Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Build A1 vocabulary and basic sentence structure
3 weeks
Arabic A1 covers everyday greetings, numbers 1–100, days, months, colours, family members, and basic objects. The fundamental grammar distinction at A1 is between nominal sentences (جملة اسمية — no verb, uses هو/هي/هم for predication) and verbal sentences (جملة فعلية — verb precedes subject). Learn present-tense verb conjugation for the most common verbs, masculine/feminine gender agreement, and the indefinite/definite article ال with sun and moon letters. If studying a colloquial variety alongside MSA, note where spoken forms diverge from written.
Proof required
Submit a handwritten or typed A1 vocabulary list of 150+ words with translations, and a 10-item grammar exercise showing nominal vs. verbal sentences, gender agreement, and basic questions — written in Arabic script, not romanisation.
What gets checked
- Vocabulary list must use Arabic script throughout — romanised transliteration alongside is acceptable, but romanisation-only fails
- Grammar exercises must demonstrate both nominal sentence structure (subject + predicate, no verb) and verbal sentence structure (verb + subject agreement)
- Gender agreement errors in the exercises should be rare — consistent masculine/feminine mix-ups indicate incomplete A1 grammar foundation
Common mistakes
- Relying on romanisation (transliteration) as a primary study aid — this creates a dependency that blocks reading fluency; all study should use Arabic script from the start
- Treating MSA vocabulary as the only acceptable form when studying a colloquial variety — learners studying, e.g., Egyptian Arabic should note where spoken vocabulary differs from MSA equivalents
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Vocabulary list should be in Arabic script — a romanisation-only list suggests the learner has not yet made the script commitment required for A1
- Grammar exercises should correctly show noun-predicate agreement in nominal sentences and verb-subject agreement in verbal sentences
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Expand A1 to everyday phrases and question forms
3 weeks
At A1, learners move from isolated words to short functional phrases: asking for someone's name (ما اسمك؟), describing where something is (أين ...؟), talking about daily routines, and using basic question words (من/ما/أين/متى/كيف). Practise responding to simple questions in complete sentences rather than single words. In spoken varieties, focus on the forms of negation (مش/ما/مو depending on variety), the imperative, and polite request forms. Drill basic numbers 1–100 in both Sino reading contexts (prices, times) and cardinal counting.
Proof required
Submit a 3-minute recorded reading-aloud of a short A1 Arabic dialogue (provided by your verifier or from a textbook), followed by a written 5-sentence self-introduction in Arabic script covering name, nationality, and a daily activity.
What gets checked
- Pronunciation should be intelligible to a native speaker of the learner's chosen variety — some accent and hesitation acceptable at A1
- Self-introduction must be in complete sentences with gender-appropriate adjective and verb agreement
- Reading aloud should show correct letter-joining at all four positional forms — isolated letter reading indicates incomplete script consolidation
Common mistakes
- Memorising phrases phonetically without linking them to their written Arabic forms — this prevents reading comprehension from developing alongside speaking
- Confusing formal MSA question structures with colloquial equivalents when mixing the two varieties — the learner should pick a primary variety and note differences explicitly
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- The reading-aloud must use Arabic-script source material, not a romanised transcript
- Self-introduction should use the learner's declared variety consistently — an MSA text with colloquial morphology mixed in is a flag for inconsistency
- At A1, some pronunciation errors are expected — assess whether the learner can self-correct when asked to repeat a phrase
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Hold a 5-minute A1 Arabic conversation
2 weeks
At A1, a successful conversation covers greetings, exchanging names and nationalities, talking about family, describing where you live, ordering food or drink, and asking basic directions. The conversation must be unscripted — the verifier introduces topics spontaneously and the learner responds in real time. Both parties must speak the same variety (MSA or a named dialect): the verifier must be a native or near-native speaker of the learner's declared variety. The proof is the recorded conversation, not a prepared monologue.
Proof required
Submit a recording of an unscripted 5-minute conversation in Arabic (your chosen variety) with a native or near-native speaker. Both sides must be clearly audible. The verifier must introduce at least two spontaneous topic changes during the conversation.
What gets checked
- Conversation must be unscripted — a prepared presentation followed by nodding fails this milestone
- Both speakers must be clearly audible; a one-sided recording of the learner's responses only is not accepted
- The learner must handle at least one spontaneous topic change initiated by the verifier without switching to a different language
Common mistakes
- Preparing a script or memorised monologue and reading it aloud — the milestone requires real-time response to spontaneous questions
- Conducting the 'conversation' over text or in writing — spoken, recorded audio or video is required
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Declare your variety at the start of the recording (MSA, Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, etc.) — the learner's responses should be in the same variety
- At A1, assess whether the learner can understand simple direct questions and produce short, intelligible responses — complex grammar errors are expected and not a failure criterion
- Ask at least two unannounced topic changes: move from greetings to food, then to family, or similar; note whether the learner tracks the shift without requiring translation
- If the learner appears to have memorised answers to expected questions, introduce a small variation (change a name, a number, a location) and observe whether they adapt
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