Step 1: Listen Carefully

Always pay full attention when someone speaks. Do not talk while others are giving instructions.

Step 2: Identify the Action Word

In Arabic instructions, look for the action word (verb). This tells you what to do. For example:

• أَعْطِ (give)
• اِمْسَح (wipe)
• اُنْظُر (look)
• تَقَدَّم (step forward)
• اِشْرَب (drink)

Step 3: Identify the Object

After the action word, you will hear what the action is done to. For example:

• قَلَمًا (a pen)
• السَّبُّورَةَ (the board)
• الْمَاءَ (water)

Step 4: Do the Action

After understanding both the action and the object, perform the action correctly.

Listen to this instruction and follow it:

Instruction: اُنْظُرْ إِلَى فَوْقَ، ثُمَّ اُنْظُرْ إِلَى تَحْتَ

How to understand it:

1. اُنْظُرْ = Look (action word)
2. إِلَى فَوْقَ = Up (direction)
3. ثُمَّ = Then (next step)
4. اُنْظُرْ = Look
5. إِلَى تَحْتَ = Down

What to do: First, look up at the ceiling. Then, look down at the floor.

Try to understand and follow these common classroom instructions:

1. اِمْسَحِ السَّبُّورَةَ → Wipe the board
2. أَعْطِنِي قَلَمًا → Give me a pen
3. اُنْظُرْ إِلَى الْأَمامِ → Look forward
4. ارْفَعْ يَدَكَ → Raise your hand
5. نَزِّلْ يَدَكَ → Lower your hand

Sometimes after listening, you must answer questions. Listen carefully, then answer نَعَمْ (yes) or لَا (no).

Example:

Listen: "يُسَافِرُ أَبِي إِلَى دَارِالسَّلَامِ كُلَّ أُسْبُوعٍ" (My father travels to Dar es Salaam every week)

Questions:

• هَلْ يُسَافِرُ أَبُوكَ؟ → نَعَمْ (Yes)
• هَلْ يُسَافِرُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ؟ → لَا (No)

• Listen carefully to every word
• Find the action (what to do)
• Find the object (what it is done to)
• Follow the instruction by doing the action
• If asked questions, answer نَعَمْ or لَا

In Tanzania, you use this skill every day when someone gives you directions in Arabic. For example, if you visit a shop in Zanzibar and the shopkeeper says "اِدْخُلْ" (enter) or "اخْرُجْ" (go out), you will understand and respond correctly. Also, when your teacher in Arabic class says "أَجِبْ عَنِ السُّؤالِ" (answer the question), you know exactly what to do. This helps you communicate well and follow instructions in Arabic-speaking places.