So you've decided that you want to take that first step & learn Arabic. You got all geared up, pumped up and ready to get on top of the subject, and then... the adrenaline wears off!
Perhaps this is due to unforeseen circumstances, or even due to a well planned schedule that just didn't go to plan. Things do tend to get in the way sometimes, I get it! You still do want to reach out and get in touch with the language, but it somehow seems less of a priority with all of the blessings life has to give or even throw at us sometimes.
I hear you...I do! I've been there and sometimes go for visits.
And so, I'm going to share with you part 2 of the blog series that dares you to feel lazy throughout the Arabic alphabet, and still feel like you're progressing and not regressing in Arabic.
It'll be an experience that will:
- help you keep in touch with Arabic
- develop a different kind of taste for the language
- train your mind to look at the cup half full
- help you tap into positive thought patterns
- a form of self-care & me-time
So!...what...are...we...going...to do?
I did this exercise whilst going through the ups and downs of life, and all you need to do is grab your favourite pen and something noteworthy of taking whatever flows out of your mind and onto that paper, because I'm going to give you prompts for each letter in the Arabic alphabet for each position within a word ( beginning, middle and end).
Feel free to choose to practice writing the prompts for as little or as many times as you wish, and just free write whatever comes up for you. Whatever comes to mind. I shall give you examples of how to complete it, but by all means, give that noteworthy paper a piece of your very own mind. Allow yourself to flow, and take note of that inner critic that may hold you back. Let go, and...
let's make this a little experiment of self-discovery.
Ready?
Or are you not yet comfortable with writing Arabic? No worries! Try my Arabic reading/writing/pronunciation mini-course titled Afrabic Bitesize to get you reading in 6 weeks. Each mini-course enables you to start reading with just a handful of letters at a time!
Okayyy! Here we go. Complete the Arabic prompt using English word/s, and notice the change in today's letter form with it's change in it's position within the word:
Baa' - (( ب ))
Letter position at the beginning:
Prompt 1: بدأت
Meaning 1: She began...
Example 1: She began in the name of her Creator.
Letter position in the middle:
Prompt 2: جبل
Meaning 2: mountain
Example 2: ''You can't climb it!'', they'd told her. She replied, ''Can't is for the creation and not the Creator. So I'll ask my Maker. My Sustainer.''
Letter position at the end:
Prompt 3: قلب
Meaning 3: heart
Example 3: Heart...it knows. Listen to it.
So!...How did it go?
Feeling a bit warmed up now, and want to go a bit further? Great!
Now try this!...
Go ahead & Google translate the word/ sentence (you just wrote) into Arabic and jot it down!
There's your Arabic learning purpose reignited right there!
New vocabulary, new self-discovery, and a reflective writing exercise in 2 different languages!
Now how about adding an Afrocentric spice? Try these 5 Arabic prompt sheets for countless downloads here.