The Arabic Tutor™ is the first and best Arabic teaching software for beginners. It runs under the Microsoft Windows operating system and features a User-friendly point and click interface with native speaker's sound . To run the 16-bit version (2.1) you need a PC running Windows 3.1 or later, a windows-compatible sound card, a 4 MB RAM (minimum) and 15 MB on the hard disk. For version 2.1a (32-bit), you need MS Windows 95 or NT 3.51 or later (and enough RAM to run the operating system!).
The program comes with two books: a user guide/companion book which has a few pages about the straight forward setup and usage in the first part and, extra explanation, examples and exercises with their solutions in the second part. A word list is provided in a mini-dictionary format for easy reference. The workbook is meant (and designed) for practice. It features a printed form of the letter/word (and how letters join) with easy to follow indicative arrows, a hand-written version of the above and a space for the user's practice.
The Arabic Tutor (now in version 2.1/2.1a on the same CD-ROM) was designed with absolute beginners in mind, but it does not stop at the end of the alphabet. It covers the alphabet in a well structured, logical order with full explanation, pronunciation, visual guidance on how to trace the letter and join it to others. You even get animated illustration on how to trace each and every letter. The course introduces real words from the start as examples. This takes up 40% of the course. The rest concentrates on basic reading skills, sentence formation, elementary grammar and a few reading practice lessons ranging from a simple conversation to passages from the Qur'an and Hadith. Every word, phrase or sentence can be heard by a simple mouse click.
The program also has a recording feature (record your own voice and listen to it and/or to the native speaker and repeat the practice until you feel comfortable with the letter/word/phrase), and a standard, searchable Windows help system. The current version added great optimization for disk space and speed along with an extra game-like joining quizzes plus the pronunciation of the complete "extra goodies" section.
Registered users of The Arabic Tutor can join a FREE Arabic on-line continuation course on our web site.
This program was written for adults and the author makes no claims of its suitability for children. They should be able, though, to make use of it if assisted by an adult. The summary lesson , for example, comes with all the alphabet and allows a teach me/ quiz me modes for an interactive learning which can be especially attractive to kids. Kids will probably find Easy Arabic more appealing.
Last updated: June, 20, 1997
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