I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 3/19/14)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change or
renew existing gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
II. Mathematics
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
X III. Language
VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * IX: American & European
if requesting
IV: Expressive Arts
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
group
* Require a Symbolic Systems Request Form.
designation)
Dept/Program MCLL/Arabic Section
Course #
ARAB 101
Course Title
Prerequisite
Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I
None
Credits
5
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Samir Bitar
02/20/2015
243-4385/samir.bitar@umontana.edu
Liz Ametsbichler & Jannine
Montauban
Dean
Chris Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew X
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of the general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble.
Instructor
Phone / Email
Program Chair
This is an introductory and foundational Arabic course for students with little or no knowledge
of Arabic language and cultures. With emphasis on communicative competence, this course
provides a comprehensive practice in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. In
an incremental sequence students will learn Arabic vocabulary and grammar. Each chapter in
the textbook builds upon the preceding one. In addition to the textbook students will be
exposed to a variety of learning materials to introduce them to the language and culture of the
Arabic speaking world.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group.
Elementary Arabic encompasses the
comprehensive study of the language to
achieve basic competency in its written,
spoken and aural forms.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals.
1. Listening
In listening, students are expected by the end
of the semester to recognize basic sounds and
phonological features of Modern Standard
Arabic. They are expected to comprehend
aural information, whether on tape or in face to
face conversations, pertaining to personal
information and immediate needs? Students
are NOT expected at this level to understand or
be understood by native speakers unless
communication is on a very basic level and on
the topics that have been specified above.
Please refer to the ACTFL guidelines.
2. Speaking
In Speaking, students are expected by the end
of fall semester to have active control over
basic sounds of Modern Standard Arabic.
Students are expected to be able to
communicate orally (with teacher and amongst
themselves) on topics related to basic personal
information of self, family, friends, and school.
Students are expected to be able to ask
questions pertaining to these topics. Please
refer to the ACTFL website for information on
what’s expected of Novice Mid and Novice High
learners, at
http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pag
eid=3325.
3. Reading
In reading, students are expected by the end of
the course to recognize all basic features of the
Arabic writing system in printed form. From the
beginning, students in this course are exposed
to simple authentic reading materials taken
from newspapers, Internet and magazines, and
the like.
4. Writing
In writing, students are expected by the end of
the semester to control all basic features of the
cursive mode of the Arabic writing system, i.e.
handwriting. Written discourse produced by the
end of the semester focuses on expressing
ideas of self, family, immediate needs, likes and
dislikes. Students are expected to compose
100-150 words on any of these topics.
Throughout the semester you will be given
short writing assignments. The length of the
writing assignments will increase gradually
until, by the end of the semester, you will be
comfortable writing 100-150 words about
yourself.
VII. Assessment: How are the learning goals above measured? Please list at least one
assignment, activity or test question for each goal.
1. Listening) The students are assessed at the beginning of every class meeting as part of roll call; this
activity serves as an assessment of retention of newly introduced vocabulary and grammatical
structures and as a warm up.
2. Speaking) In-Class Assignments: At the beginning of each class session (every class hour, and starting
in the second week), students will be asked to carry a short dialogue/conversation with a classmate.
Students will be randomly selected so each student must be ready every day.
3. Reading) Homework Assignments: There will be daily homework assignments some of which will be
collected. These assignments must be done at home and on time, they will not be corrected in class,
but students can ask in class if they have a question about a particular drill or sentence. Remember
that most exams will be based on the assigned drills, so those who do the HW will do well on the
exams.
4. Writing) Quizzes There are at least five quizzes. The first may cover the alphabet—
connecting letters. Exams. There will be one comprehensive exam at the conclusion of every
chapter, and a final exam/composition and presentation (speaking assessment as well).
VIII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will
carry at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than
one pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
ARAB 101 does not have any pre-requisites, and it carries 5 credits.
IX. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe learning outcomes related to the above criteria and learning goals.
Please see attached syllabus from Autumn 2014.
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.
Elementary Modern Standard Arabic (ARABIC
101, Sec’s 01&02)
A Language and Culture Course
Fall 2014
Lecturer: Samir I. Bitar, M.I.S.
Phone: (406) 243-4385
E-mail: samir.bitar@umontana.edu
Class Time: (Sec. 1) M/T/W/R/F 12:10 to 1:00
(Sec. 2) M/T/W/R/F 3:10 to 4:00
Classroom: LA 338
Office: Stone Hall # 302
Office Hours: T/R/F 9:00-11:00, 2:00-3:00, and by appointment
Textbook:
1)
2)
Mahdi Alosh, Ahlan wa Sahlan, Letters and Sounds of the
Arabic Language, 2nd edition (Required)
Mahdi Alosh, Ahlan wa Sahlan, Functional Modern Standard
Arabic for Beginners, 2nd edition (Required)
Grading:
Grading will be computed on the following basis. Final grades will
be the accumulative points from:
Participation: 10%
Conversation: 15%
Homework assignments: 20%
Quizzes: 15%
Exams: 30%
Poetry: 10%
Course Description and Goals:
Ahlan wa Sahlan! Welcome to Arabic!
Elementary Modern Standard Arabic brings you the opportunity to
learn Arabic via a communicative approach, where the emphasis is
placed on the functional use of the Arabic Language. We will use
modern media in an innovative language learning method that
should be both exciting and motivating. So prepare for active
participation in class.
The class will meet five times a week to work on building your
communicative skills and knowledge of Arab culture. Language is
naturally and primarily acquired through hearing and listening to
strings of sounds. When it comes to learning and teaching a
second language it is strongly advisable to imitate the acquisition
process of first, language as well as to learn how to read texts;
hence the materials of this course will expose you to a large
quantity of aural and written texts. This exposition to real-life
Arabic can be the most challenging and rewarding exercise you
undertake.
In one academic year (or its equivalent), students will be guided to
learn the Arabic alphabet, vocabulary, syntax, grammar, and be
able to converse in the target language as an intermediate-low
speaker or better (ACTFLE standards). Additionally, students will
be exposed to some aspects of the Arabic culture, customs, and
traditions.
Objectives:
1. In Speaking, students are expected by the end of fall semester to
have active control over basic sounds of Modern Standard Arabic.
Students are expected to be able to communicate orally (with
teacher and amongst themselves) on topics related to basic
personal information of self, family, friends, and school. Students
are expected to be able to ask questions pertaining to these topics.
Please refer to the ACTFL website for information on what’s
expected of Novice Mid and Novice High learners, at
http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3325.
1) In writing, students are expected by the end of the semester to
control all basic features of the cursive mode of the Arabic
writing system, i.e. handwriting. Written discourse
produced by the end of the semester focuses on expressing
ideas of self, family, immediate needs, likes and dislikes.
Students are expected to compose 100-150 words on any of
these topics. Throughout the semester you will be given
short writing assignments. The length of the writing
assignments will increase gradually until, by the end of the
2)
3)
4)
5)
semester, you will be comfortable writing 100-150 words
about yourself.
In reading, students are expected by the end of the course to
recognize all basic features of the Arabic writing system in
printed form. From the beginning, students in this course
are exposed to simple authentic reading materials taken
from newspapers, Internet and magazines, and the like.
In listening, students are expected by the end of the semester
to recognize basic sounds and phonological features of
Modern Standard Arabic. They are expected to
comprehend
Aural information, whether on tape or in face to face
conversations, pertaining to personal information and
immediate needs? Students are NOT expected at this level
to understand or be understood by native speakers unless
communication is on a very basic level and on the topics
that have been specified above. Please refer to the ACTFL
guidelines.
Cultural Awareness. Arab culture and the Arabic language
are intertwined, linguistically, politically, spiritually, and
socially. I will introduce elements of the Arab
culture/cultures embedded in the daily instruction and via
documentaries, class discussions, readings (in English of
course), music, class presentations . . . etc. every Friday of
each week of instruction. This aspect of the course does
constitute part of your final grade.
Course readings:
In addition to materials contained in the textbooks, there will be
additional poetry texts that are designed to enhance the students’
ability to read and speak the language continuously (transition
from one word to the next). Students are expected to memorize the
assigned passages by the indicated times.
Course Requirements:
1)
Participation: Students are required to participate in all
lectures.
2)
3)
4)
5)
In-Class Assignments: At the beginning of each class session
(every class hour, and starting in the second week),
students will be asked to carry a short
dialogue/conversation with a classmate. Students will be
randomly selected so each student must be ready every day.
Homework Assignments: There will be daily homework
assignments some of which will be collected. These
assignments must be done at home and on time, they will
not be corrected in class, but students can ask in class if
they have a question about a particular drill or sentence.
Remember that most exams will be based on the assigned
drills, so those who do the HW will do well on the exams.
Quizzes: There will be at least 5 quizzes. (The first may cover
the alphabet—connecting letters etc. –and some vocab.)
Exams; Exams; there will be one comprehensive exam at the
conclusion of every one or two chapters, and a final exam/
composition/presentation.
Extensions:
Extensions (for making up quizzes exams) should be requested in
advance. Unexcused, late work will be penalized. Students may
miss one quiz and make it up given the student provides a valid
reason for missing any quiz or exam.
Students are responsible for making use of the audio and video
materials that constitute an integral part of class materials.
Attendance:
As the syllabus indicates, attendance is important. It includes
coming on time and it directly affects your grade. Language
learning is a highly cumulative process. It is like making a tower
out of blocks: you keep building on top of what you did the day
before.
You are granted three (3) excused absences throughout the
semester. Each subsequent absence will result in a deduction of
one point from your 10% allocated for participation.