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WALD 2026 Pre-Celebration Activities
The Arabic Speaking Union (ASU), under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Culture, is pleased to announce the organisation of the World Arabic Language Day (WALD) 2026 Pre-Celebration Activities for primary schools.
Schools are invited to participate in the various competitions designed for different age groups, as outlined in the attached guidelines.
All relevant information, including detailed guidelines and participation procedures, is available on the ASU website.
The ASU looks forward to the active participation of all schools in making WALD 2026 a success.
How to register?
Interested schools are required to register online by completing the official participation form using the link below:
Deadline for registration: 1 May 2026
All schools are kindly requested to bring this announcement to the attention of relevant staff and encourage participation.
Target Audience (Secondary Level) :
• Category 1 (Ages 12–14)
• Category 2 (Ages 15–17)
• Category 3 (Ages 16–19)
For further enquiries: Secretary – Arabic Speaking Union (ASU) – ASU: 5784 0793
Arabic Reading Challenge – “Pick & Respond”
Objective:
To develop students’ reading comprehension, confidence, and spontaneous expression in Arabic through an interactive and structured response to a short story.
Description:
Participants will read one short Arabic story provided in advance.
On the day of the competition, each participant will:
- Come on stage individually
- Pick a random task card
- Respond in Arabic based on the task
Responses should be clear, simple, and spontaneous, and should not exceed 30–40 seconds.
Preparation (Before the Competition):
- A common story (approximately 300 words) will be provided to all schools
- Teachers should guide students to:
o Understand the main ideas and sequence of events
o Identify key vocabulary
o Practise answering simple questions orally - Students should:
o Not memorise full answers
o Not retell the whole story
Participants will be provided with the official story in advance for preparation.
To support preparation, sample task formats will be shared with schools. These examples are intended to guide teachers and students on the expected type of response.
However, the actual task cards used during the competition will not be disclosed in advance.
This is to ensure:
- Fairness among all participants
- Spontaneous and authentic responses
- Assessment based on genuine understanding of the story
Students are therefore encouraged to:
- Understand the story fully
- Be able to speak about characters, events, and ideas
- Express simple opinions in Arabic
Teacher Preparation Guide Category 1: Arabic Reading Challenge – “Pick & Respond”
Purpose of the Activity
This activity aims to develop students’ ability to:
- Understand a short Arabic text
- Speak confidently using simple Arabic
- Respond spontaneously to a given task
What Students Will Do
On the day of the competition, each student will:
- Pick a random task card
- Speak briefly (30–40 seconds) based on the prompt
What Students Will Do
On the day of the competition, each student will:
- Pick a random task card
- Speak briefly (30–40 seconds) based on the prompt
How Teachers Should Prepare Students
Teachers are advised to:
1. Focus on Understanding
- Ensure students understand:
o Main characters
o Key events
o Sequence of the story
o Main message
2. Practise Simple Speaking
Encourage students to:
- Speak in short sentences
- Use basic vocabulary
- Answer clearly and confidently
3. Train Students to Talk About:
- Characters (من؟ كيف؟)
- Events (ماذا حدث؟)
- Feelings (كيف كان؟)
- Simple opinions (أعجبني… / لا أعجبني…)
4. Use Practice Prompts (Examples)
Teachers may practise using similar prompts such as:
- تحدث عن سامي وأصدقائه
- ماذا حدث في الحديقة؟
- ماذا أعجبك في القصة؟
- ماذا تفعل لو كنت مكان سامي؟
Arabic Video Creation – TikTok / Reel
Submission Deadline: 1 June 2026
Objective:
To promote students’ ability to express ideas creatively in Arabic using modern digital platforms, while developing confidence, communication skills, and originality.
Description:
Participants will create a short video (TikTok or Reel) in Arabic based on a given theme.
The video should:
- Be creative, engaging, and meaningful
- Use simple and clear Arabic
- Communicate a clear message
- Use your own voice
Themes (Suggested):
Students may choose one of the following themes:
- الحياة المدرسية (School Life)
- الصداقة (Friendship)
- الثقافة العربية (Arab Culture)
- التحفيز (Motivation)
- التكنولوجيا في حياتنا (Technology in Our Lives)
Video Requirements:
- Duration: 3 minutes maximum
- Language: Arabic only
- Format: Vertical (TikTok/Reel format)
- Can be:
• Individual OR
• Group (maximum 3 students)
Participation:
- Each school may submit up to 3 videos
Guidance for Teachers:
Teachers are advised to:
- Encourage originality and creativity
- Ensure content is:
• Respectful
• Age-appropriate
Guide students to:
- Speak clearly
- Use simple Arabic
- Avoid over-editing or overly complex production
Important Notes:
- The video must be entirely in Arabic
- Background music and captions are allowed (optional)
- Content must be appropriate for an educational setting
- Selected videos may be showcased during the official WALD Celebration
Arabic Debate Competition
Objective:
To develop students’ ability to express opinions, argue ideas, and communicate effectively in Arabic on relevant topics.
Description:
Participants will take part in a structured debate in Arabic on a given topic.
Students will:
- Present arguments
- Respond to opposing views
- Express ideas clearly and confidently
Format:
- Debate will be conducted in pairs or team
- Each team will:
• Speak for a short duration
• Respond to the opposing team
Suggested timing:
- 1–2 minutes per speaker
Suggested Topics:
- التكنولوجيا مفيدة أم مضرة؟
- التعلم عبر الإنترنت أفضل من التعلم في المدرسة
- وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي مفيدة للشباب
Participation:
- Each school may nominate up to 2 teams
- Each team: 2 students
On the Day:
- Debate order will be announced beforehand
- Notes may be used, but reading is discouraged
Guidance for Teachers:
Teachers are advised to:
- Help students:
- Understand the topic
- Build simple arguments
• Practise: - Speaking clearly
- Responding to others
• Encourage: - Confidence
- Logical thinking
• Avoid memorised speeches
Important Notes:
- Debate must be conducted in Arabic only
- Respectful communication must be maintained