة؛ تكلمت بحماسٍ؛ إستيقضت متأخراً؛ وصلت إلى المسرح باكراً ),They apply writing conventions to written texts, such as لا أستطيع أن أكمل البحث؛ لم أستطع أن أجيب على جميع أسئلة الإمتحان أين تتمرن لكرة القدم؟ متى تلعب الرياضة؟ ما هي مادتك المفضلة؟ كم شخص يوجد في عائلتك؟ إستخدام العنوان؛ الفقرات؛ الفواصل؛ أدوات الترقيم؛ التوقيع في خاتمة الرسالة. They use contextual cues and textual features to translate and interpret everyday texts from Arabic into English and vice versa, and identify similarities and differences in translation. They create texts in Arabic and English, identifying words and expressions that do not readily translate, such as بالهناء والشفاء؛ والله ولي التوفيق. They compare ways of communicating in Arabic and English and explain how their own biography influences their cultural identity and ways of communicating.

Students identify and apply the writing conventions of the Arabic alphabet and script, making connections between spoken and written Arabic in texts. They identify the structure and features of different personal, informative and imaginative texts and provide simple explanations as to how these elements contribute to meaning. They identify ways in which spoken Arabic varies according to regions and countries, and provide examples of how Arabic has changed over time due to influences from other languages and cultures. Students identify how written Arabic varies in style and in the use of formal and informal forms, for example, أنتَ/حضرتكَ/حضرتكم, according to context, situation and the relationship between participants. They identify ways in which language use reflects cultural ideas, thoughts and perceptions.


Years 7 and 8 Work Sample Portfolios