Arabic
ARABIC 111-1/2/3 Arabic I
ARABIC 114 Conversation and Culture in the Arab World
ARABIC 121-1/2/3 Arabic II
ARABIC 125 Media Arabic
ARABIC 211-1/2/3 Arabic III
ARABIC 311-1/2/3 Arabic IV
ARABIC 316-1/2/3 Arabic V
Course Description: The three-quarter first-year course facilitates students' learning of the alphabet and sound system, and helps them develop basic speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. It also introduces students to the diglossic sociolinguistic environment of the Arab World, and provides exposure to basic, high frequency regional spoken variety elements. This course is designed for true beginners with no previous background in the language. Students with any background must take a placement test and consult with the Coordinator before enrolling.
Prerequisites: None.
Teaching Method: Class is devoted to learning the script and sounds of Modern Standard Arabic and basic communication and reading skills. Students are required to use audio materials in the Multi-Media Language Center (MMLC). Audio tapes can be checked out for use at home. (The first book in the course textbook series also comes with audio CDs). Students should be prepared to devote additional time to daily homework.
Evaluation Method: Final grades for the course will be based on: homework, quizzes, mid-term exam, and final exam.
Readings: 1) Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas al-Tonsi, "Alif Baa" with Multimedia: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds. 3rd edition. [ISBN: 9781589016323 (1589016327)] 2) Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas al-Tonsi, Al-Kitaab fii Ta‘allum al-‘Arabiyya with DVDs: Part One. 3rd edition. [ISBN: 9781589017368 (1589017366)] 3) Companion websites —students will be able to purchase access after the course starts and they have their books. Both are published by Georgetown University Press. Year of print/publication may vary, but please verify that you are purchasing the 3rd edition.
ARABIC 114-0 Conversation and Culture in the Arab World
Course Description: Introduction to spoken colloquial Arabic of a country or region - for example, Egyptian, Levantine, or Moroccan. Emphasis on spoken language and conversation. May be repeated for credit with different dialect.
Prerequisites: Arabic 111-2 or equivalent.
Course Description: The three-quarter second-year course is a continuation of Arabic I, and moves students forward in all modes of language use, including additional exposure to representative regional spoken varieties, work on more sophisticated written expression and reading abilities for higher level/more abstract types of texts.
Prerequisites: ARABIC 111-3, or equivalent determined through a placement exam.
Teaching Method: Class time is devoted to conversation, reading, translation and structure exercise. Regular homework will play an important role in the students' development, so care should be taken that adequate time be allocated between class meetings for the completion of assignments
Evaluation Method: Final grades for the course will be based on: homework, quizzes, mid-term exam, and final exam.
Readings: 1) Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas al-Tonsi, Al-Kitaab fii Ta‘allum al-‘Arabiyya with DVDs: Part One. 3rd edition. [ISBN: 9781589017368 (1589017366)] 2) Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas al-Tonsi, Al-Kitaab fii Ta‘allum al-‘Arabiyya with DVDs: Part 2 3rd ed. [ISBN 978-1-58901-747-4] 3) Companion websites —students will be able to purchase access after the course starts and they have their books. 4) Arabic-English Dictionary: The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic by Hans Wehr, J. M. Cowan (Editor) 4th Edition (January 1993) ISBN: 0879500034
Course Description: Introduction to vocabulary, expressions, and terminology used in Arab print and broadcast media. Supplements study in modern standard Arabic. May be repeated for credit with change of topic.
Prerequisites: Arabic 121-2 or equivalent
Course Description: This is a high intermediate level course in Modern Standard Arabic. Our goal is to enhance the student's ability to read, understand and discuss Arabic writings utilizing a variety of newspaper, magazine and journal articles, documents, short stories and other materials of interest to the students and relevant to their field of study. In addition to focusing on developing reading and writing skills, a special emphasis is placed on listening and speaking.
Prerequesites: Arabic 121-3 (with a grade of C- or above) or permission of instruction
Teaching Method: Lectures, presentations and discussions. The class will meet twice a week to discuss assigned and new materials. Students will work outside of class independently and in groups, so that class time can be used efficiently. Instruction is entirely in Arabic. Students will be introduced to the sociolinguistic reality of speaking an Arab mesolect in the Arab world. Arabs have developed a mesolect that combines and refines the dialect and FuSHa in a way that made this mesolect a new medium of communication at least through satellite channels. During in-class discussions and out of class practice, feel free to shift to any dialect you feel comfortable with.
Evaluation Method: Grades will be based on class participation, compositions, quizzes & exams, individual progress in comprehending textual material and acquired degree of fluency in the language.
Readings: 1) Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas al-Tonsi, Al-Kitaab fii Ta‘allum al-‘Arabiyya with DVDs: Part Two. 3rd edition. [ISBN: 9781589019669] 2) Companion website for 1.) —students will be able to purchase access after the course starts and they have their books. Both the book and the website are published by Georgetown University Press. Year of print/publication may vary, but please verify that you are purchasing the 3rd edition. 3) Hans Wehr, A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic. Other resources covering media news or short stories will be provided by the instructor prior to class.
ARABIC 311-1/2/3 Arabic IV
Course Description: During this class, we will be working on developing students' reading and comprehension abilities, as well as on improving their speaking and writing abilities. Students will be trained to use the grammatical concepts discussed through the drills in their writing assignments. Although Al-Kitab III is the benchmark/ principal textbook of the course, we will examine different genres from sources other than Al-kitaab.
Prerequesites: Arabic 211-3 with a C- and/or instructor's approval.
Teaching Method: Lectures, presentations and discussions Language of instruction and conversation in class is entirely in Arabic. In the event that student does not understand, he/she should try to ask clarifying questions in Arabic. Personalized goals for improving writing and speaking skills of each student will be developed on individual basis based on each student's level of mastery of writing and speaking strengths and weaknesses. The course will also use examples from Arab media and both basic and advanced topics on "Arabic in everyday life."
Evaluation Method: Midterm in class exam, Take home exams, term papers, writing assignments based on weekly readings and class participation.
Readings: Main Text Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas al-Tonsi, Al-Kitaab fii Ta‘allum al-‘Arabiyya with DVDs: Part Three. [ISBN 1-58901-149-X] Supplementary Text ( optional ) Tales from Kalila Wa Dimna: For Students of Arabic [Paperback] by Munther A. Younes. Other resources covering media news and short stories and other literary genre will be provided by the instructor prior to class. Advanced grammar topics and exercises will be introduced through resources other than al-Kitaab.
ARABIC 316-1/2/3 Arabic V
Course Description: The course offers a valuable chance to students who want to explore Arab literary traditions in depth. It also provides foundational skills for students who want to pursue graduate careers in Arabic literature or Middle Eastern Studies. This course will survey the Arabic literary tradition with an emphasis on poetry. Our readings will also include drama, religious and Sufi poems, grammar and linguistics and philosophy.
Prerequisites: Completion of Arabic 311 sequence and/or permission from instructor.
Teaching Method: Lectures, presentations and discussions.
Evaluation Method: Take home exams, term papers, writing assignments based on weekly readings and class participation.
Class Materials: Bassam K. Farangieh: Anthology of Arabic Literature, Culture, and Thought from Islamic Times to the Present. 2005 and selected literary works provided by the instructor.
For more information, contact the MENA Language Program Director, Professor Franziska Lys: flys@northwestern.edu
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