Shou fi ma fi? - Intermediate Levantine Arabic (Review)

This resource review is submitted by Nada Shaath as a service to the Arabic Language Learning Community. The instructional value of the resource for each unique learning environment must be determined by the instructor. Note: Content reviewed here may or may not be freely available or openly licensed, so please carefully check the licensing statement for more information about the terms of use of this resource.

Resources

Title: Shou fi ma fi? - Intermediate Levantine Arabic (Review)
Author: Rajaa Chouairi
Institution: Yale University Press
Licensing: All Rights Reserved

Instructional Context

Arabic Language Learning / Teaching

Keywords: Levantine, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syrian, Jordanian, Palestinian, Lebanese, dialects, arabic language learning, almasdar, world languages

Intended User: Student

Material Type: Textbooks, Resource Review

Educational Use:

Educational Level: High School, Community College - Lower Division, College - Upper Division

Proficiency Level: Intermediate

Description

This textbook is for students who have at least an intermediate level of MSA and who wish to learn Levantine Arabic, defined here as the Arabic spoken in the Holy Land, Western Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon; special attention is paid to the latter two areas. The textbook contains 19 lessons covering a variety of situations and topics that students are likely to encounter in these countries. Audio files for this textbook are available for free from the Yale University Press website. 

Review

I received a complimentary copy of Shou fi ma fi? from the publisher of the book. The book is designed to teach intermediate students how to communicate orally in Levantine Arabic, the variety of Arabic spoken in Syria, Lebanon, the Holy Land, and western Jordan. I use the book with my level III and IV students to introduce them to the different variation of dialects of the Arabic speaking countries. The book is more effective with students who have been exposed to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), and it is highly recommended that students have a reasonable foundation in MSA. Students are able to compare the linguistic variation between the Levantine Arabic and MSA through grammatical explanations and conversational exercises.

The book provides students with lessons on a variety of topics and situations that the American student is likely to encounter, and all were carefully selected to reflect the language and culture of Syria and Lebanon in particular. Students enjoy learning the different variation of the Arabic language and often use the skills they learned to communicate with each other. Thematic units are designed clearly, which makes it easy for students to access and understand. Although the book offers different activities for students, it is still not enough to build on their skills. As a teacher, I have to create more activities to support the teaching of each unit.

Nada Shaath, Arabic Teacher, Department Chair
Bell High School, Los Angeles Unified School District