CENTRE SIDI BOU SAID DE LANGUES ET

D'INFORMATIQUE

A guide to

Centre sidi Bou Saïd de Langues et d'informatique

Programs and Activities

Table of contents

1-Presentation

•Why is Center Sidi Bou Said the best choice for

learning Arabic?

•Location

•Campus

•Student housing

2-Vision and mission

3-Objectives

4-Strategies of the center

5-Targeted people

6-Programs and activities

7-Distance learning programs

8-Course offerings

9-Training programs

10-Curriculum and methodology

11-Cultural activities

•Recreational activities

•Leisure activities

12-Features of the center

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1) Presentation of centre Sidi Bou Saïd de Langues

et d’Informatique

Centre Sidi Bou Saïd de Langues et

d’Informatique is specialized in teaching

Arabic as a Foreign Language. The

pedagogical team is interested is the

development of curricula and educational

materials as well as the enrichment of the

strategies of teaching and learning this

language. In addition, the center provides training sessions, advice and

consulting for the teachers who teach AFL.

•Why is center Sidi Bou Said de Langues et d’Informatique the

best choice for Arabic learning?

To date, students from outside the Arab world have had little or no

opportunities for intensive language and cultural study in a non-theological

academic setting that promotes understanding of a region, history,

civilization, language and culture.

We believe that Tunis, Tunisia, which for centuries

has been a geographic and cultural crossroads between

East and West, provides the ideal setting for language

and cultural studies in which students can learn the

positive aspects of Arabic language, society, and

culture. Both students and researchers can pursue

academic activities in an environment conducive to

tolerance and academic freedom.

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Centre Sidi Bou Saïd de Langues et d’Informatique offers a comprehensive

program allowing for individuals or groups to focus on linguistic, cultural,

historic and other humanities studies. The Center provides an academic

setting unlike any other in the Arab world, and has as its goal the promotion

of a deeper understanding of the language and history of the region (for

students from Europe, the United States and Asia).

•Location

Centre Sidi Bou Saïd de Langues et

d’Informatique is Tunis’ most picturesque

suburbs, neighboring the legendary city

of Carthage -- home to the presidential

palace, a Roman Amphitheatre, ancient

ruins, and the Carthage International Museum -- and close to La Marsa and

Gammarth with their beaches stretching into the distance. Perched on a hill

overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Sidi Bou Said’s white washed buildings

trimmed in bright blue are reminiscent of Greece’s Santorini. Nearby Tunis

beckons, with its ancient bustling medina and an opportunity to while away

the time in a traditional café with a mint tea and water pipe… or practice

your Arabic and bargain for handicrafts and local goods.

•Campus

Located in a large converted traditional

home, the Center has several spacious

classrooms, a well-stocked library of

literature and audio resources, and a

comfortable coffee corner where students

can relax while watching a movie or surfing the internet.

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Centre Sidi Bou Saïd de Langues et

d’Informatique has all the requirements

for efficient and quick learning, thanks

to the excellent geographical location,

the availability of teaching materials and

curricula which implement the most effective

methods of learning languages, and access

to the necessary hi-tech equipment. All of these factors provide our staff

with ideal conditions in which to do their jobs and allow our students to

enjoy a unique learning atmosphere.

•Student Housing

Students are free to arrange their own accommodations if they choose,

or they can let us arrange for them to have a home-stay with a local family

or live in our student houses in one of the most beautiful touristic regions

in Tunisia: Carthage. The accommodations

that we provide are in safe neighborhoods

that are within easy travel distance of the

Sidi Bou Said Center and accessible by

public transportation.

2) Vision and mission

Our vision is to help the learners achieve their goals in the acquisition

of the Arabic language and to meet their linguistic needs with the highest

degrees. The vision is threefold: to acquire the language effectively, quickly

and enjoyably.

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Our mission is to spread and facilitate the learning of the Arabic

language to/for everyone who desires to learn it.

3) Objectives

The objectives of Centre Sidi Bou Saïd de Langues et d’Informatique

are as follow:

1.To provide an excellent educational service for those wishing to

acquire the language.

2.To enrich the field of teaching Arabic with a myriad of brilliant curricula

and educational materials.

3.To develop strategies for teaching, learning and acquiring the Arabic

language.

4.To improve the performance of teachers and practitioners in teaching

Arabic to non-native speakers.

5.To develop linguistic and communicative efficiency.

6.To provide authentic situations for students to develop their language

proficiency in a well-rounded manner.

7.To equip students with relevant communicative skills in academic,

business and social contexts.

4) Strategies of the center

We believe that language acquisition happens most fluidly in an

environment where sound curricular and methodological elements are

combined with a pedagogical approach that appreciates and identifies the

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unique learning styles and strengths of each learner and inspires them to

reach their greatest learning potential. Therefore all of our curriculum and

courses are built on a foundation based on:

• Inclusiveness: all of the elements within a particular lesson are

designed to train the students in each of the basic skills of: reading, writing,

speaking, and listening in addition to the key “Thinking Skill”.

• Connectivity: all basic skills are taught based on actual examples of

the Arabic life. These examples reflect political, economic, social, cultural,

and religious aspects. This will help the student master the foundations of

daily life.

• Interaction: the student is included in the teaching process so that

each student is both teacher and learner at the same time. This will boost

the student’s communication skills, especially in oral communication.

• Step-by-step teaching: We take each student from a lower level to a

more advanced level based on pedagogical and scientific methodology. This

approach starts from simple and easy concepts and ends in more complicated

and intricate concepts throughout daily training on vocabulary, grammar,

and sentences usage, in each of the skills of language acquisition.

• Continual evaluation: the student is evaluated regularly in order to

measure progress and to assess the student’s comprehension of the basic

grammar and targeted skills.

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There are two kinds of evaluation: 1) indirect weekly evaluation done by

reviewing and training, and 2) periodical evaluation done at the end of

each exam period to test the ability and progress of the student.

5)Targeted people

Our

clients

The learners of Arabic

as a foreign language

The teachers of Arabic

as a mother or a foreign

language

The workers in the

center’s Arabic

department

The users of Arabic

Direct training program (inter or intra courses)

E-learning

Multiple sources E-learning programs

Direct training program (inter or intra courses)

Multiple sources E-learning programs

Teaching/employment Training

Consulting/research

Edit curricula and educational materials

A variety of training programs (communication skills, advan- ced writing, advanced reading, etc.)

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6) Programs and activities

Arabic Teaching

Programs

Direct learning/e-learning/ intensive, semi-intensive and extensive

courses/ courses in the center/ courses in the learner’s office/

tours and visits of historical and cultural sites/ excursions and

educational programs

Training Programs

trainings for the teachers of Arabic as a foreign language/ trainings for teachers of Arabic as a mother language/ trainings for the editors of the educational materials and curricula/ development the learners’ linguistic and communicational skills

Production of

educational materials

elaboration of didactic and educational materials/

elaboration of audio-visual lessons and interactive materials

/ productions of the center’s own plays , short stories, and

poetry.

Spreading the Arabic

Language Programs

expand the programs of the Arabic Language into foreign and international schools and companies in and/or outside Tunisia spread our Arabic language courses through our website as well as the e-learning programs

studies and

consultations

production of curricula and teaching materials in teaching

Arabic for special purpose/ scientific study in the field of

teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language.

7) Distance learning Programs

E-learning meets the need of the learners who are not able to attend

the course due to distance, responsibilities, special circumstances or any

other reasons.

This type of course makes the world the learners’ classroom, from

the comfort of their own home. For this reason, our center offer courses

through internet, via Skype.

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8) Course offerings

General Programs

Arabic for adults

Arabic for teens & kids

Arabic for professionals & businesspeople

270 hours spread over 6 levels in 18 weeks,

starting with the acquisition of the necessary

principles of reading and writing and ending with

the acquisition of linguistic skills close enough

to the level of a native speaker of Arabic.

270 hours spread over 6 levels in 18 weeks,

starting with the acquisition of the necessary

principles of reading and writing and ending with

the acquisition of linguistic skills close enough

to the level of a native speaker of Arabic.

An expanded session of 270 hours in 18 weeks,

aims to give learners the ability to communicate

accurately with natives and to understand the

different dialects of Arabic speakers especially

in a professional environment.

Specialized programs

Modern standard / colloquial

Arabic for diplomatic purpose

Arabic for medical purpose

Arabic for religious purpose

An intensive / semi-intensive or extensive

course aims to learn the diplomatic glossary

and acquire idioms and expressions related to

the field. At the end of the course, the learner

has to communicate effectively. An intensive / semi-intensive or extensive

course aims to learn the medical glossary and

acquire idioms and expressions related to the

field. At the end of the course, the learner has

to communicate effectively.

An intensive / semi-intensive or extensive

course aims to learn the religious glossary and

acquire idioms and expressions related to the

field. At the end of the course, the learner has

to communicate effectively.

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Arabic for

touristic purpose

Arabic for

commercial purpose

Arabic for

media

9) Training

An intensive / semi-intensive or extensive

course aims to learn the diplomatic glossary

and acquire idioms and expressions related to

the field. At the end of the course, the learner

has to communicate effectively. An intensive / semi-intensive or extensive

course aims to learn the medical glossary and

acquire idioms and expressions related to the

field. At the end of the course, the learner has

to communicate effectively.

An intensive / semi-intensive or extensive

course aims to learn the religious glossary and

acquire idioms and expressions related to the

field. At the end of the course, the learner has

to communicate effectively.

Clients List of training programs

Non-native learners of

Arabic

essentials of reading and writing

Interpretation

Sale services / marketing

Etiquettes and ethics Conversation

Teachers of Arabic Language

Language learning strategies Language acquisition theories and its applications

Building curricula for language learning Elaboration of tests Designing tasks for an active learning

Arabic speakers

Communication skills

Editing skills

Strategies for a fast and effective reading

The development of an efficient linguistic discourse

Strategies for learning a second language

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10) Curriculum and methodology

Lectures are based on original lesson plans and draw heavily from

current media subjects. Classes employ the use of video clips, local and

world newscasts, magazine articles, movie clips, commercials, interviews

and so forth to help students apply their language acquisition directly to

everyday life. In addition to this we use

a variety of course materials such as of

materials and books in the fields of Arab

culture, Arabic Literature, Islamic history,

Islamic Faith, etc…

•Teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers

by Mahmoud Al Batal, Christine Brostad,

Abbas Al Tounsi.

•The Anthology of Arabic Literature, Culture, and Thought from Pre-

Islamic Times to Present by Bassam Frangieh

•A substantial amount of press articles from various newspapers,

magazines, and Arabic websites.

•current and classical poetry

•Voices of Women

•Other works focused on American-Arab diplomatic relations

•Audio-visual materials for training to improve pronunciation of Arabic

letters and to distinguish between them, as well as training in listening

comprehension.

•Training materials on special skills such as giving presentations, applying

for jobs, communication skills in the Arab culture.

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11) Cultural activities

• Recreational activities

When not studying, students can choose from the wide variety of

recreational activities that Tunisia has to offer. The area is brimming

with traditional shops, spice markets, clothing souks, coffee shops and

restaurants. Throughout the year one can find fairs and festivals taking place

in many of the nearby towns. Students can spend the weekends exploring

the unparalleled charm of Sidi Bou Said, or soaking in the Mediterranean

sun on any of the local beaches. There is a golf course in the neighboring

town of Gammarth and many historical sites to explore in Carthage. We

are confident that students will find Tunisia to be an ideal location to study

and play.

Activities associated with the educational programs

Touristic programs

Cultural programs

Tours & visits

• Religious tourism • Cultural and historical sites

• Trips and visits

• Cultural camps • Cultural evenings

• Exhibitions

• Theater

• Movies

• Shopping • Museums

• Schools and universities

• Leisure activities

In addition to formal classes, we also offer many real-life learning

opportunities such as cooking classes in Arabic, art classes, seminars in

Tunisian culture, philosophy, music, and literature, and informal conversation

clubs and movie nights.

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Students will be offered the opportunity to interact with different groups

of Tunisian society. Groups of students will go to markets, coffee shops,

weddings, cinemas and theatres to participate in the everyday life of

Tunisians and to learn about the rich culture here.

The Center also offers many trips to cities and villages that have historic

and cultural value such as Dougga City, Jendouba, Tabarka, Nabel, Mounastir,

kairaouan, Mahdia, El Jem, and the Tunis Medina.

12) Features of the Institute

A. High quality of planning and performance.

B. A variety of didactic materials and curricula are characterized

by quality and creativity.

C. learning is centered on Fun.

D. Cultural and touristic programs combine education and

entertainment.

E. Multiple learning paths to respond to all needs and

objectives.

F. Professional Training and Rehabilitation

G. Careful consideration to the welfare of the place and its

facilities and location.

H. Team fully equips the education at the headquarters of the clients.

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Houda Al-Rihawi

President

Abdulwahab Qadri

Director of Arabic

Department

aqadri@sidibousaidlanguages.com

Centre sidi Bou Saïd de Langues et d'informatique

4 rue Abou El Kacem Chebbi, Sidi Bou Saïd 2026 Tunis

Email: contact@sidibousaidlanguages.com

Tel:(+216) 71 981 776