Arabic with Cody S.

I am retired after over 20 years working with the Arabic language. During that time I had the opportunity to both attend and teach many classes at multiple levels. I was often frustrated by grammar lessons, when they were taught, because I found it difficult to apply the information to actually using the language beyond basic conjugation. Once I started teaching, I had more freedom to find ways to teach grammar that were useful and that wouldn't "lose students." My students can expect honest and clear lessons that they can apply immediately. I try to keep it simple, so that students understand the concepts and patterns, rather than getting bogged down in grammar terminology and definitions. I believe that no question is too simple for any class and endeavor to answer without clearly and without demeaning. I am not a native Arabic speaker and consider that a strength. I had to learn Arabic and its grammar just like you and still consider myself a student of the language. With exceptions, I found native speakers to be poorly equipped to teach grammar, especially to English-speaking students. There were concepts they could not explain adequately but just knew it sounded right. I don't mean to disparage their expertise, there are many fluent native-English speakers who just know what English should sound like but can't explain why. As a fellow student with the same frustrations, I will share with you my tools, tips, and tricks that helped me gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of Arabic grammar. Teaching is one of my passions and I love the puzzle of finding new ways to help people retain and apply information. If a student fails, it is often a reflection of the teacher's ability to engage and explain. Arabic is just one thing I feel I am versed well-enough in to engage in teaching.