Levantine Spoken Arabic
The Maraheb specialized GPA curriculum is based on the 6-phase plan below. Along with the listening and speaking-based GPA immersion approach, we incorporate the Arabic alphabet, reading and writing from the beginning of Phase 1. This provides learners with the foundations of letters and grammar concepts which are vital for correctly distinguishing and reproducing sounds, words, and patterns of speech throughout their language-learning career. With creative repetition, careful correction and utmost patience, our experienced language coaches guide students in communicating clearly with correct pronunciation, usage, and cultural understanding.
GPA: Growing Participator Approach
“It’s about life together, which is highly interactive and yes, verbal (or better—discursive). However, words don’t amount to much, if anything, apart from the life they are woven together with and understood through. We deceive ourselves when we think that ‘Language’ can be something all on its own. So growing participation is particularly about red-blooded, sentient people, in relationships and groups—especially groups who can understand each other’s speech, but live on this planet where a majority cannot understand their speech.”
6-Phase GPA Plan
Phase 1: Arrive 60-70 hours
Connecting to a whole new world primarily through one of its members.
Phase 2: Survive 150 hours
Emerging —having become “somebody” to a few people in the new world.
Phase 3: Dive 250 hours
Knowable as someone with whom host people have the possibility of friendship.
Phase 4: Jive 400 hours
Deep Personal Relationships with a few, making possible deeper relationships with many.
Phase 5: Thrive 500 hours
Widening Understanding —thus being seen more and more as “like us” by host people.
Phase 6: Lifetime Learning
Ever Participating / Growing such that to live is to participate is to grow.
(Phase descriptions by Greg and Angela Thompson.)