METHODS

CALES uses the most effective up-to-date teaching methods in which communication and natural learning techniques are given priority. While this remains our criteria, the exact method of teaching and the linguistic balance is tailored to the requirements of the student or class (depending on the teaching situation).

Authentic pronunciation and improved comprehension are promoted through audio-visual materials and practice outside the classroom. Grammar will be taught implicitly or explicitly, according to preference.

As our students progress they are gradually introduced to increasingly challenging tasks that include analysis of the news (TV, radio and newspaper) and open discussions and debates on a range of topics. From an early stage, all students are encouraged to express, clarify and justify opinions in Arabic on topics that interest them.

Periodically, your teacher will discuss the effectiveness of the teaching process with you. This gives both of you the opportunity to alter the format or emphasis of your lessons, if required (class size permitting).

COURSES

The standard CALES course consists of nine levels. By the end of this course, you should expect to be able to read and understand texts on topics of interest and be able to communicate in everyday situations. This route is designed primarily for individuals and groups  looking to learn Standard Arabic, either for academic or personal reasons.

For the beginner, classes focus on essential vocabulary and basic grammar (in the early stages grammar is taught implicitly, unless otherwise requested). In the later stages, the focus shifts to more in-depth grammar and a more extensive vocabulary. Although all levels follow a set curriculum, the higher levels offer more opportunity for deviation from the course materials. We use additional resources both to help you to overcome linguistic weaknesses as they are identified and to focus on areas of special interest.

At all stages, we encourage you to make use of the center's location in the heart of Old Sana’a to develop your language skills further. It is impossible to gain a precise understanding of the usage of words without occasionally talking in Arabic to the local Arabs.

Arabic courses for special purposes have been designed to achieve the specially identified aims of the student.

These include courses in:

·         The language of politics and literature

·         Yemeni dialect and culture

·         Arab/Yemeni history

·         Calligraphy

·         Translation

·          Arabic of the News Media

·         Arabic for the tourist

CALES is always ready to prepare material for other purposes.

MATERIALS

At CALES, we regularly cater to students who are required by their university or institute to study certain textbooks or materials. If they are not listed below, please contact us to discuss the matter further.

Here is a list of textbooks currently used by CALES

·         Al Kitab Fi Talum Al-Arabia Mahmood Al-Batal & Abbas Tonissi Part 1, 2, & 3

·         Al-Ketab Al-Asasy Arabic Organization For Culture And Science Part 1, 2, & 3

·         Ahlan Wa Sahlan Mahdy Aloosh University Of Ohio Part 1(A,B,C) 2 (A,B,C) 3 (A,B)

·         Kitab Annash'een  6 books.

·         Ohib Al-Arabia Al-khaleej series.

·         Kitab Al-Madeenah 3 books for muslims.

·         Al-Arabia For Non-Arabic Muslims by Abdul Al-Wareth Saeed & A. Nasser Saeed. Part 1, & 2

·         CALES staff books

Textbooks are supplemented by a wide range of materials including extracts from magazines, Arabic literature and books on history, economics and politics.

A comprehensive range of audio-visual and computer-based materials provide support to all facets of the course.

EVALUATION

On arrival, all students who have studied Arabic before take a placement test. This is designed to assess the level of the student in all areas and ensure placement within the correct level.

On completion of each level, an achievement test is administered. The results of this test will determine whether the student is ready to progress to the next level. These tests are also required for final certification.

Although the achievement test is an essential part of the evaluation process, we believe that effective language learning is a continuous process and has many dimensions. As a result, we assess students’ progress across a number of criteria and the results of the achievement test only account for a third of the final grade awarded. The breakdown of our assessment is as follows.

We grade all students according to the following system.

Excellent            94% - 100%

Very Good         85% - 93%

Good                   75% - 84%

Satisfactory        65% - 74%

Unsatisfactory   Below 65%