The Hayaa Natakalamu Maan Program: Training sessions for teacher were held in Chicago on September 2006 to support them. The program is based on the techniques and methods of teaching Arabic as a foreign language. It is based completely on a communicative approach, which is the best way to teach a foreign language at this level, when students develop their oral skills (listening and speaking).
The program uses age appropriate content and material. Mainly using story-telling methods, which are the most interesting method for young students, the program involves puppets and different materials to attract students' attention and develop their interest in learning the Arabic language. The students' working vocabulary consists not only of single words and their meanings, but also of "functional chunks," memorized and unanalyzed phrases of high frequency. These functional chunks start short then develop into longer sentences. Using these chunks is an important part of language development for two reasons: First, they allow students to participate and communicate more fully in interpersonal communication. Second, functional chunks are a first step towards later grammar acquisition. As vocabulary expands and children become more sophisticated language users, the functional chunks they have stored become the basis for discovery and grammar. In fact, these memorized chunks of language are the best building blocks of grammar. At the end of this level, students will acquire a low/medium level of accuracy that equips them for the upper grade levels.
The standards for level I: This is the stage of listening comprehension. Students will be able to show their comprehension of the language through their body and head movements. They will be able to repeat the vocabulary words and short sentences after their teacher. Students in this stage follow simple instructions in order to participate in age-appropriate classroom activities.
The standards for level II: At this level, students will be able to produce longer sentences. Their comprehension and listening skills are higher than the previous level. Students will ask and answer questions about topics such as family, school, etc. Students will share likes and dislikes with each other. Students will exchange description of people and tangible products in their daily life such as toys, dress, food, and animals. Students will exchange essential information about each other through greetings, speaking words, and using appropriate gestures and oral expressions.
The standards for level III: At the end of this level, students will have acquired a low/medium level of oral language accuracy (listening and speaking) that will equip them to develop reading and writing in the upper grade levels.
