Language and Culture (216-0-1)
Instructors
Ragy H Ibrahim Mikhaeel
8474670927
Crowe Hall 4-117
Meeting Info
University Library 5722: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
The topic of this course is Cairo and Its Seven Layers of Civilization. In this course students will learn about the history and intricacies of the Arab culture through the specific example of Cairo. With a population of over 20 million, Cairo is the largest city in the Arab world. Founded in 969 AD, Cairo has a particularly rich history represented in its mosques, churches and monuments, as well as in its people and their daily life. The course material is based on interesting content that allows students to explore and compare in the foreign language broader cultural, social, and political issues. Moving away from a traditional textbook based model to a content-based course, it incorporates authentic texts and literary sources as well as external voices into classes through Video, Skype or Zoom. The authentic texts and literary sources are accompanied by creative language learning exercises designed to help students to function across different registers and genres. The course integrates the sociolinguistic reality of Arabic diglossia by engaging students into educational material representing both written Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic-MSA) and spoken Egyptian Arabic.
Registration Requirements
Prerequisite: Arabic 121-3, or permission of the instructor.
Learning Objectives
In the course students will work on the following linguistic and cultural objectives:
1. identify linking words and connectors and integrate the grammar knowledge you have acquired throughout your journey learning Arabic into developing a higher level of reading comprehensibility;
2 use 400-500 new words both from written or spoken sources and to practice these words through interactive exercises presented on Canvas;
3. developed strategies to help you locate the main ideas, read comprehensively, to understand and assess a variety of input sources: original texts from Wikipedia, tables and maps, graphs, and pictures, literary sources; news broadcasts about events and people in Cairo (important because they provide an authentic source of Egyptian dialect);
4. to comprehend written and spoken sources both in FuSha/MSA and in the Egyptian dialect which is the most widespread dialect in the Arab world called by some scholars as the lingua franca of the Arab world. Students will recognize the difference between the two language varieties and their purposes where MSA is used mainly for writing and formal (e.g. presidential decrees) and religious settings (sermons) while the Egyptian dialect is everyday language of communication.
5. to summarize and present key details of historical and current news events in your own words (written and oral) including voicing critical remarks.
Teaching Method
This is an interactive, reading and discussion-based class which requires daily guided work as well as independent research. The course material is presented online in a multisensory way through texts, pictures, graphics, audio and video sequences. Its interactive mode makes use of current instructional technologies and tools to supports student learning. The course is divided into five units (each about two weeks long) with different topics. Each unit has a set of core readings and listening activities; many with self-check and feedback opportunities, vocabulary development opportunities, and final writing assignments. Students will also work collaboratively on a StoryMapJS project, mapping out interesting buildings and noteworthy places in Cairo.
Evaluation Method
The final assessment of this course is based on a variety of inputs that include zoom attendance and participation, completion of homework, various assignments aligned with the learning goals, four short quizzes and one oral project presentation.
Class Materials (Required)
The course material is available through online PDFs. Interactive exercises and assignments are hosted on the course site on Canvas. Additional background reading in English.
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisite: ARABIC 121-3 or instructor permission