Ahlan Sim Sim

Review by: Grace Landsberg

The short
Sesame Street in Arabic! Elmo and Cookie Monster included, and some new friends too.

The long
Ahlan Sim Sim is the result of a joint project between Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee. The show is targeted for children ages 3-8, particularly those who are affected by displacement. The first half of the show will feature a situation where the main characters experience a situation that creates a strong emotion, and then they must figure out how to handle the feeling. The second half includes a variety show where children from different countries across the MENA region star in the show to play games and sing songs with the actors and characters. Ahlan Sim Sim is produced in a spoken MSA dialect. 

To watch or not to watch?
Ahlam Sim Sim is an excellent show for Arabic language learners looking to accelerate their listening comprehension. The show offers a fun way to learn words individually, with their meanings illustrated to re-enforce the association. Most importantly, Ahlan Sim Sim gives viewers words to express themselves to react properly and communicate in Arabic. Highly recommended for Arabic language learners seeking to become more conversational and improve their listening ear.