This post is for all of you out there who have studied Arabic with the Georgetown University Al-Kitaab series. If you have, you’ll know that Maha is a central character of the textbook. She tells you little facts about her life, and along the way you learn new vocabulary from Maha like “United Nations”, “swimming pool”, and “lonely.” Everyone knows Maha, and everyone has something to say about her.
Elementary Arabic students at a certain New England liberal arts college were required to create videos as a final project, and they’re too good not to share.
First up: “Where’s Maha?” The highlight for me in this video is the initial shot of the faux-Maha, which is so clearly a throwback to the first Maha video you see, “Ana Maha” (I am Maha). Maha’s friend, Lelia, is just so proud that she has a swimming pool.
اسمي مهة isme Maha
:my name is Maha
عندي حمام سباحة andi hamam sabha
:I have a swimming pool
Next, there’s “The Untold Story of Maha and Leila”. In this film, a different Maha reveals to her friend, Lelia (who again loves that swimming pool) that she’s in love with her. It doesn’t exactly go over as planned, but the video ends with an Arabic version of “My Heart Will Go On”.
هناك مشكلات hunak mushkelat
:there are problems
قلبي سأذهب qalbi saitheb
:my heart will go on
Posted by The Arabic Student on June 28, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I wonder how long they have been learning Arabic? It was so cute when the little girl was asking her if she was speaking Spanish lol.