Aldiwan Arabic Language Center
Encyclopedia
Arabic language school
Arabic language schools are language schools specialized in teaching Arabic as a foreign language to speakers of other languages. There are different types of Arabic language schools based on their focused branch, target audience, methods of instruction delivery, cultural atmosphere, and elective...
based in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and established in 1997. It focuses on providing Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)certificates and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic
Egyptian Arabic
Egyptian Arabic is the language spoken by contemporary Egyptians.It is more commonly known locally as the Egyptian colloquial language or Egyptian dialect ....
(ECA) courses.
Name alternatives and origin
Aldiwan Center has itself used, and has been referred to by others, by many similar names in spelling and in pronunciation on websites, advertising, and printed materials.Origin of the name
This might refer to the variety of writing choices in writing the same Arabic word Diwan ( precedented by Al ' onMouseout='HidePop("48839")' href="/topics/Persian_language">PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
word and can refer to:
- DivanDivanA divan was a high governmental body in a number of Islamic states, or its chief official .-Etymology:...
or diwan, an oriental high governmental body, such as the Imperial council in the former Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and its successor states - Diwan (title) (dewan or divan), a number of Middle Eastern titles used in various languages for high officials, especially of cabinet rank, or as a rank of nobility in South Asia
- Diwan (poetry)Diwan (poetry)-Etymology:The English usage of the phrase Diwan Poetry comes from the Arabic word diwan , which is loaned from Persian means designated a list or register. The Persian word derived from the Persian dibir meaning writer or scribe...
, a collection of Arabic, PersianPersian literaturePersian literature spans two-and-a-half millennia, though much of the pre-Islamic material has been lost. Its sources have been within historical Persia including present-day Iran as well as regions of Central Asia where the Persian language has historically been the national language...
or UrduUrduUrdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
poetry
For more meanings of the word, please see Diwan.
Alternative used names
Alternatives of the name of Aldiwan Center found in references are: AlDiwan, ALDIWAN, AL DIWAN, AL Diwan, Al Diwan, Al-Diwan, Addiwan , and Ad-diwan (last two are exact transliterations used by some websites), all followed by the word "Center", and also "Centre".Accreditation and credit courses
The center is nationally accredited as an Arabic language instruction school in Egypt. While independent sources indicate that courses offered at Al Diwan Center are recognized and credited by some highly-ranked US and Canadian universities, from which scholarship holders receive university-level credits, Al Diwan Center has no published information yet on this issue.Methods of instruction
Aldiwan Center claims implementation of the Audio-Lingual MethodAudio-Lingual Method
The audio-lingual method, Army Method, or New Key, is a style of teaching used in teaching foreign languages. It is based on behaviorist theory, which professes that certain traits of living things, and in this case humans, could be trained through a system of reinforcement—correct use of a trait...
in teaching Arabic as a foreign language with a communicative approach in teaching Arabic as a foreign language, which is based on the behaviorist theory of learning
.
Courses of Arabic and Quran
Aldiwan Center is an Arabic language schoolArabic language school
Arabic language schools are language schools specialized in teaching Arabic as a foreign language to speakers of other languages. There are different types of Arabic language schools based on their focused branch, target audience, methods of instruction delivery, cultural atmosphere, and elective...
, whose main focus is language instruction, while providing Tajwid
Tajwid
Tajwīd is an Arabic word for elocution, meaning proper pronunciation during recitation, as well as recitation at a moderate speed. It is a set of rules which govern how the Qur'an should be read. It is derived from the triliteral root , meaning to make well, make better, or improve. It is...
, and Arabic calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy, colloquially known as Perso-Arabic calligraphy, is the artistic practice of handwriting, or calligraphy, and by extension, of bookmaking, in the lands sharing a common Islamic cultural heritage. This art form is based on the Arabic script, which for a long time was used by all...
courses is extra effort on the behalf of Aldiwan to enhance the students' skills, but not the main stream.
Publications and software
Aldiwan Center has published many textbooks for teachers of Arabic as a foreign language,, compared to those of the American University in Cairo
American University in Cairo
The American University in Cairo is an independent, non-profit, apolitical, secular institution of higher learning located in Cairo, Egypt...
and other reputable academic institutions, which resulted in a positive opinion of some students.
It also kept interest in incorporating technology in its learning materials, as voice overs of its textbooks and multimedia presentations. Outside the classroom materials they developed electronic dictionaries and how-to guides.
Relationship with other educational institutions
Aldiwan Center has been in a high profile with many of the US students and professors of high ranking universities who elect to use its services. Aldiwan has been publishing for years its acceptance of US and Canadian universities’ scholarships with positive testimonials from their students ,.
Evaluation
While Aldiwan Center refers its reputation to its core team of highly-qualified teachers who have graduate diplomas in teaching Arabic as a foreign language and their methods of instruction, some old students assure Aldiwan of the practicality and one-on-one tutoring it facilitates,,,.Individuals
- Suhaib WebbSuhaib Webb-Early life:He was born William Webb in 1972 in Oklahoma to a Christian family, including a grandfather who served as a preacher. At age 14, he lost interest in religion going through a self-described spiritual crisis...
, prominent American Muslim preacherPreacherPreacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
and da'i http://www.aldiwancenter.com/new/aaa/subcat/Suhaib.php - Sami YusufSami YusufSami Yusuf is a British singer-songwriter, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist musician of Azeri origin.In 2003 Yusuf released his first album "Al-Mu`allim" at the age of 23, selling over two million copies...
, British singer-songwriter Muslim - Jeewan Chanicka, Canadian Muslim teacher and activist http://www.jeewanc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=7&Itemid=32
- Kakahama Mohamed Al Askary, Assistant Professor http://www.jmu.edu/philrel/askary.shtml, Department of Philosophy & Religion, James Madison UniversityJames Madison UniversityJames Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
, USA - Bhawana Kamil, American Muslim preacherPreacherPreacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
and da'ia http://www.masbayarea.org/speakersNet.asp#bhawanakamil - Najeeb Ashraf Kamil, American Muslim preacherPreacherPreacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
and da'ihttp://www.masbayarea.org/speakersNet.asp#najeebkamil - Azam Hashmi, Hafiz of Quran, American Muslim preacherPreacherPreacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
and da'i - Tahera Ahmad, American Muslim Community Advisor and ChaplainChaplainTraditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at the Mount Holyoke College (women), MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/religiouslife/22016.shtml,
Institutions and groups
- James Madison UniversityJames Madison UniversityJames Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
http://www.jmu.edu/international/abroad/jmu_egypt/index.shtml, http://www.jmu.edu/international/docs/Egypt_Schedule.pdf - Muslim American SocietyMuslim American SocietyThe Muslim American Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 that describes itself as an Islamic revival and reform movement....
(MAS) Youth http://masyouthsap.wordpress.com/about/ - Islamic American University (IAUIslamic American UniversityThe Islamic American University is located in Southfield, Michigan. Their vision is to provide Islamic higher education in the United States of America. They offer correspondence and online courses.-External links:*...
), USA http://www.aldiwancenter.com/diwancom/iauniv.jpg - The Malay Association in Arab Republic of Egypt http://www.aldiwancenter.com/diwancom/thanku_big.jpg
Branches
- Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt http://www.aldiwancenter.com/
- Garden City, Cairo, Egypt http://www.arabiccairo.com/
- Maadi, Cairo, Egypt http://www.aldiwanarabic.com/
- Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Joint Venture) Aldiwan(M)
See also
- Arabic languageArabic languageArabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
- Studying Arabic language
- Arabic language schoolArabic language schoolArabic language schools are language schools specialized in teaching Arabic as a foreign language to speakers of other languages. There are different types of Arabic language schools based on their focused branch, target audience, methods of instruction delivery, cultural atmosphere, and elective...
- Audio-Lingual MethodAudio-Lingual MethodThe audio-lingual method, Army Method, or New Key, is a style of teaching used in teaching foreign languages. It is based on behaviorist theory, which professes that certain traits of living things, and in this case humans, could be trained through a system of reinforcement—correct use of a trait...
- Egyptian ArabicEgyptian ArabicEgyptian Arabic is the language spoken by contemporary Egyptians.It is more commonly known locally as the Egyptian colloquial language or Egyptian dialect ....
External links
- Scholarship of James Madison UniversityJames Madison UniversityJames Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
offered at Al Diwan Center.http://www.jmu.edu/international/abroad/finaid_jmu_scholarships.shtml