Islamic ESL Roadmap – Speak with Adab
Week 1: Saying Salam and Introducing Yourself
- Practice saying: “Assalamu Alaikum, my name is ___”
- Pair role-play: Greet and introduce each other
- Use smile and adab (manners) when greeting
Week 2: Talking about Family
- Introduce: “I have a brother/sister. My father's name is ___”
- Draw a family tree and speak about each member
- Say: “Alhamdulillah for my family”
Week 3: Asking for Things Politely
- Practice: “Can I have a pencil, please?” “JazakAllah!”
- Role-play school scenes: Borrowing, sharing, thanking
- Include “Bismillah” and “Alhamdulillah” in speech
Week 4: My Favorite Animal (Mini Speech)
- Say: “My favorite animal is a ___ because…”
- Include one sentence from the Quran about animals (e.g. the bee, the camel)
- Practice speaking with a loud, clear voice
Vocabulary Focus
- Week 1: Greetings – Hello, Salam, How are you?, Alhamdulillah
- Week 2: Family Words – mother, father, brother, sister, grandma
- Week 3: Islamic Manners – please, thank you, sorry, JazakAllah, Bismillah
- Week 4: Nature Words – sun, moon, sky, river, camel, bee
Activities
- Flashcard games with audio pronunciation
- Guess the Word with charades
- Label classroom or home items with Arabic/English words
Week-by-Week Practice
- Week 1: “S” vs “Sh” – Salam vs Sheikh
- Week 2: “B” and “P” distinction – Bismillah, Pen
- Week 3: “Th” as in Thank you (not “Tank you”)
- Week 4: Quranic Words – Say Alhamdulillah, SubhanAllah clearly
Activities
- Mirror practice: watching lip/mouth shape
- Listen and Repeat drills with teacher
- Echo Game: Say after your partner
Weekly Interactive Games
- Week 1: Salam Circle – Greet each other and pass a ball
- Week 2: Who Am I? – Guess based on family member clues
- Week 3: Islamic Charades – Act out “praying”, “fasting”, “helping”
- Week 4: Animal Debate – Choose animal and explain its value
Week 1: Prophet Nuh's Ark
- 2-Role Script: "I believe in Allah!" / "Why are you building a boat?"
- Emotion practice: Excited, Scared, Confident
- Story Retelling: Use 5 pictures, tell it in own words
Week 2: Prophet Ibrahim Breaks the Idols
- Act: "Who broke our idols?" – "Ask the big one!"
- Use props (paper idols, toy hammer)
- Focus on boldness in speech for truth
Week 3: Sunnah Manners at Home
- Situations: Helping mom, speaking gently
- Roleplay: "Can I help you?" / "Yes, JazakAllah!"
- Learn tone and politeness
Theme Vocabulary
- Prophet, Du'a, Masjid, Prayer, Qur’an, Wudu
- Flashcard Challenge: Match picture to word
- Make mini-dictionaries with 5 Islamic terms
Adab in Language
- Always say: Alhamdulillah, In Shaa Allah, Astaghfirullah
- Pairwork: "What do you say when you sneeze?"
- Poster creation: Good Words from a Muslim Tongue
Sound Focus
- /th/ vs /s/: Think vs Sink, Thank vs Sank
- Practice with word sets: Prophet, Mosque, Noble, Forgive
- Choral reading of short Nasheed lines
Qur’anic Sound Practice
- Words: Rahmah, Jannah, Salam
- Mirror sound: Listen and repeat in pairs
- Stress & intonation practice: "ALLAH is One!"
Interactive Speech Tasks
- “Pass the Du’a” – student says Bismillah & passes it along
- “5 Word Challenge” – describe a masjid in 5 English words
- Islamic Charades: Act & speak Islamic actions
Weekly Mini-Presentations
- “This week I helped my mom…” (2-3 sentence speech)
- Use phrases: “Alhamdulillah I did…” / “It was nice because…”
- Peer feedback: Smile, eye contact, good tone
Week 1: What is Sunnah?
- Intro speech: "I follow the Sunnah because..."
- Speaking posture: hands by side, look at audience
- End with: "May Allah help us follow the Prophet ﷺ."
Week 2: My Morning Routine with Adab
- Describe: waking up, saying du’a, brushing teeth (miswak)
- Connect to Prophet’s habits
- Pair presentations with feedback
Week 3: Why I Love the Prophet ﷺ
- Use 3 structured points: His kindness, speech, salah
- Begin with Bismillah – use flashcards
- Audience Q&A and peer claps
Week 4: Kindness Challenge Talk
- Topic: "How I showed kindness this week – like the Prophet ﷺ"
- Structure: Incident, Action, Reflection
- Speaking circle activity
Week 1: Story – Prophet Yusuf (a) in the Well
- Short narration with drama voice
- Use descriptive words: sad, alone, brave
Week 2: Story – The Boy and the Ditch (Hadith)
- Group retelling + action gestures
- Message: Iman over fear
Week 3: The Camel and the Mercy of the Prophet ﷺ
- Students act out: crying camel + kind Prophet ﷺ
- Focus: body language + tone of mercy
Week 4: Personal Story – "My Best Friend in Class"
- Teach structure: start – what happened – what I learned
- Story circle with du’a at end
Action Verbs + Islamic Context
- Wake up, Brush, Walk, Pray, Help, Smile
- Match with: “The Prophet ﷺ used to...”
- Use in daily routine sentences
Sentence Builders
- Past tense: "He helped a cat." / "They walked to the masjid."
- Pronouns: I, You, He, She (practice with partner swaps)
- Structure cards + oral drills
Week 1: Should Children Use Smartphones?
- Opening sentence: “In my opinion…”
- Islamic concern: “Too much screen can affect salah.”
- Practice: pair debates with timer
Week 2: Uniform vs No Uniform Debate
- Connector phrases: “On the other hand…”, “However…”
- Modesty in Islam: dress with respect
- 3-group roleplay (pro, against, judge)
Week 3: Dialogue – Respecting Parents
- Expressions: “Can I help you?” “Yes, please”
- Du’a: “Rabbir hamhuma kama rabbayani…”
- Roleplay: polite responses in daily life
Week 4: Group Panel – My Duties as a Muslim
- Each speaks for 60 seconds
- Topics: cleanliness, respect, honesty
- Feedback on fluency and confidence
Week 1: Truthfulness
- Hadith: “Be truthful, even if…”
- Story-based: The Boy Who Cried Wolf + Islamic reflection
- Write personal promise: “I will always speak the truth…”
Week 2: Respect for Teachers
- Islamic teaching: standing for knowledge
- Roleplay: greeting, asking questions respectfully
- Write thank you cards to teachers
Week 3: Responsibility at Home
- Expressions: “I always…” / “I never…”
- Chore chart discussion: “I wash dishes…”
- Link with Hadith: cleanliness is half of faith
Week 4: Helping Others
- Story: Prophet ﷺ helped the old woman
- Class project: plan a help-others chart
- Du’a for others: “Allahumma aghfir lihayyina…”
Week 1: Feelings and Reactions
- Words: happy, sad, excited, afraid, proud
- Sentences: “I feel happy when I pray…”
- Drawing and sentence pairing
Week 2: Islamic Actions
- Verbs: pray, fast, give, visit, share
- Game: Act out the action, others guess
- Qur’anic link: translate + pronounce
Week 3: People Around Me
- Words: neighbor, cousin, imam, friend, elder
- Usage: “My neighbor helps us...”
- Story matching game
Week 4: Tools and Daily Life
- Items: toothbrush, prayer mat, backpack, lunchbox
- Speaking task: describe what you use daily
- Interactive quiz (oral)
Week 1: Polite Modals
- “Can I...?”, “May I...?”, “Shall we...?”
- Use in Islamic settings: “Can I go to wudhu?”
- Practice with classmate checklist
Week 2: Past Tense Actions
- “I visited…”, “We prayed…”, “She learned…”
- Flashcard sequencing of actions
- Write: “Yesterday I…” journal
Week 3: Why-Because Sentences
- “I help because Allah loves helpers.”
- Pair interview task
- Poster creation: 3 ‘why’ sentences
Week 4: Plurals and Countable/Uncountable
- Examples: apples / milk / salah / du’as
- Sorting activity: “one or many?”
- Oral quiz: “How many…?” “How much…?”
Week 1: Formal Introduction
- Practice structured self-introduction: Name, school, Islamic interest
- Present using full sentences and correct posture
- End with: "I thank Allah for giving me the ability to speak."
Week 2: Islamic Role Models
- Speech on: "Who is my role model in Islam and why?"
- Include 3 traits with examples from Seerah
- Peer evaluation + pronunciation tips
Week 3: Inspiring Others
- Persuasive talk: “Why Salah should be your priority”
- Use of pause, rhetorical questions, and emotional tone
- Record and playback with feedback
Week 4: Speech Competition
- Topic: “My dream for the Ummah”
- Judging on fluency, adab, Islamic relevance
- Certificates and prizes
Week 1: Story of Prophet Musa (as)
- Read and act out key moments of courage
- Retell in own words using props
Week 2: Hadith on Kindness
- Memorize: “Whoever is not merciful will not be shown mercy”
- Use it in examples from school life
Week 3: My Islamic Responsibility
- Discussion: Respect for parents, using Hadiths
- Express opinion clearly using sentence starters
Week 4: Debate Activity
- Motion: "Technology is a gift from Allah – Use it wisely"
- Split groups for for/against argument
Weekly Vocabulary Themes
- Week 1: Adjectives – truthful, generous, respectful
- Week 2: Debate Words – agree, disagree, opinion, prove
- Week 3: Faith Words – belief, prayer, Ummah, Sunnah
- Week 4: Connectors – however, therefore, because, although
Activities
- Flashcard battles with Islamic context
- Peer vocabulary challenge quiz
- Use in journal entries and public speeches
Weekly Grammar Focus
- Week 1: Sentence types – declarative, interrogative, imperative
- Week 2: Pronouns (I, we, they) & subject-verb agreement
- Week 3: Modal verbs – should, must, can, may
- Week 4: Writing 3-paragraph speech with transitions
Practice Tasks
- Identify and correct errors in short passages
- Create your own examples using new grammar each week
- Link grammar with Islamic content: e.g., “We must pray five times a day.”
Week 1: Motivational Speech
- Write & perform: “What I can contribute to the Ummah”
- Use transitions like “First of all…”, “In conclusion…”
- Feedback session with peer rubrics
Week 2: Persuasive Debate
- Topic: “Every Muslim should protect the environment”
- Formal language, rebuttals, team-based prep
- Assign roles: speaker, timer, questioner
Week 3: Presentation Challenge
- Create a slideshow: “What Islam teaches about Justice”
- Use voice modulation, visual support
- Presentation scored by teacher rubric
Week 4: Live Interview Roleplay
- Pair work: Act as news anchor & guest (Islamic topic)
- Use question tags, opinion starters, and closing lines
- Practice expressions: “In my humble opinion...”, “That’s an excellent point...”
Week 1: Youth of the Qur’an
- Discussion on Yusuf (as): purity, patience, leadership
- Group sketch or mind map presentation
Week 2: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s Leadership
- Story-based reflection & rephrasing exercise
- Write 5 qualities of a leader with proof from Seerah
Week 3: Modern Muslim Hero
- Research a Muslim reformer or scholar (e.g. Ibn Khaldun, Fatima al-Fihri)
- Make a speech: “Why I admire them”
Week 4: Guided Khutbah Practice
- Prepare mini Khutbah: Kindness, Tawakkul, Amanah
- Practice with appropriate gestures and voice clarity
Weekly Word Groups
- Week 1: Motivation Verbs – inspire, uplift, influence, achieve
- Week 2: Debate Phrases – on the other hand, my view is, it's evident that
- Week 3: Islamic Values – modesty, honesty, wisdom, justice
- Week 4: Formal Speaking – furthermore, respectfully, undoubtedly, hence
Vocabulary Practice Ideas
- Synonym match game
- Mini speech using 5 words from the week
- “Islamic Journal Entry” using at least 10 vocab words
Weekly Grammar Goals
- Week 1: Complex Sentences – use of "although", "even though", "since"
- Week 2: Reported Speech – e.g., He said that prayer is important.
- Week 3: Passive Voice – e.g., “The Masjid was built by the community.”
- Week 4: Argumentative Writing – thesis, support, conclusion connectors
Activities
- Convert dialogues into reported speech
- Use grammar structures in Islamic topics
- Peer review: grammar correction challenge
Week 1: Formal Public Address
- Deliver a speech: “The Power of Du’a in My Life”
- Emphasis on voice projection, eye contact, pacing
- Incorporate Hadiths and reflective conclusion
Week 2: Panel Discussion
- Topics: Islamic solutions to modern problems (e.g. media, materialism)
- Students assigned as panelists and moderators
- Use structured turn-taking and expressions of agreement/disagreement
Week 3: TED-style Talk
- Topic: “Lessons I’ve learned from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ”
- Slides + storytelling + rhetorical devices
- Q&A round with peer reflection
Week 4: Leadership Address
- Present vision for Islamic youth or Muslim future in media
- Build speech using introduction–body–call to action
- Feedback from teachers + certificate of excellence
Week 1: The Ummah as One Body
- Study Hadith: “The believers are like one body…”
- Group activity: Design campaign for unity in class
Week 2: Trust in Allah (Tawakkul)
- Real-life examples: exams, family pressure, goals
- Write reflective journal: “How I rely on Allah in challenges”
Week 3: Islam and Justice
- Role-play: Judge, witnesses, and truth-seekers (based on Islamic case)
- Discuss Quranic ayat on fairness and equality
Week 4: Global Muslim Awareness
- Research a Muslim country’s challenges and achievements
- Present with solutions and duas for unity
Advanced Word Sets
- Week 1: Expressive Verbs – reflect, pursue, empower, establish
- Week 2: Debate Transitions – although, nonetheless, whereas, conversely
- Week 3: Islamic Identity – piety, brotherhood, humility, sincerity
- Week 4: Academic Verbs – analyze, demonstrate, support, synthesize
Tasks
- Create a Word Wall with meaning + usage
- Use 10 words to draft a reflective paragraph on “My Role as a Muslim”
Grammar Focus
- Week 1: Compound-Complex Sentences
- Week 2: Advanced Modals – might have, should’ve, must’ve
- Week 3: Passive Voice vs Active (with Seerah examples)
- Week 4: Formal Academic Writing – thesis statement, transitions
Practice Exercises
- Rewrite Qur'anic stories using active/passive mix
- Grammar maze: Fix the Hadith errors
- Build a formal essay: “My Journey with the Quran”