Smart Application–Picle

 

Picle is a free app for iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch that works well for putting images and audio together to create digital stories or multimedia projects. Images can be imported from the camera roll. Or, pictures can be taken directly by the app with the iDevice’s built-in camera. Then by clicking a record-button you can attach audio narration or other desired sounds to the image. You can also record whatever sound is present when the picture is taken while taking a picture to capture. Each image, with attached audio, is known as a ‘picle’. Individual picles can be woven together into movies that tell a story. These movies can be uploaded and shared on Picle’s site. Or, movies can be saved to the camera roll and sent from there directly to Youtube, on your blog or emailed. Individual picles can also be shared on their own.

I particulary like to use this application in language learning and reading. Children can take pictures of different things and say a few words about them in the language they are learning. As a fun way to teach reading, they can take the picture of some text written in other languages and record themselves reading it. My children are also using it in making tajweed videos by taking pictures of different words and verses from the Quraan and explaining the tajweed rules in the voice recording. children can also take pictures of their art work and record themselves explaining it. This application presents many wonderful opportunities and since it is so easy to use, it can be used by even very young children.

Price
Free

Link for
iphone and ipad

Arabic Language Training Videos

Visual Training has an Arabic Language Training course, comprising of series of videos based on Madinah Arabic books 1, 2 and 3. The course takes around 50 hours (or more) to complete and can be of assistance when you are studying the Madinah Arabic books. The videos are a bit dry (boring?) especially for young learners but nonetheless they can be helpful. I will advise to use them here and there as an aid to study and not as the sole study program.

Art Generator of October 2011

 

Sketchcast is a new way to express yourself. You can draw or sketch something and record yourself doing it WITH OR WITHOUT voice. There are lots of possibilities with this tool. You can explain stuff, make tutorials or simply have fun while drawing or making art. The finished sketchcast can be shared via email or can be embedded in a blog. You will need to register in order to use this tool, but registration is free and quite easy. You can learn more about using this tool here.

Sneaking in Learning: There are really tons of activities you can use this tool in. Fro language practice, have the child draw something and describe their art. I like to use this tool in our Arabic lessons. Or children can make tutorials and how-tos. Another great way to use this tool is to let them explain mathematical and scientific concepts as end of project assessments. You can also watch others’ sketchcasts, for inspiration or to learn as many people have made tutorials on different stuff using this tool.

How to increase your Arabic vocabulary

Some very good practical tips on increasing your Arabic vocabulary. a very good resource.

Techno Tools–AlQuran plugin for MS Word

Al Quran plugin for Microsoft Word is a useful tool when you are working with Quranic text. Download the plugin and when you want to write a Quranic verse in Word, just type the number of verse and name of sura and the verse will be inserted automatically for you. You can choose from Arabic text and translations in a number of languages. When working with the holy Quraan, it is important to make sure that there is no mistake in the actual text or in the translation. Using this plugin not only assures that the text and translation of the holy Quraan is correct, it can make proofing of your work easier and quicker, insha Allaah.

Islamic Online University

Islamic Online University is offering many free courses in Islamic studies. The courses look well developed and easy to follow. There is no set time frame for any of the courses and you can complete them at your own pace. At the completion of each course you will get a diploma certificate. It can be a good opportunity for teens to pursue their Islamic studies, especially for those individuals for whom attending a course physically is not possible.

Wednesday Weekly Website–Mount Hira

Mount Hira

Review: Mount Hira “aim to create a learning website which makes it easy for people to learn and memorise important verses, which can benefit us all in our life...for protection, success...and to get closer to our Creator.”
Currently they have lessons/tutorials for Ayatul kursi, Sura Yaseen, suratul Fatihah, Suratul Qadr and from Suratul Aadiyaat to Suratun Naas. Each lesson lets the student to listen to one ayaah at a time and you can replay the same ayaah over and over again. You can also read the meaning of every ayaah. A short summary of every sura is also presented at the beginning. There are also tutorials available to memorize some duaas and the 99 exalted names of Allaah SWT. Tutorials can be downloaded for offline use as well.

Suitable for ages: 3-80

Few more Arabic Resources

Just a quick share. The madina arabic website has recently undergone a redo and they have added many new features to their site. They have a completely free arabic course, you can print it as an ebook which you can use as text book for home education. Secondly they have a wonderful new (or new to me) vocabulary application where you can learn a lot of new words in different categories with the help of multimedia flash cards, a quiz application to test your Arabic language, and even a mobile vocabulary application so you can learn Arabic on the go.

Secondly, there is a Learn Quranic Arabic channel on youtube. This channel has got tons of videos about the madina arabic books. But their true gem is a series of lessons by none other than Dr Abdur Raheem who is the head of Quran translation at King Fahad Quran printing complex. This lesson is an advanced one (one need to finish the madina arabic books before being able to take this course) but is full of knowledge and very beneficial.

Resources for Arabic Language

Below is a list of many Arabic Language Learning Resources I have found. Some of them I have used myself and others I haven’t. Some are free and some are not so please click on each link to find out more about it.

Out of all these resources the Rosetta Stone is I think by far the best (and most expensive) but if you are really considering learning spoken Arabic, this resource will help you a lot.

First thousand words in Arabic is also a good book as it will help you in learning the everyday vocabulary with colorful illustrations.

My Arabic Teacher also sounds and looks like a nice alternative to the expensive Rosetta Stone but as I haven’t used it personally I can’t give you a review.

Arabic comes first has resources and curriculum designed especially for young children who are beginning to learn Arabic and these resources are completely free as well.

Lastly Arabic Flashcards can be a big help when you want to widen your vocabulary.

There may be many other resources, but these are all I have found. If you know about another resource please share it in the comments below.

Sura Al Ikhlaas Vocab

 

I have made a new drag and drop activity for the vocabulary of Sura Al Ikhlaas.

Access it here.

You can also access it from my wall for Sura Al Ikhlaas.

Vocabulary Drag and Drops

I have made these simple drag and drop activities to reinforce vocabulary for Sura Al Falaq and An Naas.

You can access them from here:

Al Falaq part 1

Al Falaq part 2

An Naas part1

An Naas part 2

You can also access them through my wall for Sura Al Falaq wan Naas which has many more resources available on it now.

Seeking refuge from 4 things

Here is an excellent unit by Talibiddeen based on Nabi (saw) duaa seeking refuge from 4 things. The translation of the duaa is

“The Prophet (sal-Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say:

‘When one of you has finished the [last] Tashahhud, he should seek refuge with Allah from four things; [saying]:

1. Allah! I truly seek refuge with You from the punishment of Hellfire,

2. and from the punishment of the grave,

3. and from the trials of living and dying,

4. and from the evil [trials] of the False Christ.

[Then he should supplicate for himself with what occurs to him.]

"He (sal-Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would supplicate with it in his own Tashahhud." ¹

Talibiddeen’s blog is full of units like these and if you are not already following this blog then you must start. Take some time and explore the blog as well as the main site and you will find some true gems Insha Allaah.