Layla prepares a short class presentation about her neighbourhood library. Practising at home helps, but a classmate’s question gives her another chance to speak.
01Read the Arabic story
عَرْضِي الْأَوَّلُ أَمَامَ الصَّفِّ
طَلَبَتِ الْمُعَلِّمَةُ مِنْ كُلِّ طَالِبٍ عَرْضًا قَصِيرًا عَنْ مَكَانٍ يُحِبُّهُ. اِخْتَارَتْ لَيْلَى مَكْتَبَةَ الْحَيِّ لِأَنَّهَا تَزُورُهَا كُلَّ أُسْبُوعٍ. كَانَ هَذَا أَوَّلَ عَرْضٍ لَهَا أَمَامَ الصَّفِّ. فِي الْمَسَاءِ، كَتَبَتْ عَلَى ثَلَاثِ بِطَاقَاتٍ أَفْكَارًا عَنْ مَكَانِ الْمَكْتَبَةِ، وَكُتُبِهَا، وَرُكْنِهَا الْمُفَضَّلِ لِلْقِرَاءَةِ.
وَقَفَتْ لَيْلَى أَمَامَ أُخْتِهَا وَتَدَرَّبَتْ عَلَى الْكَلَامِ. فِي الْمَرَّةِ الْأُولَى، قَرَأَتْ بِسُرْعَةٍ وَنَسِيَتْ أَنْ تُرِيَهَا صُورَةَ الْمَكْتَبَةِ. قَالَتْ أُخْتُهَا: «تَكَلَّمِي بِبُطْءٍ، وَانْظُرِي إِلَيَّ أَحْيَانًا». أَعَادَتْ لَيْلَى الْعَرْضَ، وَوَضَعَتِ الصُّورَةَ فَوْقَ الْبِطَاقَاتِ كَيْ لَا تَنْسَاهَا مَرَّةً أُخْرَى.
فِي الْيَوْمِ التَّالِي، كَانَتْ لَيْلَى مُتَوَتِّرَةً عِنْدَمَا وَقَفَتْ أَمَامَ زُمَلَائِهَا. أَخَذَتْ نَفَسًا عَمِيقًا، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: «سَأَتَحَدَّثُ الْيَوْمَ عَنْ مَكْتَبَةِ الْحَيِّ». شَرَحَتْ مَكَانَهَا وَعَرَضَتِ الصُّورَةَ. ثُمَّ وَصَفَتْ رُكْنًا هَادِئًا قُرْبَ النَّافِذَةِ، وَقَالَتْ إِنَّهَا تُحِبُّ قِرَاءَةَ الْقِصَصِ هُنَاكَ. كَانَ زُمَلَاؤُهَا يَسْتَمِعُونَ بِاهْتِمَامٍ.
بَعْدَ الْعَرْضِ، سَأَلَ زَمِيلُهَا عُمَرُ: «هَلْ تَفْتَحُ الْمَكْتَبَةُ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ؟» لَمْ تَكُنِ الْإِجَابَةُ عَلَى بِطَاقَاتِهَا، لَكِنَّهَا تَذَكَّرَتْ زِيَارَتَهَا الْأَخِيرَةَ. أَجَابَتْ: «نَعَمْ، تَفْتَحُ فِي السَّاعَةِ التَّاسِعَةِ صَبَاحًا». شَكَرَتْهَا الْمُعَلِّمَةُ، فَعَادَتْ لَيْلَى إِلَى مَقْعَدِهَا مُبْتَسِمَةً. قَالَتْ لِصَدِيقَتِهَا: «كُنْتُ خَائِفَةً فِي الْبِدَايَةِ، وَلَكِنَّ التَّدْرِيبَ سَاعَدَنِي».
Show English translationHide English translation
The teacher asked each student for a short presentation about a place they like. Layla chose the neighbourhood library because she visits it every week. This was her first presentation in front of the class. In the evening, she wrote ideas on three cards about the library’s location, its books and her favourite reading corner.
Layla stood in front of her sister and practised speaking. The first time, she read quickly and forgot to show her the picture of the library. Her sister said, “Speak slowly, and look at me sometimes.” Layla repeated the presentation and put the picture on top of the cards so that she would not forget it again.
The next day, Layla was nervous when she stood in front of her classmates. She took a deep breath, then said, “Today I will talk about the neighbourhood library.” She explained its location and showed the picture. Then she described a quiet corner near the window and said that she likes reading stories there. Her classmates were listening with interest.
After the presentation, her classmate Omar asked, “Does the library open on Saturdays?” The answer was not on her cards, but she remembered her last visit. She replied, “Yes, it opens at nine in the morning.” The teacher thanked her, and Layla returned to her seat smiling. She said to her friend, “I was afraid at the beginning, but practising helped me.”
02Useful words from the story
| Arabic in the story | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| عَرْضًا قَصِيرًا | a short presentation |
| بِطَاقَاتٍ | cards |
| تَدَرَّبَتْ | she practised |
| بِبُطْءٍ | slowly |
| مُتَوَتِّرَةً | nervous |
| نَفَسًا عَمِيقًا | a deep breath |
| بِاهْتِمَامٍ | with interest |
| مُبْتَسِمَةً | smiling |
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
- Track the change from fast practice reading to a calmer presentation with a picture and clear examples.
- Separate the information on Layla’s cards from the opening time she remembers from her own visit.
Explore the Arabic in this story
Related grammar and vocabularyOpen Araqick guides connected to this story.
School Vocabulary in Arabic: Classroom Objects and Places
أَمَامَ الصَّفِّ
Review classroom vocabulary around the teacher, class and presentation.
Yes or No Questions in Arabic: Ask and Answer with Hal
هَلْ تَفْتَحُ الْمَكْتَبَةُ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ؟
Use hal to ask whether a place opens on a particular day.
Telling the Time in Arabic: Hours, Half Past and Quarter Past
فِي السَّاعَةِ التَّاسِعَةِ صَبَاحًا
Recognise the opening time in Layla’s answer.
