Getting Started Guide for First-Time QL Teachers

Requirements & Prerequisites

1. Prerequisite for QL1 is successful completion of both books of  Easy Intro To Arabic.  If the reading/writing speed is slow, or there's no background in tajwid then it's still okay for students to study this course.  As the course progresses, slower students will, in sha Allah, see their reading/writing skills improve.
2. Age requirement:  If the student knows how to read/write Arabic or the Quran, they can start at any age. 
3. Required Textbook:   It is highly recommended that your institute should order enough copies of the QL1 textbook at least two weeks before the course is scheduled to begin.  To order, please visit QL bookstore. It may take up to two weeks for the books to arrive.  The publisher (Lulu Press, Inc.) automatically offers discounts for quantities of 15 or more. Search online for Lulu Publishers book discount coupon before ordering.   

Syllabus, Hours, & Course Duration

1. Syllabus: QL-1 primarily focuses on introductory Arabic morphology. See the Teacher's Guide (free download) for details.
2. Weekend Classes: It is recommended that the class meet once a week (every Saturday or Sunday) for at least one hour. 
3. Contact-Hours   Depending on student learning curves and prior experience with Arabic, QL1 can take anywhere from 30 to 35 contact-hours (in-class hours).  
4. Office Hours Outside of the class, a teacher is expected to be available by email, phone, Skype, or in-person to answer questions. Determine your availability and announce it on the first day of the class.

Preparing for the First Day

1. Read the QL Teacher’s Guide, especially for Unit 1 of QL1.
2. Go through the ‘Introduction to Arabic Linguistics’ PowerPoint. The presentation is available for free to registered teachers.
3. Read the section titled ‘On the first day’ in the QL Teacher’s Guide.
4. Download and  listen to the online lecture audios (mp3) for the first lesson.
5. Complete related exercises and check your answers using online answer keys.
6. Contact Fahim Qazi if you have any questions.

On the First Day of the Class

1. The purpose of the course is to understand Quranic Arabic. Thus, it is essential to give the students an introduction to the Quranic Linguistics series so they know what to expect, see the big picture, and where they’re heading.   To orient the students, a beginners PowerPoint is available upon request to all registered QL teachers.   
2. If this is not an intensive course, the teacher should move at a pace that the students are comfortable with. It is important that the teacher gauges student learning curves on the first day. Teachers are advised to go only as fast as the students can handle it, and not to worry about completing the first lesson on the first day.  It’s perfectly normal for teachers to not complete an entire lesson on the first day of class. 
3. Even though QL is suitable for both native speakers of Arabic as well as non-natives, a class composed primarily of native speakers may progress at a slightly higher pace.  
4. Announce your office hours and provide contact information (phone, email, Skype).
5. Invite the students to join their local free QL facebook Student Community Groups.  It's a great way for students to keep in touch, exchange information and ideas, and get help.  Moreover, course announcements are posted on these pages.
   

Classroom Management, Quizzes, Tests

1. For great tips on Classroom Management, please read Quranic Linguistics Teacher’s Guide.
2. You can request access to Tests & Quizzes for free if you're an Arabic teacher or tutor who has joined the Google Teacher's Group and has submitted evidence of teaching to quraniclinguistics@gmail.com
3. First-time QL teachers are highly encouraged to schedule weekly online meetings with Fahim Qazi or a certified QL teacher who will help you prepare lesson plans, make suggestions, answer any questions, address any difficulties, and discuss pretty much anything you want.

After the Course Ends

1. After a student passes all tests and quizzes, provide them with a Certificate of Successful Completion from the Quranic Linguistics Institute. The certificate is recognized by all QL teachers worldwide as well as by institutes that use QL as their official curriculum.
   
2. The coursework for QL-1 is equivalent to 3.0 semester credit-hours.   By comparison, QL-2 takes about 55 to 65 contact-hours and is equivalent to five or six semester credit-hours.