Select terms from real study
Add words that appear in the current syllabus, instructions, textbooks and corrections. Record the subject and source because one English or Arabic word may change meaning by context. Prioritise command words, technical nouns, useful verbs and phrases needed to explain relationships, rather than collecting every unfamiliar word encountered.
- Write the term exactly as used in the course
- Note plural, gender or word form when it affects use
- Flag false friends and translations that only fit one context
Add meaning beyond a translation
For each term, include a short learner-friendly definition, one complete example sentence and, where useful, a diagram, formula or common collocation. Compare how the idea is expressed naturally in both languages instead of preserving English word order in Arabic or the reverse. Ask a teacher or reliable subject source when several translations are possible.
- Keep definitions short enough to retrieve
- Use the target term in an exam-style statement
- Link related terms such as cause, effect and process
Practise productive use
Cover one side and recall the other, then explain the concept without seeing either definition. Mix Arabic-to-English and English-to-Arabic prompts, but practise final answers in the language required by the exam. Revisit difficult terms through spaced quizzes and replace examples that remain confusing. The glossary should shrink uncertainty, not become another notebook that is only reread.
- Mark whether the term is recognised or can be actively used
- Write a new sentence after each correction
- Review small sets frequently rather than cramming the full list
Questions, answered.
Should the glossary use literal translations?
Only when the literal equivalent is accurate in that subject and sentence. Prefer the term a teacher, textbook or official source actually uses, and add a definition or example when one-to-one translation would hide an important difference.