The stories in Mido: In Levantine Arabic are lighthearted and easy to follow, but also engaging, all the while presenting the lively language and culture of the Lebanese today. However, these stories are aimed at adult language-learners—and not children—as secrets and lies and crime make appearances.
The first chapter serves as an introduction to Mido and his family, as we take a peek at the household’s typical morning. Mido’s father, mother, brother, and sister each feature in a chapter showing a day in their lives. And Mido, our hero, stars in the remaining chapters.
The Arabic texts appear on even-numbered pages, while the English translations can be found on the following odd-numbered pages along with cultural and language notes.
Dozens of beautiful illustrations can be found throughout the book to help the reader better understand the texts. Audio professionally recorded by a voice actor in Beirut is available to stream or download free of charge.
Sarah –
This is a really great resource – listening to the audio a few times first helps with comprehension and you can then read the text to understand the bits you missed. The explanatory notes are concise and well-chosen.