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Arabic I (111-2-22)

Instructors

Keegan Chase Terek

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-331: Mon, Wed, Fri 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

First-Year Arabic, Arabic 111, is a three-quarter sequence providing a thorough grounding for listening, speaking, reading, and writing Arabic. The course follows the integrated approach which blends the standard Arabic, Fuṣḥā, and the dialect or colloquial language, āmmiyya, in a way that reflects the authentic practice of native Arabic speakers. To develop reading and writing skills we will be using Modern Standard Written Arabic called Fuṣḥā; to develop speaking and listening skills we will be using an educated spoken version of the āmmiyya of the Levantine dialect.

Topics covered during this quarter are: holiday, shopping, checking into a hotel, getting a new passport, eating out and reading a restaurant menu, renting a room, shopping at the vegetable market.

Registration Requirements

Arabic 111-1 or equivalent; or instructor consent. Students with prior knowledge of Arabic (learned either through school or at home) will need to take the Arabic placement exam before being allowed to register.

Learning Objectives

Students completing three quarters of Arabic 111 will be able to read and comprehend simple, authentic texts on familiar topics, write informal notes and short paragraphs on topics connected to daily life, and initiate and sustain short conversations on daily-life topics with educated native speakers who are accustomed to conversing with learners of Arabic as a foreign language.

Teaching Method

First-Year Arabic uses a communicative, proficiency-oriented approach with fully integrated audiovisual media to teach modern Arabic as a living language. Instructors will use an interactive approach in the classroom, including conversational practice in class, reading practice, interactive small group exercises and cultural presentations.

Evaluation Method

The final grade for the course will be based on the following: Attendance and participation, homework assignments, four quizzes given throughout the quarter, and a short oral project.

Class Materials (Required)

Arabiyyat al-Naas Part One, Second Edition: An Introductory Course in Arabic. Younes, Weatherspoon, Foster. (2023) Publisher: Routledge. Print ISBN: 9781138492868.

Class Notes

All students should plan on daily homework outside of class. The course is taught in Arabic.