Research on Learning Strategies in Arabic Language Education

The learning of Arabic language like any other foreign language contains four main aspects; reading, writing, speaking and understanding while listening.[i] This learning process can be enhanced if the most appropriate Learning Strategy is used. In this paper the most appropriate Learning Strategy of Arabic Language is suggested. The course outlines for Arabic language are thoroughly studied and several professors and experts of Arabic Language from Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Sudan are interviewed. The author, who himself has vast experience in teaching Arabic language, also had the opportunity to sit in the Arabic language classes to observe various strategies and methodologies adopted by different professors while teaching Arabic. In this paper the time spent on teaching Arabic to the students is also discussed. The appropriate size of the class room i.e, the number of students in Arabic language class also matters in improving the quality of Arabic among the students. The matter of teaching Arabic in Arabic only or in the native language of the students will also be touched in here. As the time has changed and the world is moving ahead on a fast pace, it seems necessary to apply the “Direct Method” while teaching Arabic or any foreign language.[ii] This paper will shed light on what is meant by “Direct Method”. The idea of making the student sit and memorize the dry rules of grammar has become obsolete. The idea of telling the student what part of the phrase is subject or predicate, or what is object and what is a noun or verb, may come later. The idea of memorizing the bulk of new vocabulary in the beginning can also be postponed. Hence a paradigm shift is needed here while talking about the Methodology of Teaching Arabic Language, under the heading of “Direct Method”.   [i]     Muhammad Abdul Khaliq, Professor of Arabic and co-author of 'al-Arabia baina Yadaik'. The author of this research paper had a personal interview with him on 21.03.2014, in the Institute of Arabic Language, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [ii]    This method is adopted roughly by some great scholars of Arabic language like Dr. V. Abdur Rahim who taught Arabic language for decades in the Islamic University of Madina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The author was fortunate to meet with him many times and get benefitted from his experience. See for details: Abdurrahim, V. (1999), Arabic Course for English-Speaking Students, Leicester: UK Islamic Academy. See also: Abdullah, F. Ibrahim. (1999), Iqra Arabic Reader. Chicago: Iqra International Educational Foundation. Moreover see: Fawzan, Abdurrahman and others. (2004), Al-Arabia Baina Yadaik, Riyadh: Ministry of Education.

Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan/Curcumin Based Water Dispersible Polyurethanes

The research work was done to synthesize a series of novel chitosan/Curcumin based water dispersible polyurethanes with potential applications as antibacterial textile finishes. The synthesis were carried out in three steps, in first step the NCO end capped PU-prepolymer was formed through the reaction between Polyethylene glycol (PEG) (Mn=600), Dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) and Isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI)/ 4, 4’-dicyclohexyl methane (H12MDI). In second step the neutralization step was carried out by using Triethylamine (TEA) which results the formation of neutralized NCO terminated PUprepolymer, after that the last step chain extention was performed by the addition of chitosan/curcumin and followed the formation of dispersion by adding calculated amount of water. The proposed structure of chitosan/curcumin based WDPUs samples was confirmed by using FTIR technique. Using pad-dry-cure procedures, the synthesized chitosan/curcumin WDPUs samples were applied onto the different qualities of plain weave poly-cotton white, printed and dyed textile swatches. The textile properties of the treated and untreated textile swatches were measured, as color fastness, pilling resistance, tear and tensile strength. The antimicrobial activities of the plain weave poly-cotton printed and dyed textile swatches after application of chitosan/curcumin based WDPUs samples were also evaluated. The results showed that the chitosan/curcumin incorporation into PU backbone has markedly effect on the assets of treated textiles and also enhance the antibacterial activity of WDPUs. These synthesized chitosan/curcumin based WDPUs are ecofriendly antimicrobial finishes (using natural bioactive agents such as chitosan and curcumin) with potential applications on polyester/cotton textiles.