Salma has a new desk and a small first task. A friendly colleague helps her complete the task and settle into her new workplace.
01Read the Arabic story
صَبَاحِي الْأَوَّلُ فِي الْعَمَلِ
اِسْمِي سَلْمَى. الْيَوْمُ يَوْمِي الْأَوَّلُ فِي الْعَمَلِ. أَسْتَيْقِظُ مُبَكِّرًا، ثُمَّ أَتَنَاوَلُ الْفُطُورَ. أَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْعَمَلِ بِالْحَافِلَةِ. أَدْخُلُ الْمَكْتَبَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّامِنَةِ. أَنَا سَعِيدَةٌ، وَلَكِنَّنِي قَلِقَةٌ قَلِيلًا. كُلُّ شَيْءٍ جَدِيدٌ هُنَا.
أَقُولُ لِزُمَلَائِي: «صَبَاحَ الْخَيْرِ. أَنَا سَلْمَى». يَبْتَسِمُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ: «أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا!» تَقُولُ زَمِيلَتِي: «هَذَا مَكْتَبُكِ». أَجْلِسُ عَلَى كُرْسِيٍّ بِجَانِبِ النَّافِذَةِ. عَلَى مَكْتَبِي حَاسُوبٌ وَدَفْتَرٌ وَقَلَمٌ. أَضَعُ حَقِيبَتِي تَحْتَ الْمَكْتَبِ.
تُعْطِينِي زَمِيلَتِي قَائِمَةً قَصِيرَةً وَتَقُولُ: «اُكْتُبِي هَذِهِ الْأَسْمَاءَ فِي الدَّفْتَرِ، مِنْ فَضْلِكِ». أَقْرَأُ الْقَائِمَةَ، ثُمَّ أَكْتُبُ الْأَسْمَاءَ. لَا أَفْهَمُ اِسْمًا وَاحِدًا. أَسْأَلُ زَمِيلَتِي، وَهِيَ تَقْرَأُهُ بِبُطْءٍ. الْآنَ أَفْهَمُهُ وَأَكْتُبُهُ.
أَنْتَهِي مِنَ الْعَمَلِ الصَّغِيرِ وَأُرِي زَمِيلَتِي الدَّفْتَرَ. تَقُولُ: «جَيِّدٌ جِدًّا!» فِي السَّاعَةِ الْعَاشِرَةِ نَشْرَبُ الشَّايَ مَعًا. أَتَحَدَّثُ مَعَ زُمَلَائِي. الْمَكْتَبُ جَمِيلٌ وَالنَّاسُ لُطَفَاءُ. الْآنَ أَشْعُرُ بِالرَّاحَةِ.
Show English translationHide English translation
My name is Salma. Today is my first day at work. I wake up early, then have breakfast. I go to work by bus. I enter the office at eight o’clock. I am happy, but a little nervous. Everything is new here.
I say to my colleagues, “Good morning. I am Salma.” They smile and say, “Welcome!” My colleague says, “This is your desk.” I sit on a chair beside the window. There is a computer, a notebook and a pen on my desk. I put my bag under the desk.
My colleague gives me a short list and says, “Write these names in the notebook, please.” I read the list, then write the names. I do not understand one name. I ask my colleague, and she reads it slowly. Now I understand it and write it.
I finish the small task and show my colleague the notebook. She says, “Very good!” At ten o’clock, we drink tea together. I talk with my colleagues. The office is lovely, and the people are kind. Now I feel at ease.
02Useful words from the story
| Arabic in the story | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| الْعَمَلِ | work |
| قَلِقَةٌ | nervous |
| زَمِيلَتِي | my female colleague |
| حَاسُوبٌ | a computer |
| قَائِمَةً | a list |
| بِبُطْءٍ | slowly |
| بِالرَّاحَةِ | at ease |
03Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Look back at the Arabic story when you need a clue. Open the English support if you need help understanding a question.
What to remember
- Separate the office arrival time from the later tea break.
- Notice how Salma asks for help and becomes more comfortable at work.
Explore the Arabic in this story
Related grammar and vocabularyOpen Araqick guides connected to this story.
My Daily Routine in Arabic: 8 Simple Sentences
أَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْعَمَلِ
Review waking up, breakfast and going to work in Salma’s opening routine.
Arabic Prepositions: In, On, Under and Next To
أَضَعُ حَقِيبَتِي تَحْتَ الْمَكْتَبِ
Use the desk, chair and window to review the location of office objects.
Telling the Time in Arabic: Hours, Half Past and Quarter Past
فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّامِنَةِ
Read the clock phrases for Salma’s arrival and tea break.
