Family Guide — Session 5: Brother and Sister

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 talk about their brothers and sisters in Arabic:

They can now build a sentence like: عِندي أَخ صَغير (indi akh saghir — "I have a little brother").

They also met the letter ج (jim) — the "J" of Arabic — and traced it on paper.

Why this matters

Family words are some of the most personal Arabic your child will ever learn. Every kid has a story about their siblings — who's bossy, who's the baby, who steals their snacks. When they can tell that story in Arabic, even just a sentence of it, the language stops being a school subject and starts being theirs.

The letter ج (jim) shows up in tons of everyday words — jiddo (grandpa), jibneh (cheese), jameel (beautiful). Once your child knows its shape, they'll spot it everywhere.

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 your child:

"How do you say 'I have a sister' in Arabic?"

Let them answer. (It's عِندي أُخت — indi ukht.) If they get stuck, peek at the table above together.

2. Point to a sibling (or a cousin, or a friend) and ask:

"صَغير (saghir) or كبير (kbir)?"

They pick one. That's the whole game.

3. Before bed, ask them to tell you about their siblings — in Arabic.

Even just عِندي أَخ counts as a full Arabic sentence. Celebrate it.

What to do this week (5 minutes total)

Pick one of these:

• Sibling roll call. At breakfast, each family member says عِندي... (indi…) and lists what siblings they have. Parents play too — even if you're the only child, you say مَا عِندي أَخ.
• Photo tour. Pull up photos of cousins, aunts, uncles. For each kid, your child says akh or ukht and saghir or kbir.
• Stuffed animal family. Line up their stuffies. Assign each one as akh or ukht. Your child describes the family in Arabic.
• Call a relative. If you have family who speaks Arabic, have your child tell them — in Arabic — about their siblings. Two sentences is a win.

If you don't know Arabic yourself

You're in exactly the right place. This stuff is built for you.

• The word indi (I have) is a freebie for English speakers. It sounds a little like "in-dee." Say it ten times today and you've got it.
• Don't worry about the kh sound in akh and ukht. It's the back-of-the-throat sound, like clearing your throat gently. Your kid will master it before you do — that's normal and wonderful.
• Ask your child to teach you. Kids love being the expert. "Wait, how do I say 'little sister' again?" is one of the most powerful sentences a parent can say.

If you're a heritage Arabic speaker

• Use akh and ukht at home this week. Instead of "go ask your brother," try "ruh is'al akhuk" — or just sprinkle in akh and ukht when referring to siblings. The repetition does the work.
• Watch the kh sound. Heritage kids often soften it to a "k" or "h." Don't correct directly — just model it clearly when it's your turn to speak.
• Share family stories. Tell your child about your siblings growing up — in Arabic, even just a sentence. "عِندي أُخت كبيرة, her name is..." Heritage learning lives in these moments.

What's coming next session

Session 6: How Old Are You? (كَم عُمرَك؟) — Your child learns numbers 1–10 and how to say their age, plus the letter د (dal).

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 5