The best-selling "Alif Baa" is the first volume of the Al-Kitaab Arabic language program and is now available in a new third edition. In this new version of the introduction to Arabic letters and sounds, English-speaking students will find an innovative integration of colloquial and formal (spoken and written) Arabic. Together, the book and new companion website provide learners with all the material necessary to learn the sounds of Arabic, write its letters, and begin speaking Arabic, including interactive, self-correcting exercises to enhance learning. The companion website also gives instructors additional online grading options. Four-color design throughout the book features over 100 illustrations and photographs. It gives learners and instructors color-coded options for the variety of language they wish to activate in speaking: Egyptian, Levantine, or formal Arabic (MSA). It introduces over 200 basic vocabulary words in all three forms of spoken and written Arabic side by side, including expressions for polite social interaction, and activates them in interactive homework exercises and classroom groupwork.It includes video dialogues in Egyptian and Levantine, filmed in Cairo and Damascus. It also includes video footage of an Arabic calligrapher, capsules on Arabic culture, and images of street signs from Morocco, Egypt, and Lebanon. It includes new English-Arabic and Arabic-English glossaries, searchable in the companion website. The textbook includes a convenient DVD with the basic audio and video materials (no interactive exercises) for offline study that will play in iTunes and compatible MP3 players. New companion website (sold separately) - alkitaabtextbook.com - features a fully integrated set of interactive exercises with all the video and audio materials and additional online course management and grading options for teachers "Alif Baa" provides the essential first 20-25 contact (classroom) hours of the Al-Kitaab program, accompanied by 40-50 homework hours. Students who complete "Alif Baa" should reach a novice-intermediate to novice-high level of proficiency.Companion Website Minimum System Requirements: WindowsOS: Microsoft Windows 98, NT, 2000, ME, XP, Vista, 7CPU: 233MHz Pentium Based; RAM: 128MB; Display: 1024x768, color display; and, Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher, or Firefox version 3.0 or higher. Connection Speed: A high-speed connection with throughput of 256 Kbps or more is recommended to use audio and video components; Equipment: You will need speakers or a headset to listen to audio and video components; Plug-Ins: You must have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player; MacintoshOS: Mac OSXCPU: 233MHz Power Macintosh; RAM: 128MB; Display: 1024x768, color display; Browser: Firefox version 3.0 or higher, or Sarari 3.0 or higher; Connected Speed: A high-speed connection with throughput of 256 Kbps or more is recommended to use audio and video components; Equipment: You will need speakers or a headset to listen to audio and video components; and, Plug-Ins: You must have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.