LEARNING SUPPORT
Use these tools below to help you
- Self-evaluate your skills,
- Measure progress,
- Understand how to better master spoken Arabic
- Develop your understanding of language sub-skills
- Plan your learning
- Find tips and encouragement
Self-Evaluation Resources
Use the resources below to help you evaluate progress and identify areas for development
Use the resources below to help you evaluate progress and identify areas for development
ILR, ACTFL, CEFR Charts
Use these charts to help you understand your level and which areas and skills to focus on developing
Use these charts to help you understand your level and which areas and skills to focus on developing
CEFR Charts
Use the 'can do' charts below to find and prioritize areas to develop:
ACTFL Charts
You might also find it helpful to refer to the ACTFL charts:
USE CEFR TO LEARN
I don't believe in using CEFR Levels to simply attribute a skill.
As learners we can use these scales to help guide and plan our learning.
We can use the CEFR Scale 'Can do statements' to plan your learning by:
1) Considering comprehension skills you need to do the 'Can do...'
2) Consider speaking skills you need to do the 'Can do...'
3) Consider vocabulary and expressions you need to do the 'Can do...'
4) Consider how you can practise these aspects of Arabic:
As learners we can use these scales to help guide and plan our learning.
We can use the CEFR Scale 'Can do statements' to plan your learning by:
1) Considering comprehension skills you need to do the 'Can do...'
- eg. Understanding just the main idea
- eg. Understanding details
- eg. Understanding nuance
- eg. Understanding emotion
- eg. Understanding perspective
- eg. Understanding formal language
- eg. Understanding terminology
- eg. Understanding phrases
- eg. Understanding jokes
2) Consider speaking skills you need to do the 'Can do...'
- eg. Conversing
- eg. Jumping into speak
- eg. Eliciting opinions
- eg. Speaking alone (1-3 mins)
- eg. Speaking alone (5+ mins)
- eg. Disagreeing
- eg. Agreeing with degree
- eg. Expressing opinions
- eg. Clarifying yourself
- eg. Making jokes
3) Consider vocabulary and expressions you need to do the 'Can do...'
- eg. Verbs
- eg. Single & Plural Nouns
- eg. Adjectives & Adverbials
- eg. Masdars
- eg. Noun + Adjective patterns (heavy congestion)
- eg. Verb + Adverb Patterns (increasing steadily)
- eg. Formal language
- eg. Specific language genres (discussing politics)
- eg. Terminology (War, Medicine, education, feelings)
- eg. Religious language
- eg. Relational expressions
4) Consider how you can practise these aspects of Arabic:
- eg. at a Barbers (politics, war, changes in society)
- eg. at work
- eg. at a coffee shop
- eg. shopping in a Mall
- eg. by joining a club (debating, discussing)
- eg. by watching the News
- eg. going to the mosque
- eg. going to church
- eg. discussing a subject with a friend
- eg. asking locals questions
- eg. recording an opinion
- eg. watching chat shows
- eg. watching soaps
Have a go with this B2 'Can do...'
1) Read the following 'Can do...' for the B2 level.
2) I have provided you with a scenario requiring this skill (This is a good technique for gaining ideas and thinking how to practise)
B2: 'Can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.'
Scenario: An Arab friend asks you whether you think she should seek to get married by traditional marriage.
3) Mindmap ideas of how to develop language skills needed for this task.
4) When you have finished, click compare your ideas with some of mine.
1) Read the following 'Can do...' for the B2 level.
2) I have provided you with a scenario requiring this skill (This is a good technique for gaining ideas and thinking how to practise)
B2: 'Can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.'
Scenario: An Arab friend asks you whether you think she should seek to get married by traditional marriage.
3) Mindmap ideas of how to develop language skills needed for this task.
4) When you have finished, click compare your ideas with some of mine.