On a more positive note and in a bid to provide a boost to Arabic learning the UAE has recently introduced the ZAI Platform, a digital tool relevant to both teachers and students. This open source project offers a number of materials to teachers and specifically non-Arabic speaking individuals with the goal of transforming the way that Arabic is taught and taught in the region.
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What is the ZAI Platform?
Founded by Zayed University, the ZAI Platform offers various tools suitable for Arabic teachers and learners. They are free of charge and include training resources, visuals for Arabic terms and grammar, educational guidelines, webinars, and conferences.
Empowering Educators
Consequently, the ZAI Platform provides Arabic teachers all the resources they need as a one-stop-shop that is accessible for free with the aim of improving literacy as well as the analytical and aesthetic value of the language. This approach guarantees that teachers are fully prepared to engage learners, to accept the beauty and wealth of Arabic language and tradition.
As Dr. Hanada Taha Thomure the endowed chair of Arabic Language at Zayed University said, “The platform and all the resources, and tools we have built will be available almost to anyone in the UAE and other countries. That is the reason our vision is to be a platform where teachers, who are shaping millions of students, can learn Arabic across the region.
Bridging the Gap for Non-Native Speakers
This is a truly remarkable aspect of the platform, especially given it is designed for candidates who do not speak Arabic natively. Today, there is an opportunity to easily learn simple ways of communication in Arabic using the lists of Arabic alphabets with English meanings and translations: it is sufficient to use the necessary resources available for expatriates.
These resources promote realistic life-situational goals like greeting people, asking for food in restaurants or while at supermarkets. Dr. Hanada in his comments, made it clear that the purpose is to help hard-coded users, non-Arabic, expatriates to have a better communication experience with the natives and thus make it easier for them to integrate into the Arab society.
Key Tools for Individualized Learning
ZAI Platform introduces advanced tools to enhance Arabic learning outcomes, including:
- SARD (Smart Arabic Reading Diagnostic Tool):
This tool checks the students’ reading progress in tasks through the corresponding level of difficulty. There is awareness of learning loss and targeted teaching for necessary support; teachers get weekly and monthly reports regarding each student so there is quality learning for every student which is equal and unique. - Barec (Balanced Arabic Readability Corpus):
Intended for assessing the readability of educational material, the latter tool checks that the provided materials correspond to various literacy levels. Currently, Barec has been instrumental in developing the corpus of 10 million words to tailor lesson plans, reading lists, and educational prompts for different levels of complexity.
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Collaborative Efforts for a Richer Future
The ZAI Platform is an outcome of partnership initiated by Zayed University with support from Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. Their collective strategic plans to produce the Arabic education to be in parallel with the international standards while keeping the history of the Arabic language alive.
In a statement, Shamma Sohail Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development and chair of Zayed University’s Board of Trustees, highlighted the importance of this initiative:
As a source of communication it isn’t simply a method of conveying thought and ideas; it is the pulse of our nation’s soul. All the more, it is incumbent on all of us to support our educators and prepare our learners to be protectors of their Arab patrimony as they radiate in the increasingly interconnected world”.
A Vision for the Future
The ZAI Platform is not just a tool; it’s a vision for reshaping Arabic education in a way that bridges cultural gaps, enhances learning outcomes, and preserves the richness of the Arabic language for future generations. By making these resources widely available, the UAE is setting a benchmark in education innovation and inclusivity. For educators and learners specifically, the new ZAI Platform will revolutionize the teaching and learning of Arabic across the region.