My experience has taught me that an Arabic language program should consist of three components (taught in parallel): Reading Comprehension with Conversation (RCC), Linguistics, and Tajwid.  

(1) Reading Comprehension & Conversation (RCC)

This class will focus on reading passages from the seera and stories of the prophets.  In addition to developing comprehension and conversation skills, the RCC component should provide a total-immersion experience where students can practice correct usage.  Furthermore, this class will provide additional practice and application of the technical material covered in the linguistics components (see below).  There should be three (or more) levels to accommodate various student backgrounds.

(2) Arabic Linguistics (Morphology,grammar, rhetoric)

Linguistics is the heart of Arabic language.  Within it, the key areas are morphology, grammar, and rhetoric.  Because of the active control and role of morphology and grammar, conversational skills are extremely difficult, if not impossible to learn without them.  Thus, all students should be required to take linguistics.   Linguistics should be taught in one's native tongue.

The course should be tightly coordinated with Reading/Conversational class.   Ideally, the rules covered in this class should be practiced in the Reading Comprehension & Conversational component. There should be three different levels to accommodate the various levels (beg/int/adv) as follows:

Level 1: Morphology (for beginners/intermediate)

Level 2: Grammar (for those who have mastered Level 1)

Level 3: Linking Grammar and Morphology,  Introductory Rhetoric

(3) Tajwid (rules of Quranic recitation)

Students should attend a daily class on Quranic rules of recitation. At least a page from the Quran should be read every day in front of a qualified tajwid master.  The class will help students increase reading speed as well as correct pronunciation.  Throughout my teaching career, I’ve seen a direct correlation between the ability to read Quran properly and learning Arabic.

NOTE:

The linguistics component should be taught separately from Reading Comprehension/Conversational Arabic. One class cannot do it all.

Related Links:

• PEAK The Four Characteristics of a Successful Arabic Linguistics Curriculum
  

• Total-Immersion or Grammar-Translation?
  

• The Three Primary Disciplines

• QL Curriculum for High Schools, Colleges, & Institutes

• Who is Qualified To Teach Quranic Linguistics?

• Quranic Linguistics is Appropriate for all Levels