Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: By apointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Fall 2015
Section: 2
Schedule # 20164
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.
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. 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: By apointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Fall 2015
Section: 2
Schedule # 20164
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: By apointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Fall 2015
Section: 2
Schedule # 20164
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 – Wednesday September 09
Test 2 – Monday September 28
Test 3 – Monday October 12
Test 4 – Monday November 09
Test 5 – Monday November 23
4. Midterm Exam 30%
Monday October 26, 2015
5. Final Exam 30%
Wednesday December 16, 2015 @ 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: By apointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Fall 2015
Section: 2
Schedule # 20164
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 24 - August 26
-
Week 2:
August 31 – September 02
-
Week 3:
Unit three
Unit four
Vocabulary
September 07 – September 09
-
4
Introduction
Unit one
Unite two
Vocabulary
September 07 Labor day
Unit four
Vocabulary
Phrases
Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: By apointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Week 4:
September 14 – September 16
-
Week 5:
September 21 – September 23
-
Week 6:
Present tense
Nominal and verbal sentences
Idafa structure
Unit ten
Vocabulary
October 26 – October 28
-
5
Possessive pronouns
(Verb to have)
Unit nine
The Definite Article (The)
Subject pronouns
October 19 – October 21
-
Week 10:
Unit eight
Vocabulary
October 12 – October 14
-
Week 9:
Unit seven
Possessive pronouns
October 05 – October 07
-
Week 8:
Unit six
Vocabulary
September 28 – September 30
-
Week 7:
Unit five
Colors
Nisba adjective
Practice (10 stories)
Fall 2015
Section: 2
Schedule # 20164
M/W 12:00 -13:50
NE 173
SDSU
Arabic 101
Instructor: Ghassan Zakaria
Office hours: By apointment
E-mail address: GZakaria@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: SWH 222
Week 11:
November 02 – November 04
-
Week 12:
Days of the week
Future tense
December 07 – December 09
-
6
More colors and adjectives
Comparative and Superlative
November 25 Holiday- Thanksgiving
November 30 – December 02
-
Week 16:
Lina (Story)
November 23 – November 25
-
Week 15:
Lara (story)
November 11 Veterans Day
November 16 – November 18
-
Week 14:
Asking questions
November 09 – November 11
-
Week 13:
Fall 2015
Section: 2
Schedule # 20164
M/W 12:00 -13:50
NE 173
Practice
Final review
SDSU