Houston Community College System – Central College
World Languages
Course Outline for Beginning Arabic I 1411
Spring 2011
CRN 70280
Instructor
Dr.Muthanna Alkhaldi
Email: muthanna.alkhaldi@hccs.edu
Time and location
Mon/ Wed 5:30 pm-8:00 p.m.
phone: 713-718-6678
Fine Art Center # 308
Course Semester Credit Hours
Credit: 4 (3 lecture, 2 lab)
16 weeks/80 hours
Textbook
Ahlan Wa Sahlan:Letters and Sounds of the Arabic Language by Mahdi Alosh
(ISBN 978-0-300-14048-4)
Ahlan Wa Sahlan by Mahdi Alosh, Second Edition(ISBN 978-0-300-12272-5)
Course Description
Arabic 1411, Beginning Arabic I, is a four credit-hour course, which meets five hours
per week(Regular Term). It is part of the four-semester beginning and intermediate
(1411-1412, 2311-2312) sequence. The course transfers to universities as foreign
language credit. It also satisfies the cross-cultural component of the HCCS core
curriculum. Placement in this course is based on having had no previous formal
instruction in Arabic or lea than one year of high-school Arabic.
In Arabic 1411 you will listen to, speak, read and write Arabic. Vocabulary, language
patterns, and grammar are introduced and applied in the context of practical
communication. You will learn Arabic vocabulary, expressions, and structures
relating to college studies, personal identity, home and family, getting acquainted,
describing people and places, activities and leisure, dining and cuisine, transactions in
a store or restaurant.
You will also learn cultural information about values, beliefs, and practices related to
the above situations and to speakers of Arabic. In a more general sense, you will learn
about the cultural contexts of the Arabic language. The class includes dialogues,
tapes, oral and written exercises, role-playing, partner or group work.
Program Learning Outcomes
1. The student will: Demonstrate the speaking skills required to handle
successfully a variety of uncomplicated communicative tasks in
straightforward social situations.
2. The student will: Comprehend the main points of (a) standard discourse,
even when the topic if not familiar and (b) authentic material (TV programs,
videos, movies, CDs) delivered at near-native speed.
3. The student will: Write short, simple communications, compositions,
descriptions and requests for information in loosely connected texts that are
based on personal preferences, daily routines, common events, and other
topics related to personal experiences and immediate surroundings.
4. The student will: Read consistently with increased understanding simple,
connected texts dealing with a variety of basic and social needs.
5. The student will: Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to aspects of
behavior, attitudes, and customs of the countries and communities where the
target language is spoken.
Course Student Learning Outcomes
1. The student will: Speak using words, phrases and short sentences in a limited
number of familiar contexts.
2. The student will: Comprehend words, phrases and sentences of the standard
spoken language where the context is familiar, mainly simple sentences and
conversations using high frequency vocabulary and language patterns.
3. The student will: Write short simple sentences using learned vocabulary and a
limited number of grammatical structures within familiar contexts.
4. The student will: Read and interpret language focused on high frequency and
practical situations or subject matter.
5. The student will: Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the behavior, attitudes, and
customs of countries and communities where the target language is spoken.
Learning Objectives
1.1
2.1
3.1
4.1
5.1
Students will comprehend words, phrases and sentences in standard spoken
language where the context is familiar, mainly simple sentences using high
frequency vocabulary.
Students will speak using words, phrases and short sentences in a number of
familiar contexts.
The student will write short simple sentences using learned vocabulary and
grammatical structures within familiar contexts.
The student will comprehend a passage in the target language on a topic
related to daily life.
The student will
a) identify regions of the world and name some countries where Spanish is
spoken.
b) demonstrate knowledge of a few basic facts about several Spanishspeaking countries or regions.
c) show understanding of Spanish customs relating to introductions and
initial social contacts, interaction in public places, dining, interaction
between family and friends.
d) show some understanding of issues in intercultural communication and
cultural misunderstanding.
e) acquire and demonstrate cultural awareness and understanding of Hispanic
countries and peoples.
Instructional Methods
On site
Core Curriculum Competences
Reading, Writing, Speaking/Listening, Critical Thinking, Computer Information,
Literacy
COURSE SCHEDULE
Weeks
Objectives
Week 1:
Jan.19
Syllabus, introducing
oneself; introduction to
Arabic language;
Unit1: one- way
connectors two
common greetings;
introducing oneself
in Arabic
Week 2
Jan.24
 Lesson 1(Arabic
Alphabet )
Jan.26
 Lesson 1 & 2 (
Arabic Alphabet )
Week 3
Jan.31
Feb.2
 Lesson 2
Week 4
Feb.7 - 9
 Lesson 2 & 3
 Lesson 3
 Lesson 4
Week 5
Feb.14 - 16
 Lesson 4 & 5
 Lesson 5 |
Week 6
Feb.21…………….
23
Presidents' Day !
Exam I (Lesson 1-5)
Week 7
Feb.28
Mar.2
Lesson 6
Week 8
Mar.7 - 9
Lesson 7
Lesson 6 & 7
Lesson 7 & 8
Mar.14 -16
Spring Break
Week 9
Mar.21 -23
Lesson 8
Lesson 8 & 9
Week 10
Mar.28
Mar.30……………
Lesson 9
Exam II (lesson 6-9)
Week 11
Apr,4 - 6
Lesson 10
Lesson 10 & 11
Week 12
Apr.11……………… Library Day : one-hour
assignment
Apr.13
Lesson 11
Week 13
Apr.18 - 20
Lesson 11 & 12
Lesson 12
Week 14
Apr.25
Apr 27…………….
Week 15
May 2
May 4………………
Lesson 12
Exam III
( Lesson 10-12)
Restaurant Scene
Review for
FINAL EXAM
Week 16
May 9
HCCS Grading System:
FINAL EXAM
At 5:30 p.m
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
59 & below
=
=
=
=
=
A
B
C
D
F
Course Grade
50% 3 major tests (Oral and Written Portions)
20% final exam (Oral and Written Portions)
20% written homework
10% attendance
Attendance and Promptness
Class will begin at 5:30 PM. Please be on time, as coming and going disrupt the class.
Attendance is essential.
Class will begin at the scheduled time. Please be on time, as coming and going is disruptive.
The class roll will be called every day at the beginning of class. Students are expected to
attend classes every day and will be responsible for materials covered during their absence,
as per the course lesson plan and additional materials assigned by instructor. Students will
lose points on the participation grade for every class missed. As per HCCS policies, stated in
the Student Handbook (P. 2), the instructor has full authority to drop a student after the
student has accumulated absences in excess of 10 hours, including lecture and laboratory
time. However, it is recommended that the student be responsible for dropping the course if
he/she has been absent more than 10 hours of class. This policy will be strictly enforced,
particularly for veterans. If a student is late by more than 10 minutes or leaves class 15
minutes before the class ends, the student will receive one 1/2 absence. After 2 of these
absences the student will get one full absence. Poor attendance records tend to correlate with
poor grades. There are no excused or unexcused absences; they are all absences.
Absences will be counted from the first class day of the semester, no matter when the
student registers or first attend.
It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from my class before the last day
for Administrative/Student Withdrawal, which is Thursday, April 21, 2011
before 4:30 p.m.
Class Buddies
It is your responsibility to find a class buddy, who can get handouts for you if you are
absent and who will let you know about any assignments that you miss.
Makeup Policy
There is no makeup for any major test made during any absence. Therefore, your
grade will be ZERO if you miss any test. Therefore, try not to miss any class and be
on time.
Cell Phones and Beepers
Please turn off all cell phones and beepers before class. Their use disrupts the class.
Policy on Academic Dishonesty
Students are expected to do their own work, unless an assignment is made specifically
as a group assignment. Plagiarism (handing in another person’s work as your own), or
cheating will result in a grade of F for the assignment, or test in question. For a
second offense, the student may receive a grade of F for the course.
Reasonable Accommodations: Any student with a documented disability (e.g.
physical, learning,, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable
accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office-Room LHSB 106,or call
713-718-6164 at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide
only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
I hope you find Arabic an interesting and rewarding subject. I look forward to
working with you this semester!
GOOD LUCK