Arabic
Arabic at the ICS encourages students to express themselves, their likes, dislikes, ideas and opinions and develops self-confidence. It will also help them to develop skills that will be extremely useful to them. It can help them to develop key skills in communication; information and communication technology, working with others and improving own learning and performance. It is a multi-skill (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and learning it can enhance students’ employment and mobility prospects whether they want a career in business, engineering or fashion. It will also develop their confidence and ability to communicate with people from other countries and cultures.
Our aims in the Arabic department are:
- To provide a framework for development of different skills, knowledge and understanding in Arabic.
- To provide students with the principles and interrelationship of sound and writing in Arabic, the grammar of Arabic and how to apply it.
- To express themselves using a range of vocabulary and structures.
- To provide students with cultural information and give them the opportunities to relate them to their experience and consider different cultural and linguistic traditions, attitudes and behaviours.
The teachers in our department who teach secondary and primary students are Ra’ed Ramahi (Head of Department), Abeer Halasa, Abeer Jayyusi, and Mohammad Tammouni.
The Arabic department ensures encouragement to all students to value their work and themselves as individuals. All students from KS1 to KS4 are placed in groups according to Arabic language ability in order to ensure that each student is delivered an appropriate curriculum. This setting is flexible and allowing for movement between groups at later time. Students are taught using a variety of methods and techniques, as we recognise that each student has individual strengths and needs. The Arabic teachers use resources and structures particularly from the Lebanese Arabic curriculum together with the Jordanian curriculum.
The GCSE, IGCSE-First Language, AS and A2 Arabic courses are taught through a range of materials with the core text being one devised and printed in the U.K. This is in addition to other various Arabic books, resources, and materials developed ‘in house’. The use of ICT and interactive board ‘Smart Board’ is incorporated in Arabic lessons. Teachers will ensure that equality of opportunity is provided at all times. Finally, as Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) are important element in the learning process, we do step outside our classrooms and integrate cultural/language trips outside the school, like traditional restaurants and other different places in Amman.
Ra’ed Ramahi, Head of Arabic Department