QFI and QCRI launch mobile app to increase knowledge of Arabic

In an effort to make Arabic more accessible to those unfamiliar with the language, Qatar Foundation International (QFI) and Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) recently launched Madar Al-Huruf, a mobile application that introduces native English speakers to the Arabic alphabet.

The mobile application uses an interactive and innovatively-designed Arabic language wheel created by Moneera Al-Badi, a Qatari graphic designer and graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University – Qatar. Meaning “wheel of letters” in Arabic, Madar Al-Huruf is both a physical handheld and virtual wheel. It is user-friendly, designed to be rotatable on two sides and allows non-Arabic speakers to learn how to match English letters and sounds,such as their name, to their Arabic phonetic counterparts. With QFI support, Moneera worked closely with US-based teachers of Arabic in Washington, DC to finalise the wheel's design. Two Arabic teachers in Tucson, Arizona also assisted in developing the user guide and curriculum, making the wheel a truly global endeavour.

Originally launched in the U.S. as a physical device, the wheel is being brought to the digital world through the combined efforts of QCRI, QFI and the original designer, in an effort to extend its reach globally to individuals and communities unfamiliar with Arabic. With QCRI’s expertise in technology around Arabic language research and development, and leveraging the technical advancements that have been made thus far, QFI is now launching the Mobile Application version of Madar Al-Huruf. Users can download the app from the iTunes store and onto their smart mobile device by visitinghttps://itunes.apple.com/mx/app/madar-al-huruf/id717596929?l=en&mt=8.

"Learning the basics of Arabic by writing your name, the name of your hometown or a friend's namedemystifies the language and increases appreciation for the culture in the process. And that is the goal of Madar al-Huruf. At Qatar Foundation International, we work with talented individuals and partners to break down linguistic and cultural barriers by having those with no prior exposure to Arabic engaging with the alphabet in a fun, interactive and meaningful way," says Maggie Mitchell Salem, Executive Director at Qatar Foundation International. 

QCRI’s Arabic Language Technologies team has been working on a number of projects related to e-education,enabling people to access and learn in a language not native to their own.In bringing QFI’s physical transliterationtool to the digital environment, Dr Stephan Vogel, Principal Scientist in the Arabic Language Technologies team at QCRI, said, “We are excited to work on the virtual version of Madar Al-Hurufwith QFI and Moneera. We identified a gap in the online education domain for language learning and have been developing supportive technology for language learning including an assistive language learning tutor and an Arabic e-book reader. Madar Al-Hurufserves as a great first step into a whole host of inventive language learning tools that QCRI has developed for non-native speakers of Arabic.”

Baljit Singh, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, implemented the iPad and iPhone versions ofMadar Al-Huruf. Singh was an intern with QCRI during the summer of 2012 and worked on Arabia – a computer assisted language learning application.

“I am pleased to see that the skills and techniques which BaljitSingh learned while working on Arabia were applicable to Madar Al-Huruf,” said Dr Francicso Guzman, Scientist at QCRI and Singh’s mentor. “Madar Al-Huruf employs a similar intelligent feedback mechanism and multimedia interaction, which benefits those in the process of learning a new language.”

QCRI is one of three national research institutes established by Qatar Foundation, and is part of the Foundation’s Research and Development enterprise. QFI is a not-for-profit organisation and member of Qatar Foundation, promoting education as a force to facilitate cross-cultural collaboration.