ARABIC PROGRAM COURSES

Beginning Arabic I (ARAB 001):This course, the first in the first-year sequence, is designed to introduce students to Arabic at the elementary level following the communicative approach. In this course, the Arabic sounds and letters are introduced along with basic communication skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Arabic in a culturally appropriate context. No prerequisites.

Beginning Arabic II (ARAB 002): This course is the second in the first-year sequence. It is designed to continue the building of language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) at the beginners’ level. Prerequisite: ARAB 001 or equivalent.

Intermediate Arabic I (ARAB 003): This course is the first in the second-year sequence Students in this course are expected to listen and comprehend short dialogues, read and understand short texts, speak about topics of personal interest, and write short paragraphs in Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 002 or equivalent.

Intermediate Arabic II (ARAB 004): This course follows Intermediate Arabic I and is designed to enable students to function completely at the intermediate level of Arabic. Students in this course listen to authentic dialogs, news items and complete proficiency-based tasks. Students are able to read and understand texts containing factual information, and write short essays. Additionally, cultural understanding is developed through the culturally-rich materials used in this course. Prerequisite: ARAB 003 or equivalent.

Advanced Arabic Conversation (ARAB 103): This course is designed for developing oral proficiency in Arabic at the advanced level. Using the communicative approach in teaching conversation skills, this course emphasizes learning through speaking in Arabic only. While speaking skills is targeted primarily, reading, listening, and writing serve as supporting skills for oral practice. Prerequisite: ARAB 004 or equivalent.

Advanced Readings in Arabic (ARAB 104): This course exposes students to unedited authentic textual materials ranging from short stories to literary essays, plays, poems, formal speeches, and panel discussions. This course is thus designed to enable students to function at the Advanced Level of proficiency in Arabic. This course is a prerequisite for ARAB 120. Prerequisite: ARAB 103 or equivalent.

Media Arabic (ARAB 106): This course introduces the Arabic language through mass communication media sources. This course is project based and includes materials from Arabic newspapers, magazines, television and radio broadcasts, film, and and the World Wide Web.

Genres in Modern Arabic Literature (ARAB 120): This course introduces students to the Arabic short story and its historical development throughout the twentieth century. It therefore traces the stages of its development through representative collections of short stories from prominent Arab writers. Prerequisite: ARAB 104 or ARAB 106.

Arabic Narratives Through the Ages (ARAB 121): This course introduces students to Arabic literature through the art of story telling narratives. Selections from the Arabian Nights are read, analyzed, and critiqued. Prerequisite: ARAB 120 or equivalent.

Arabic & Arab Identity (CLAS 102): This course is taught in English and it explores the history of the Arabic language and its role in forming the Arab identity.

Arab Film & Culture (CLAS 103): This course is taught in English. It is as much a study of the Arab cinema as an institution whose product is film, as it is a study of the Arab culture represented in the film itself. In covering such massive ground, this course studies the Arab cinema from a chronological perspective and analyzes film genres along with cinematic themes.