Growing up in a household of educators, we had a special appreciation for all the work that goes on behind the classroom and the special bond that teachers share with their students. Our mom taught Islamic studies (often at our own school) and our dad taught Arabic, mostly in a university setting to adults who were non-native speakers. We saw our mother crafting worksheets for her students to make lessons more interactive (there were no teacher guides) and we heard inspiring stories from our father about people from all walks of life who decided to learn Arabic as adults, either to connect to their faith, be able to interact with native speakers in a new country, or to learn more about the history of the Middle East.

As parents, we now have an even deeper appreciation for the teachers that have come into the lives of our children, to teach and inspire them and instill in them a love of learning. It’s one of the toughest jobs out there, and very few things can motivate a child more than an engaged and attentive teacher.

And if teaching is hard, then try being an Arabic teacher in a non-Arabic speaking country! The odds are certainly stacked against you-- your students don’t speak the language regularly, your class is probably taking up their evenings or weekends, and the tools you have at your disposal are limited and pale in comparison to what they see in their “regular” classroom at a well funded full-time public or private school.

This is one of the reasons we started Maktabatee: to make engaging and high-quality books and learning materials accessible to parents AND teachers. Not everyone gets to travel to the Middle East to peruse the latest Arabic book releases, but that should not be a barrier to making Arabic teaching fun and engaging.

We also know teachers have limited budgets, and they often spend their own money to buy materials for their classroom. That’s why we’d love to sponsor an Arabic teacher with $250 worth of Maktabatee products for their classroom!

HOW? Keep reading!

If you are a teacher based in the US and are associated with an Arabic full-time or weekend school program, you can enter the giveaway by completing the application form at http://bit.ly/ArabicTeacherGiveaway.  

We'd love to hear about your experience and any highlights or memorable experiences of your Arabic teaching journey. How did you become an Arabic teacher? What do you love most about your job? What's the most challenging aspect of teaching children Arabic? What resources would you like to have in your classroom to help make teaching Arabic more fun and accessible? 

Feel free to be creative, involve your students, and share any visuals with us! We’re not looking for the most Pinterest worthy classroom, but a compelling story about your teaching journey. 

!بالتوفيق