raised of £15,000 GBP goal
Giving is better together! Your share could raise over $77.
https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/is_your_arabic_course_missing_the_key_ingredient
“Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like the one who did it.”
— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Impact: London, England
Verification in progress. Learn More
This campaign will collect all funds raised by October 2, 2019 at 10:30 PM EDT
I struggled to learn Arabic and I know I'm not the only one.
Research into linguistics showed me that I needed to do a whole lot more listening to become fluent. But...
When I couldn't find what I needed, I started to create my own. Arabic Workshop was born. Our talented team has grown, and students and teachers love what we've created so far. But this is only the start.
We hope you will join us in our mission to create the biggest and best library of audio-visual resources that can be used with any course to help students to fluency.
So here's the longer version...
Despite a lot of hard work, a huge number of Arabic students fail to develop fluency.
So many highly motivated and enthusiastic students take up Arabic. But as time goes on, there is a high dropout rate. Our research shows this is largely because of frustration due to a lack of progress and a sense that Arabic is just too hard.
Does this seem familiar?
What if we told you that this is a problem that has been researched and talked about by linguists for decades, and that there is glaringly obvious reason for it?
It’s due to a lack of listening.
Most Arabic courses have a narrow focus on reading and writing with little emphasis on listening and speaking.
Research has consistently shown that when students of a language spend time listening, they learn better. They become fluent faster and with deeper understanding of what they have learnt. In fact, studies consistently show that language competence is built 45% from listening, 30% from speaking, only 15% from reading and 10% from writing.
Teachers we spoke to understand the importance of listening and would like to do more of it with their students but express their frustration at the lack of available resources.
Listen to what Anna-Maria Ramezanzadeh, from the University of Oxford, has to say about listening skills:
(Click on image to listen)
An audio-visual listening resource for learners and teachers
An extensive library of HD quality audio-visual content for plenty of practice before moving on.
Graded levels all the way from beginner to advanced allow steady progress to be made without frustration.
Great voice actors, whiteboard animation and podcasts bring alive a range of real-life scenarios to engage attention and stimulate learning.
A variety of native voices for practice at understanding a range of accents, genders and ages.
Flexible learning provides a choice of relevant content so learning is both more interesting and more useful
Spiralling curriculum builds skills and vocabulary in layers so learning is reinforced at gradually deeper levels to make it stick
Intelligent vocabulary building employs Artificial Intelligence to expose the user to words in a systematic way to maximise retention
Our mapping tool allows content to be matched to ANY current study program by topic, grammar point or textbook chapter, so listening is always integrated with the rest of your learning
Social learning tools allow users to join private and/or public groups for learning through class-based projects or real shared interests.
Ready-to-go resources for busy teachers are suitable for whole-class use or for independent preparation/revision/homework, with access to reports on how students are doing.
Arabic Workshop is not just an idea in our heads - we've already created a working prototype with core features. You can try out 45 lessons, for free, across a range of levels from beginners to advanced at app.arabicworkshop.com.
We already have hundreds of users. Their great feedback will help us improve the final version. You can let us know what you think in the comments section of the app.
Try some examples right now:
Level 1- To the Airport. Adam is excited to be going on holiday with his parents and is learning some of the names of things on his way to the airport.
Level 3- Visiting the Zoo. These school children are going on a trip to the zoo. Find out what they see there.
Level 8- My Daily Life. Muhammad's day is normally full of activity. Let have a look at what he does on a typical day.
Level 13- Swimming. What is the secret of Ramez's love of swimming? You'll learn about this and more in this video.
...and there's a whole load more you can check out on the prototype app.
Find out more about the team at www.arabicworkshop.com
Help us take this project from prototype to prolific!
Pledge: You can support with a pledge at different levels. Incentives include discounts on subscriptions once the app is released, appearances in our videos, personalised storyboards and movie poster.
Share: Please help us spread the word by sharing the link to this Launch Good campaign with your friends on facebook, twitter and instagram.
Our next major goal is to build version 1.0 or the minimum viable product, at which stage the app will be released at a full subscription rate.
All funds up to the target of £15k will be allocated to building the 300 topics, which includes video or podcast and associated vocabulary builder and quizzes. This will be added to the current IT framework with a few enhancements. The team anticipates this will take 12-14 months.
If this target is exceeded, funds will be allocated to targets such as more content, native IOS and Android apps, mapping tool, intelligent playlists, etc.
The project is ambitious in terms of its scope and size. Each phase is fully stress tested before moving on.
We will start off with plenty of time allocated to planning the overall curriculum and guidance frameworks for scriptwriters. The timeline below shows conservative estimates for each phase and we hope to have a minimum viable product ready for a public release on the App Store and Google Play Store by winter 2019.
...we've lined up a great set of incentives at different levels.
Whether you are a student or teacher, you will find the levels offer a huge, life-long discounts with (some early-bird discounts) as a thank you for believing in us.
And finally, we acknowledge that from Allah comes our success.
Supporter
Shukran! We'll keep you updated on the project via email.
204 claimed
One Month Trial Subscription
One month for (normally £9.99 a month). Your subscription starts once the full app is released. Your name mentioned on our "Crowdfunders' Page".
89 claimed
Six Month Subscription
Six months for the price of two (at £9.99 a month). Your subscription starts once the full app is released. After your 6 months are up, you can choose to continue with a 20% discount. "Crowdfunders' Page" mention.
38 claimed
Early-bird One Year Subscription
One whole year for the price of just over 3 months (at £9.99 a month). Your subscription starts once the full app is released. After your year is up, you can choose to continue with a 25% discount. Your name will be included on our "Crowdfunders' Page".
36 of 50 claimed
One Year Subscription
One whole year for the price of 5 months (at £9.99 a month). Your subscription starts once the full app is released. After your year is up, you can choose to continue with a 25% discount. Your name will be included on our "Crowdfunders' Page".
8 claimed
Early-bird Two Year Subscription + EARLY ACCESS
Two years for the price of ten months (at £9.99 a month). PLUS EARLY ACCESS: content released to you as we create it - no need to wait for the official app release. After your two years are up, you can choose to continue at a 30% discount. Your name will be mentioned on our "Crowdfunders' Page".
10 of 50 claimed
Two Year Subscription + EARLY ACCESS
Two years for the price of ten months (at £9.99 a month). PLUS EARLY ACCESS: content released to you as we create it - no need to wait for the official app release. After your two years are up, you can choose to continue at a 30% discount. Your name will be mentioned on our "Crowdfunders' Page".
12 claimed
Lifetime Subscription + EARLY ACCESS
That's right! Lifetime access for the price of just over two years' subscription (at £9.99 a month). PLUS EARLY ACCESS: content released as we create it - no need to wait for the official app release. Your name will be included on our "Crowdfunders' Page".
16 claimed
Two Lifetime Subscriptions + 2x one year gift subscriptions
Lifetime subscriptions for you and one other, plus 2 one year subscriptions to gift to family or friends. PLUS EARLY ACCESS: content released as we create it - no need to wait for the official app release. Your name will be included in the "Roll of Honour" on our Crowdfunders' Page.
2 claimed
Patron 1: Two Lifetime Subscriptions + 5x one year gift subscriptions + GUEST STARS + STORYBOARD PRINT
Lifetime subscriptions for you and one other, plus 5 one year subscriptions for you to gift to family or friends. PLUS EARLY ACCESS: content released as we create it - no need to wait for the official app release. PLUS GUEST STARS IN A VIDEO: send us names and photos and we will include up to five of your friends/family as cartoon characters in one of our videos and send you the video to share. PLUS STORYBOARD PRINT sent to you in the mail. Your name will be included in the "Roll of Honour" on our Crowdfunders' Page.
2 claimed
Patron 2: Two Lifetime Subscriptions + 10x one year gift subscriptions + GUEST STARS + STORYBOARD PRINT + MOVIE POSTER
Lifetime subscriptions for you and one other, plus 10 one year subscriptions for you to gift to family or friends. PLUS EARLY ACCESS: content released as we create it - no need to wait for the official app release. PLUS GUEST STARS IN A VIDEO: send us names and photos and we will include up to five of your friends/family as cartoon characters in one of our videos and send you the video to share. PLUS STORYBOARD PRINT and MOVIE STYLE POSTER sent to you in the mail. Your name will be included in the "Roll of Honour" on our Crowdfunders' Page.
0 claimed
Giving is better together! Your share could raise over $77.
https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/is_your_arabic_course_missing_the_key_ingredient
“Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like the one who did it.”
— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Happy Soul
An Anonymous kind soul
Hanaa Yehia
Tim Friedrich
Simon Gregory
An Anonymous kind soul
Simon Gregory
An Anonymous kind soul
K Azzam
H
An Anonymous kind soul
Paul Remy Seneschal
Kalsutino Sugang
An Anonymous kind soul
Hanan Ismail
An Anonymous kind soul
Anonymous
Mahmud Syed
Farhanul Islam
#100DaysOfArabic Challenge- improve your fluency with new content
السلام عليكم و رحمة اللهIt's been a while since we've got this project going and we're excited to announce a free addition - the #100DaysOfArabic Challenge.Find out more here:https://youtu.be/usIpajWfZ60Hope you can join usWas-salaamRyan
We've Launched! Watch this space for your rewards.
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
مرحباً
Alhamdulillah we've finally launched the webapp which boasts 150 units and a brand new vocabulary builder with talking transcripts.
The team would like to extend their sincere thanks for your support.
We're now working on getting you your access and rewards for the giving levels you have supported us at. Please keep an eye out for our next email which we will deliver to you directly from Arabic Workshop.
As always please feel free to contact us if you have anything Arabic you would like to discuss.
Best wishes
Ryan
Launch Date Soon
السلام عليكم
مرحباً
Just a quick update to let you know that we have completed production of 125 units now spread across 14 levels.
Pretty soon we will have the vocab builder revamped and released and the app ready to be accessed by all our Launch Good supporters.
Keep an eye out for the next update in the next 2-3 weeks with a firm date إن شاء الله.
Best wishes
Ryan
Latest Content Release and Last month of the LaunchGood campaign
السلام عليكم
Since our last update we've managed to release 19 more videos for early access supporters.
We're on the final push before we launch the app which will feature a brand new Vocabulary Builder Interface with talking transcripts.
The team expects this to be our very last month of the Launch Good campaign. We would like to thank all our supporters so very much for helping us get to our stretch target of £15k.
We hope that the next few months sees the project go from strength to strength (إن شاء الله).
Best wishes
Ryan
Major Update: 27 New Videos for Early Access
السلام عليكم
We're picking up a lot of momentum prior to launch of the app. This week I'm pleased to make this major release on behalf of the growing team.
We've just released the following 27 videos to Early Access Supporters:
Level 1
The Weather is Cold
Cleaning
Shopping
Level 2
Surprise
Level 3
School Uniform
In the Classroom
My Annoying Classmate
Comparing My Friend's House to Mine
At the Arabic Language Institute
Annoying Brother
Family Tree Part 1 and 2
Work Colleagues
Level 4
The Final Match
Beans and Felafel
Lost in Cairo
An Invitation to Dinner
A Good Employee
Directions to the Hospital
In My City
College Selection
Level 5
My Son is Ill
A Trip to the Pyramids
Level 6
My Pink Watch
Level 7
The Fire
Level 8
Eid Night
Traffic Lights and Road Signs
That's not all. We've made changes to 12 of our existing prototype videos so that they fall in line with our curriculum standards.
Level 2
This is My House
The Computer
Level 3
At the Grocery Shop
Level 4
The Zoo
Arrival in Oman
Level 5
Day with My Grandfather
Level 6
Visiting a Mosque in Oman
Level 7
Choosing the Room Colour
Call the Plumber
Level 8
Level 11
Choosing a Child's Toy
There's a lot there to get your teeth into.
We hope to have some news on the new Vocabulary Builder soon.
Best wishes
Ryan
Latest Early Access release: The Manager, and others
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله
It's that time of the week again. The next release for Early Access videos.
Today it's:
Level 1
Shopping
The Manager
Level 3
On the School Bus
For those of you who are waiting for the full release and don't have early access, we are posting previews on our YouTube channel. The playlist for previews is https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmoVYlwdaTP183cRA1sJyvYdYV3Em-Bj
Have a wonderful weekend
Best wishes
Ryan
Early Access 29 June 2019
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday wherever you are.
Just a quick update:
Five units being released today. Check out:
Level 1
I'm Confused
Golden Star
The Manager
Level 2
My Clothes
My Friend's Absence
We're also hard at work on a brand new Vocabulary Builder interface so watch this space for further updates.
Best wishes
Ryan
New Content Release
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
Hope you're having a great weekend.
Just letting you know that we've released 3 more videos for those with the Early Access incentive as part of their pledge.
Level 1 The Passport
Level 3 My New School
Level 3 My School Bag
More soon in shaa Allah
Best
Ryan
Three more videos released
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
Hope you are all having a great Saturday.
Just a quick update with news of the next release of 3 more videos:
Level 1 The Beautiful Picture
Level 2 The Poor Boy
Level 3 In the Kitchen
We are also making good progress on revising our productions of the videos from the prototype so you may notice a lot of movement between the levels. This is mainly to bring the videos in line with our curriculum framework.
Anyway, I'm hoping things snowball from here and we get to release a lot more content for you in the coming weeks.
Have a nice weekend!
Best wishes
Ryan
Milestone: Early Access
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
I’m really excited to announce that we are going to start releasing content to our Early Access supporters on a regular basis.
If you have supported us at a level with the Early Access incentive and you already have an account on our app, we may have already given you access. If you are not on the app, please go to app.arabicworkshop.com and sign up. Then let us know by sending us an email to support@arabicworkshop.com an we’ll give you access.
To start off we will be releasing videos for the following units:
Level 1
The Little Bird
The Correct Answer
Level 2
My Room is Tidy
Where Are My Glasses?
Level 3
This Is My Family
Enjoy!
Do let us know what you think.
Best wishes,
Ryan
We’re making steady progress (الحمد لله)
السلام عليكم و مرحباً
Hope you are all having a good day as we approach the weekend. Here are some highlights from the project:
مع السلامة
Ryan
Progress so far
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
A lot has been going on behind the scenes on our Arabic Workshop build:
For all of you who have purchased levels with early access, we've got the app ready to receive that content now. I'll let you know as soon as content becomes available.
I really cannot thank you enough for supporting us on this ride. We're loving this immensely and can't wait to share it with you.
Best wishes
Ryan
Latest Update: Work has begun
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
A few week have passed since reaching our initial target, so I thought I'd let you know how the project is progressing.
We've made a solid start on the curriculum framework, marrying the CEFR and ACTFL to our levels. We've listened to all the advice you've given us when you tried out the prototype (app.arabicworkshop.com for those of you who haven't tried it yet), and are structuring accordingly.
The team has already begun scripting the first 25 videos. We expect the first of the new topics to be ready end February/early March (إن شاء الله) and we will begin releasing this to our Early-Access Subscribers at that time.
Thank you very much once again for your support and I will keep you updated. Feel free to contact me anytime with your feedback/queries.
Best
Ryan
£10k target- Stretch Goal to £15K and our work on the app has already begun
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
الحمد لله
We might get pipped at the post!
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
Thank you sooo much for your generosity today. We've managed to get very close to our target, but may I ask for one last favour?
We've dropped to third place and we really want to be on top. Please would you ask you wife, husband, children, parents, etc to help us out by making just a £1 pledge before bed tonight.
Jazakum ullahu khaira
Ryan
100 Pledges...Yay!
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله
الحمد لله
We've reached 100 pledges!
Thank you so much for being part of our story.
We're not very far from our final goal but we've already begun work on the version 1 app.
Please do pass on the word about us, especially today as we are competing for a share in the prize of the Giving Tuesday competition on Launch Good. There's $20k for the campaign with the most unique donors. Encouraging your family and friends to make the minimum possible contribution of £1 would really help us with this.
Thank you once again
مع السلامة
Ryan
Thank you for the support so far. Here's an update on the project.
السلام عليكم و رحة الله
By Allah's grace, we've passed the half-way mark of the campaign and I thought it would be good to let you know what we've been up to.
The big team meet up
So we met in Istanbul to spend a few "away days" planning the next big sprint. There was a lot of deliberating and the team are now itching to get started. We spent a lot of time discussing the feedback you guys have been giving us and how we're going to implement changes.
Safaa even got a cake to celebrate our achievements so far.
We've got a new team member
Hanaa Yehia has been supporting us enthusiastically since we released the prototype. We were so glad she took up the task of putting the curriculum framework together, work that she has already begun. A teacher and examiner for Edexel, we're really looking forward to the next few weeks as the details emerge.
Please keep spreading the word
We are really grateful for your support, both in terms of pledges and also in letting you friends and family know about us and the project. Please do keep passing on the message and encouraging pledges so we can reach our target.
We intend to keep going regardless, but the pledges really do help speed the build.
و لله الحمد
Best wishes
Ryan
Giving is better together! Your share could raise over $77.
https://www.launchgood.com/v4/v4/campaign/is_your_arabic_course_missing_the_key_ingredient
“Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like the one who did it.”
— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
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Giving is better together! Your share could raise over $77.
https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/is_your_arabic_course_missing_the_key_ingredient
“Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like the one who did it.”
— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
