Session 7 — Yes and No

نَعَم ولا

Level: 1 — Hello, Arabic! Time: 25 minutes Audience: Heritage learners + total beginners (ages 5–7) Letter of the day: خ (kha) Big idea: I can answer questions in Arabic.

👩‍🏫 For teachers

This session works in a 25–30 minute slot with 5–25 students. You'll need: a soft ball or beanbag (for the question-toss game in Block 4), and the board to write خ big. Set up before class: prepare 6–8 silly yes/no questions in your head (we give you examples). If you have audio: cue up the vocabulary track.

Differentiation:

• Heritage stretch: Ask heritage kids when their family says akeed vs. yumkin at home. They'll have opinions.
• Beginner warm: Stick to just na'am and la for the first two blocks. Add the others only when those two feel easy.

🏠 For parents at home

This session works one-on-one in 20 minutes anywhere — couch, kitchen table, even in the car (skip the writing parts). You'll need: a small ball or stuffed animal, and a pen. That's it.

If your child is heritage: they probably already say akeed and khalas — they just don't know they're "Arabic words." Today's a recognition day. Lean into it: "Wait — you already KNOW this one!"

If your child is new to Arabic: Start with na'am and la only. If they get those two solid, today was a win. The rest is bonus.

Materials checklist

• 1 small ball, beanbag, or stuffed animal (for Block 4)
• A pen or marker
• Paper for writing خ
• Audio file: session-07-audio.mp3 (vocabulary + dialogue)
• Optional: print the workbook page on regular paper

Block 1: A question to start (2 min)

Goal: Open with a real question. Make the child answer.

Script:

Look at the child. Smile. Ask in English first: "Are you ready?" Then ask in Arabic: "جاهِز؟" (Jaahiz?) — "Ready?" Wait. Whatever they say, respond with a big "نَعَم!" (Na'am!) — "Yes!"

Then say: "اليَوم نَتَعَلَّم نَقول 'نَعَم' و'لا'." (Al-yawm nata'allam naqūl 'na'am' wa 'la'.) — "Today we learn to say 'yes' and 'no'."

Write نَعَم and لا on paper, side by side. Big.

Quick test: Ask: "Do you like ice cream?" Have them answer نَعَم or لا. Ask: "Do you like broccoli?" Answer again. That's the whole game today.

Block 2: Listen & repeat (6 min)

Goal: Learn 6 ways to answer a question.

Today's vocabulary:

Script:

Play the audio once. Let it land. Then say each word slowly. Have the child echo.

Now add gestures — this part matters:

• Na'am → nod head yes
• La → shake head no
• Yumkin → wobble hand side to side (the "iffy" hand)
• Ma ba'rif → shrug shoulders, palms up
• Akeed → thumbs up, big confident face
• Khalas → one hand chops down, "that's that"

Heritage moment: Pause on khalas. Ask: "Have you heard mama or teta say this when she's DONE with something?" Watch their face light up.

Play the audio one more time.

Block 3: Letter of the day — خ (kha) (5 min)

Goal: Meet خ, a sound English doesn't have.

Script:

Say: "هذا حَرف 'خ'. اسمُه 'خاء'." (Hādhā harf 'kh'. Ismuhu 'khaa'.) — "This is the letter 'kh'. Its name is 'khaa'."

Write a big خ on paper. Point out the dot ON TOP — that's how we know it's خ and not ح or ج.

The sound: kh is made in the back of the throat, like you're gently clearing it. Or like a cat hissing. Or like the sound at the end of the German word "Bach." Make the sound together. Be silly about it. The sillier, the better.

Find it in today's words:

• **خَلاص**
  — starts with خ!
• **الخَير**
  — remember *sabah al-**khair*** from Session 1? Same sound!

Stretch (heritage kids): Can you think of foods that start with خ? Hints: khubz (bread), khyaar (cucumber), khoukh (peach).

Practice writing: Trace one خ in the workbook. Then one on your own. Don't forget the dot.

Block 4: Play with it — Question Toss (8 min)

Goal: Answer real questions in Arabic, fast.

Setup: Get the ball or stuffed animal. You'll toss it back and forth. Whoever catches it has to answer the question.

How to play:

1. You ask a yes/no question (in English is fine — the ANSWER is what matters). Toss the ball.
2. The child catches and answers with ONE of today's words: na'am, la, yumkin, ma ba'rif, akeed, or khalas.
3. Now they ask YOU a question. Toss the ball back. You answer in Arabic.
4. Keep going. Get sillier as you go.

Question bank to get started:

• Do you like pizza? (akeed!)
• Is the sky green? (la!)
• Will it rain tomorrow? (ma ba'rif / yumkin)
• Are you a robot? (la!)
• Do you love jiddo? (akeed!)
• Can I have your dessert? (LA! khalas!)
• Is teta the best cook? (akeed)

Classroom variant: Stand in a circle. Toss to a different classmate each time. Teacher asks the question; whoever catches answers.

Watch for: the child reaching for akeed and khalas — those are the ones that stick. Heritage kids especially.

Block 5: Tiny reading (3 min)

Goal: Read three short words today.

Show the child these three words:

Point to one. Have the child say it. Then another. Then mix them up.

Then play: You ask a yes/no question. The child POINTS to the answer instead of saying it. Reading + answering, in one move.

(In the workbook page, this is the "I can read these answers" row.)

Block 6: Goodbye & try at home (2 min)

Goal: End with a smile and a mission.

Script:

Say: "خَلاص، مع السَّلامة!" (Khalas, ma'a as-salaama!) — "Okay, we're done, goodbye!" Wave.

Tonight at home (tell the child):

The next time someone in your family asks you a question — ANY question — answer in Arabic. Na'am, la, yumkin, akeed — your pick. Watch their face when you do it.

For parents: When your child answers you in Arabic tonight, don't make a huge deal of it — just answer back in Arabic too. "Akeed?" "Akeed!" Keep it casual. That's how it sticks.

After this session

• Send home the Family Guide (one page).
• Send home the Vocabulary Cards for Session 7.
• Workbook stays in folder/binder.
• Next session: Session 8 — Please and Thank You (مِن فَضلَك وشُكراً), letter د (daal).

Teacher / Parent observation notes (formative — not graded)

Watch for, this session:

Bonus thing to notice: did the خ sound make them laugh? Good. That means they tried it. Trying is the whole thing.

Yalla Arabic · Level 1 · Session 7 of 48