Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
CARA 101 Course Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
CARA 101
CONVERSATIONAL ARABIC
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introductory course designed to develop practical conversational Arabic skills. Intended for
students whose first language is not Arabic and/or have no previous Arabic training and/or
experience.
RATIONALE
With the rising interest in Middle Eastern affairs within the international community, learning to
converse in Arabic has become an asset in today’s world. This class aims at introducing the
student to basic and practical conversational Arabic. Due to the various dialects that are used in
different parts of the Arab world, the course will employ Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which
can be understood in all Arabic speaking countries. It is assumed that the student enrolled in this
class does not have prior knowledge of conversational Arabic yet has a genuine interest in
learning the language.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
PREREQUISITES
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASES
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Office
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
A.
Converse in Arabic by applying practical vocabulary and simple syntax in order
to communicate basic needs.
B.
Comprehend and respond to simple, practical sentences and questions in Arabic.
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CARA 101 Course Syllabus
V.
C.
Communicate orally in Arabic using clear diction, good pronunciation, and
suitable intonation.
D.
Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the Middle Eastern and African cultures.
E.
Demonstrate the ability to read the Arabic alphabet as well as basic words and
phrases.
F.
Demonstrate understanding of second language acquisition in adults.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will
complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forum
The discussion board is a collaborative learning experience. This forum requires
the student to read an article of his/her choice on the topic of second language
acquisition. The student must submit a thread of 300–500 words summarizing and
reflecting upon the article. Then, the student must reply to at least 2 classmates’
threads with 150 words each.
D.
Oral Assessments
1.
Tutoring Sessions (4)
The student will make an appointment with an Online Foreign Language Lab
(OFLL) tutor to practice the speech tasks listed in the Oral Assessment
instructions. This will enable the student to prepare for his/her oral
assessments. The student will write a reflection report for each session.
2.
Presentations (4)
The student will record a video or audio for in which he/she completes all
speech tasks given by the instructor at varying lengths. Oral Assessments will
assess the student’s understanding of the Pimsleur lessons. The student must
answer all questions in Arabic using proper pronounciation and grammar.
3.
Peer Feedback (3)
The student will listen to at least 2 classmates’ presentations and provide
written peer feedback for each classmate.
E.
Rosetta Stone
1.
Milestones (4)
The student will work through Units 1–4 in Level 1. Each Rosetta Stone unit
will have several lessons that the student will need to complete during the
designated module/week. At the end of each unit, the student will complete
a milestone assignment that will evaluate his/her proficiency in listening,
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CARA 101 Course Syllabus
speaking, reading, and writing as well as his/her knowledge of vocabulary
and structure covered in that unit.
2.
Studio Sessions (3)
The student must schedule a session and complete the Rosetta Stone Studio
Session with a studio coach.
F.
Pretests (4)
The student will complete a pretest before each test (except the Final Exam). The
pretest questions will be based on the presentations in the Reading & Study
folder. Each pretest will be open-book/open-notes, contain 5 multiple-choice
questions, and will not have a time limit. Each pretest will have an unlimited
number of attempts.
G.
Tests (4)
The student will complete the tests, and each test will also include questions on
the understanding of the content from the presentations in the Reading & Study
folder. Each test will: be open-book/open-notes; contain 25 multiple-choice, short
answer, and true/false questions; and have a 50-minute time limit.
H.
Final Exam
The Final Exam will be open-book/open-notes, contain 50 questions, and have a
2-hour time limit.
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Discussion Board Forum
Oral Assessments
Tutoring Sessions (4 at 10 pts each)
Presentations (4 at 50 pts ea)
Oral Assessment Peer Feedback (3 at 30 pts ea)
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone Milestones (4 at 50 pts ea)
Rosetta Stone Studio Sessions (3 at 40 pts ea)
Pretests (4 at 5 pts ea)
Test 1
(Modules 1–4)
Test 2
(Modules 5–8)
Test 3
(Modules 9–12)
Test 4
(Modules 13–15
Final Exam
(Modules 1–16)
10
30
40
200
90
Total
B.
200
120
20
50
50
50
50
100
1010
Scale
A = 900–1010 B = 800–899 C = 700–799 D = 600–699 F = 0–599
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CARA 101 Course Syllabus
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
course will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g., death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
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CARA 101 Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
CARA 101
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
0
None
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
Course Requirements Checklist
RS Login Information
10
0
1
Pimsleur: Unit 1
RS: Level 1, Unit 1, Lesson 1
1 presentation
Class Introductions
Discussion Board Forum1
0
30
2
Pimsleur: Unit 2
RS: Level 1, Unit 1, Lesson 2
1 presentation
Oral Assessment Tutoring Session 1
Oral Assessment Presentation 1
10
50
3
Pimsleur: Unit 3
RS: Level 1, Unit 1, Lesson 3
1 presentation
Oral Assessment Peer Feedback 1
30
4
Pimsleur: Unit 4
RS: Level 1, Unit 1, Lesson 4
1 presentation
RS Milestone – Level 1, Unit 1
Pretest 1
Test 1
50
5
50
5
Pimsleur: Unit 5
RS: Level 1, Unit 2 , Lesson 1
1 presentation
RS Studio Session 1
40
6
Pimsleur: Unit 6
RS: Level 1, Unit 2, Lesson 2
1 presentation
Oral Assessment Tutoring Session 2
Oral Assessment Presentation 2
10
50
7
Pimsleur: Units 7
RS: Level 1, Unit 2, Lesson 3
1 presentation
Oral Assessment Peer Feedback 2
30
8
Pimselur: Unit 8
RS: Level 1, Unit 2, Lesson 4
1 presentation
RS Milestone – Level 1, Unit 2
Pretest 2
Test 2
50
5
50
9
Pimsleur: Unit 9
RS: Level 1, Unit 3, Lesson 1
1 presentation
RS Studio Session 2
40
10
Pimselur: Unit 10
RS: Level 1, Unit 3, Lesson 2
1 presentation
Oral Assessment Tutoring Session 3
Oral Assessment Presentation 3
10
50
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CARA 101 Course Schedule
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
11
Pimsleur: Unit 11
RS: Level 1, Unit 3, Lesson 3
1 presentation
Oral Assessment Peer Feedback 3
30
12
Pimsleur: Unit 12
RS: Level 1, Unit 3, Lesson 4
1 presentation
RS Milestone – Level 1, Unit 3
Pretest 3
Test 3
50
5
50
13
Pimsleur: Unit 13
RS: Level 1, Unit 4, Lesson 1
1 presentation
RS Studio Session 3
40
14
Pimsleur: Unit 14
RS: Level 1, Unit 4, Lesson 2
1 presentation
Oral Assessment Tutoring Session 4
Oral Assessment Presentation 4
10
50
15
Pimsleur: Unit 15
RS: Level 1, Unit 4, Lessons
3–4
2 presentations
RS Milestone – Level 1, Unit 4
Pretest 4
Test 4
50
5
50
16
All
Final Exam
100
TOTAL
1010
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
DB = Discussion Board
RS = Rosetta Stone
NOTE: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00
a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at
11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
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