AB100 - Elementary Arabic Language and Culture I
Alif Baa Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds and Al-Kitaab will provide the students with the fundamentals of the Arabic language. The language is conveyed through audio-lingual methods. There is a strong emphasis on aural comprehension and pronunciation. Upon completion of this semester length course, the student will have an understanding of basic grammar and will have gained a practical reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills of the Arabic language.
This is a college level course and is available for 11th, 12th and college students only.
Enduring Understanding
By the end of the semester the student should be able to carry on a basic conversation. Also, upon completion of this course, one will be able to read and create basic sentences using the fundamental grammatical tools that are taught at this level of Arabic.
Course Design
Attendance and participation are crucial in order to establish a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the Arabic language. Homework assignments are taken seriously since they are designed to reinforce new grammatical concepts and server in increasing one’s fluency with the language. There will be periodic unit tests which determine 60% of the final grade. Class participation and homework determine 20% of the final grade. Lastly, the final exam is 20% of the final grade.
Assessments
- Unit tests (60%)
- Class participation and homework (20%)
- Final exam (20%)
Additional Resources Needed
Required Textbooks:
Brustad, K., Al-Batal, M., & Al-Tonsi, A. (2010) Alif Baa with Multimedia, Introduction to Arabic Letters & Sounds (3rd ed.) with 1 DVD and 18 months access to alkitaabtextbook.com ISBN: 978-1-5890-1632-3
Publisher site
- Al-Kitaab fii Ta’allum al-‘Arabiyya with DVDs, A Textbook for Beginning Arabic (2010) Part One, 3rd Edition Authors: Brustad, Al-Batal, Al-Tonsi
ISBN-10: 1589016327
ISBN-13: 9781589016323
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Required Technology:
- Computer that meets the minimum system requirements listed on the Live Classroom page
- Internet connection (Broadband preferred)
- Headset with microphone combination
- E-mail account (recommended)
- Printer
- Scanner or access to a fax machine (Your school should have this available for you
- DVD Player (in PC or consumer player)
- Web camera for computer optional + recommended
- Writing tablet (recommended)- Bamboo [Small] Pen tablet with pen only - $70 - from Amazon.com
Content Topics
Unit 1
Introduction to the Arabic Language and its role in global civilization
Unit 2
Arabic Alphabet, basic sounds, and meeting and greeting people. Arabic dialects
Unit 3
Continue the Arabic Alphabet and begin feminine forms and its sound
Unit 4
Learn four consonants, two seats of the hamza, and adjectives
Unit 5
Continue the alphabet and long vowels, vocabulary on Food, continue adjectives and begin nouns
Unit 6
Learn the Moon letters and Sun letters, begin Arabic numerals and numbers
Unit 7
Intro to Al-Kitaab part 1. Arabic names, gender, and the definite article
Unit 8
Masculine, feminine, definite and indefinite forms. The Nisba adjective
Unit 9
Interrogative phrases and equational sentence
Unit 10
Possessive expressions and possessive pronouns
Unit 11
Present tense and verbal sentences, negation, more about questions
Unit 12
Adverbs, noun-adjective phrases
Key Skills
Listening
- Listen to recordings of each lesson after studying the vocabulary list;
- Do listening comprehension based on more mini-dialogues or solo narrations.
Speaking
- Ask concrete, personal questions related to our daily lives. By stringing together short questions and answers, students will be able to construct their own mini-dialogues, practice in pairs or take turns asking or answering the questions;
- Express own opinions on a number of topics in paragraph-length discourse
Reading comprehension
- Read sentences the instructor provides; answer questions.
- Read the short passage which is related to the lesson learned.
- Read slightly modified authentic materials, such as a personal ad or movie listings.
Writing and Grammar
- Clearly understand the important grammar points
- Answer questions or complete sentences using specific grammatical forms.
- Translate sentences or paragraphs given by the instructor.
- Write simple compositions on daily topics after expressing orally.
- Vocabulary quizzes.
- Write statements based on information given in class by the instructor or induced by audio and audio visual materials.
- Demonstrate correct character writing on Character workbook.
- Write or read basic dialogues emphasizing cultural aspects of the Mandarin-Chinese-speaking-world.
- Present one project related to Chinese culture.