Description
Book SynopsisOne of the best ways to learn a language is by studying the media that native speakers themselves listen to and read, and popular songs can also reveal much about the culture and traditions of a country where the language is spoken. Egypt, as one of the great cultural production centers of the Arab world, enjoys a particularly rich musical scene, with songs in many styles in both Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic.
Here, Cairo-based Arabic teacher, Bahaa Ed-Din Ossama, presents twenty songs in Egyptian Arabic performed by popular singers from Umm Kulthoum to Mohamed Mounir and builds a variety of language lessons around them, with notes on vocabulary, grammar, and usage, and communicative exercises in listening, writing, and speaking. The songs are graded from easiest to most difficult, and each lesson includes a link to a performance of the song on YouTube, the lyrics of the song, and notes on the songwriter, the composer, and the singer. An illustration by cartoonist, Okacha, accompanies each song, adding not just a touch of humor but an additional departure point for classroom discussions.
Students using this unique book will not only improve their Colloquial Arabic skills but will also gain an insight into the cultural landscape of Egypt. The book can be used in the classroom or for self-study.
Includes songs by: Ali al-Haggar, Dalida, Farid al-Atrash, Laila Murad, Latifa, Medhat Saleh, Mohamed Abd al-Wahab, Mohamed Fawzi, Mohamed Mounir, Nagat, Riham Abd al-Hakim, Sabah, Samira Said, Shadia, Suad Hosni, and Umm Kulthum.
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Preface for Students
List of Songs in Chronological Order
Introduction (English)
1. He Told Me, Shadia
2. One Thousand and One Nights, Samira Said
3. I Love You Instead of You, Latifa
4. You're Beautiful, My Country, Dalida
5. Shica Bica, Suad Hosni
6. The Navy-Blue School Uniform, Mohamed Munir
7. The Night Was Over, Mohamed Fawzi
8. I Hate You, Sabah
9. Love Is Beautiful, Leila Murad
10. I Love You, Shadia
11. He Lives Next Door, Nagat
12. Oh My Darling, You Philosopher, Suad Hosni
13. With My Hands in My Pockets, Mohamed Munir
14. I Love You More Than My Soul, Latifa
15. Tomorrow, She Said, Farid al-Atrash
16. You’re My Lifetime, Umm Kulthum
17. Honey and Tears, Ali al-Haggar
18. By Paper and Pen, Riham Abdel-Hakim
19. Another Planet, Medhat Saleh
20. The Lover of the Soul, Mohamed Abdel-Wahhab
English Translations of the Songs
Biographies of the Musicians, Composers, and Poets
References
Links to the Songs on YouTube
Links to the Songs on SoundCloud
