Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:30 pm
And /or by appointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Fall 2014
Section: 2
Schedule # 20172
M-W 12:00 -13:50
NE 173
SDSU
ً‫أهالً وسهال‬
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the sound and script system of the Modern Standard
Arabic alphabet, words, and simple paragraphs for listening and reading comprehension
and it will focus on your Arabic conversational skills, everyday uses vocabulary,
linguistic structures and essential grammatical forms, in addition to the Arab Culture.
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) will be used for classroom instruction.
Required Textbook:
1. "Alif Baa" with DVDs Brustad, Kirsten. Al Batal, Mahmoud. Al-Tonsi,
Abbas. Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds. Washington D.C.:
Georgetown University press. 3rd edition
2. Hand out will be prepared by the instructor
Course Requirements:
1. Daily attendance and class participation are expected and are vital for your success in
this class. Missing more than three classes will cause you to lose a percentage of
attendance points. If you have to miss a class, you are still responsible for the day’s
content and homework assignment. Use of cell phones and other electronic equipment
will be noted as absence. If you are more than 15 minutes late for class, it will be
marked as an absence.
2. No make-up exams will be given unless you have made arrangements with me prior
to exam day.
3. Regular homework assignments will be assigned, collected, and scored. They are due
in the first 15 minutes of class. Late homework assignments will only be accepted
once.
4. Blackboard Grade Book: You will have increased control over your final course
grade if you keep track of your earned points on Blackboard Grade Book. The points
you earn during the semester will be posted about every two weeks.
5. No food in the classroom
1
Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:30 pm
And /or by appointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Fall 2014
Section: 2
Schedule # 20172
M-W 12:00 -13:50
NE 173
SDSU
Course Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
The ability to pronounce the Arabic alphabet and Arabic sound proficiently
To learn how to connect letters properly to make words
To read and write Arabic words and simple sentences correctly
Be familiar with basic conjugation of verbs in present and future
Recognize basic parts of speech on the Arabic language such as verbs, nouns,
prepositions
Be familiar with the Arabic number system.
Be familiar with basic colors, and food.
To learn how to conjugate (verb) to have
Be familiar with The Possessive Pronouns
Be familiar with The Subject Pronouns
Be familiar with Nisba Adjective
Learning the Idafa structure
Days of the week
Understand main ideas of simple texts and conversations mostly of highly
predictable topics which may include personal biographies
Carry on simple conversations related to previously mentioned topics.
Read with comprehension material in MSA
Write simple paragraphs on very familiar topics
Have learned some aspects of the Arab culture.
Cellular Phones:
As a courtesy to the class and the instructor; turn off your cellular phones before entering
the classroom.
Grade distribution
1. Attendance and participation 5%
Attendance and participation in all aspects of the course is required. Class discussions,
student presentations, small-group activities, in-class writing assignments, homework
writing assignments, and discussion of videos and slide presentations are all very
important parts of this course.
2
Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:30 pm
And /or by appointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Fall 2014
Section: 2
Schedule # 20172
M-W 12:00 -13:50
NE 173
SDSU
2. Homework 10%
Homework will be assigned on a daily basis.
3. Tests 25%
Test 1 – Monday September 08
Test 2 – Monday September 22
Test 3 – Monday October 06
Test 4 – Monday November 03
Test 5 – Monday November 17
Test 6 – Monday December 01
4. Midterm Exam 30%
October 20, 2014
5. Final Exam 30%
Wednesday December 17, 2014 @ 10:30 - 12:30 (Oral and written test)
NOTE:
Oral test will be related to what is covered in class. Pronunciation, fluency, width of
vocabulary and appropriate functional usage will be taken in account
Course Grade Scale
A
AB+
B
B-
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
3
C+
C
CD+
D
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
DF
60-62
59 and below
Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:30 pm
And /or by appointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Fall 2014
Section: 2
Schedule # 20172
M-W 12:00 -13:50
NE 173
SDSU
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this
class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473.
To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student
Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not
retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you
have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability
Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Notes
1. A number of different activities will be given throughout the semester.
2. A number of songs, Culture digital material, and Arabic movies will be presented
during the semester
3. Outfield trips to an Arabic restaurant.
Tentative class calendar
Week 1:
August 25 - August 27
-
Week 2:
September 01 – September 03
-
Week 3:
9/1 Holiday – Labor day
Unit three
September 08 – September 10
-
4
Introduction
Unit one
Unite two
Vocabulary
Unit three
Unit four
Vocabulary
Phrases
Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:30 pm
And /or by appointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Week 4:
September 15 – September 17
-
Week 5:
September 22 – September 24
-
Week 6:
Present tense
Nominal and verbal sentences
Idafa structure
Unit ten
Vocabulary
October 27 – October 29
-
5
Possessive pronouns
(Verb to have)
Unit nine
The Definite Article (The)
Subject pronouns
October 20 – October 22
-
Week 10:
Unit eight
Vocabulary
October 13 – October 15
-
Week 9:
Unit seven
Possessive pronouns
October 06 – October 08
-
Week 8:
Unit six
Vocabulary
September 29 – October 01
-
Week 7:
Unit five
Colors
Nisba adjective
Practice (10 stories)
Fall 2014
Section: 2
Schedule # 20172
M-W 12:00 -13:50
NE 173
SDSU
Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: Tuesday 2:30-3:30 pm
And /or by appointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Week 11:
November 03 – November 05
-
Week 12:
November 10 – November 12
-
Week 13:
Days of the week
Future tense
December 08 – December 10
-
6
11/26 Holiday- Thanksgiving
More colors and adjectives
Comparative and Superlative
December 01 – December 03
-
Week 16:
Lina (Story)
November 24 – November 26
-
Week 15:
Lara (story)
November 17 – November 19
-
Week 14:
Asking questions
Practice
Final review
Fall 2014
Section: 2
Schedule # 20172
M-W 12:00 -13:50
NE 173
SDSU