Family Guide — Session 2: My Name Is...

A one-page guide for parents, after-school caregivers, or co-teachers. Plain English. No teaching experience required.

What we learned today

Your child can now introduce themselves in Arabic and ask a friend their name:

They also met the second letter of the Arabic alphabet — ب (ba) — and traced it on paper. It makes the "b" sound, just like in baba.

Why this matters

Knowing how to say your own name in another language is the first time it really feels like yours. After today, your child can walk up to any Arabic-speaking kid — a cousin, a neighbor, a stranger at a Lebanese bakery — and start a real conversation. That's huge. The whole rest of the course builds on this one moment: I can introduce myself.

The letter ب is the first letter your child will see show up in actual words they know — like بَابا (papa). That's the magic moment when letters stop being shapes and start being language.

What to do this evening (3 minutes total)

You don't need to drill or quiz. Just do these three tiny things:

1. At dinner, ask them in Arabic:

"ما اِسمَك؟" (Ma ismak?) — to a boy "ما اِسمِك؟" (Ma ismik?) — to a girl

They should answer:

2. Then YOU answer the same question.

Point to yourself and say:

"أنا بَابا. اِسمي [your name]." (Ana baba. Ismi...) or "أنا ماما. اِسمي [your name]."

3. Before bed, point to the letter ب on their worksheet and ask:

"What sound does this make?"

They'll say "ba!" Bonus points if they can find it inside the word بَابا.

That's it. Three Arabic moments. Total: under a minute.

What to do this week (5 minutes total)

Pick one of these:

• Introduction round at dinner. Every person at the table introduces themselves in Arabic: Ana [name]. Ismi [name]. Even the dog gets a turn.
• Phone-a-relative. Call a grandparent, aunt, or family friend. Your child opens with
  مَرحَبا! اِسمي...
  (Hello! My name is...). Watch the reaction.
• Stuffed animal interviews. Your child has to ask each stuffed animal ma ismak? and make up an Arabic name for them. Ismi Dubdub. Ismi Simsim. Silly is good.
• Letter ب hunt. Find the letter ب in books, on packaging, on signs. Every time they spot one, they get a point. 10 points = a small win.

If you don't know Arabic yourself

You're doing great just by being here. This session is one of the easiest to practice because the words are short and repeat constantly.

• The two trickiest sounds are the difference between ismak (to a boy) and ismik (to a girl). It's just one vowel. Don't worry about getting it perfect — your child's ear is learning faster than yours.
• Use it on yourself. Introduce yourself in Arabic to your child: Ana baba. Ismi... They'll grin. You'll feel silly. That's the whole point.
• The audio file is your friend. Play it once in the car. By the third listen, you'll have it.

If you're a heritage Arabic speaker

• Use the question form constantly this week. Ma ismak? Ma ismik? — even when you already know the answer. Repetition in real moments is how it sticks.
• Watch for the gender swap. Heritage kids often mix up ismak and ismik because they've heard both their whole lives without noticing the difference. This is the week to gently make it visible.
• Show them their name written in Arabic. If you can, write their name in Arabic letters on a sticky note and put it on their door. For many heritage kids, seeing their own name in Arabic for the first time is the moment Arabic becomes real.
• If your family uses yaba, yubba, bayyi, or another word for dad — teach them that one too. بَابا is the most common, but family words are family words.

What's coming next session

Session 3: How Are You? (كيفك؟) — Your child learns to ask how someone is doing and respond, plus the letter ت (ta).

Materials needed: nothing new. Just bring this folder.

Questions or struggles?

Email: dabagh_safaa@smc.edu Or visit: https://learnwithoutwalls.com

Yalla Arabic · Family Guide · Session 2