March 9, 2005
New Course
Course Title: Elementary Arabic I and II
Course Number: ARAB 101 & 102
Date Of Initial Offering: Fall 04 & Spring 05
Semester
Rationale for
Course level
year
This is the course level of all U of S language course offered at the beginning
(elementary) level.
Credit Hours: __6 total_ Format: X lecture  lab  other:__________________________________
Frequency: X annual  each semester alternate years
Prerequisites: ____(none)________________________________________________________________
Rationale for
pre-requisites
(if prerequisites
are listed)
Catalog
Description
(50 word
maximum)
Arabic 101-102
6 cr.
Elementary Arabic
Designed for non-Arabic-speaking students, this course studies modern standard
Arabic, and aims to enable students to use and properly pronounce simple Arabic
words and to listen, speak, read and write simple sentences. This course also
offers a preliminary approach to Arabic grammar.
Similar
Courses being
offered at the
University
none
Discuss
Extent of
overlap with
existing
courses
Special
Resources
Required
(e.g. library,
equipment,
materials/
facilities)
none
Necessary resources have been provided to the Language Learning Center by the
Dept. of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
Characteristics (check any/all that apply):
Major:
GE :
 Required
 submitted to CCC
 Area Free only
X Elective
X will be submitted to CCC simultaneous with this proposal
date
 Humanities (CA)
 Humanities (CH)
 Humanities (CL)
X Humanities (CF)
Interdisciplinary:  YES X NO
 S/B Sciences (S)
 Cultural Diversity (D)
 Natural Science (E)
 Writing Intensive(W)
 Theology/Phil (P)
 Quantitative Reasoning (Q)
Team Teaching:  YES
X NO
Exclusively For Special Programs/Concentrations: X NO YES (Name)____________________
Home College: X CAS
 PCPS
 KSOM
 GRAD
Required Attachments:
X Syllabus with student learning objectives, assessment/evaluation mechanisms, and outline of
topics
X Description of, or example of, readings/papers/projects/examinations
X Assessment/evaluation based course improvement mechanisms
SYLLABUS
Course title: Elementary Arabic 101 (formerly taught as 184 Special Topics)
Instructor: Abdelilah Mahtat
Class hours: M W F, 2:00-2:50 in 302 HYL Hall
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: ikktfaan@yahoo.com
Campus phone: (570) 941- 4396
Home phone: (570) 941- 5626
Office: 310 O’Hara (Part Time Faculty Office)
Office hours: M W 4-5 at the Language Learning Center, O’Hara Hall Third Floor
TEXT BOOK
1. Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds. Kristen Brustad, Mahmud Al-Batal, Abbas Al-Tonsi. + a set of
audio tapes for listening drills are available at the University Bookstore.
2. Al kitaab fi Ta’allum Al’arabiyya: A textbook for beginning Arabic, Part One
Kristen Brustad, Mahmud Al-Batal, Abbas Al-Tonsi.
+ Audio cassettes available at the University Bookstore.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
Welcome to Arabic!
The course this semester comes into two parts. The first part puts more focus on learning the script, the sound and the
writing systems. Beginning from the first class to the 27 of September we will be practicing the four skills: listening,
speaking, reading and writing abilities. We will have different activities that will help you obtain the right
pronunciation of the letters. You are very much encouraged to read the description of the sound on your Manual. Your
teacher will help you in this process. The manual we are using during this period of time includes both listening,
writing and reading exercises and drills. Some of them we will do in the classroom and the rest will be assigned to you
as homework. The main objective of this part of the course is for the students to be able to easily recognize the letters,
obtain the most accurate pronunciation and acquire adequate orthographic skill. For this purpose a set of dictations will
be performed in the classroom to help you reinforce this skill. Meanwhile we will have oral conversations in class. This
will help you learn new vocabulary and prepare you to the next part of this course. You are very much encouraged to
participate in this activity to foster your listening and therefore your speaking and writing skills.
The second part of this course begins on Friday October 1. We will be using Al kitaab textbook. Very valuable
directions of how to make the best use of it are explained in detail in the “Preface to the Student.” Please DO READ IT.
You will notice that the book contains twenty chapters. It offers a set of new vocabulary in every chapter and a series of
grammatical structures. You must listen to and read the new vocabulary and the grammar explanations BEFORE
studying every chapter. You are also acquired do the exercises based on them according to your instructor’s directions.
The instructions on the book are either translated or simply stated in English. Your instructor will not spend any time
on explaining the grammar points in class. We will rather exploit class time in practicing the learned vocabulary and
doing grammar drills. Al-kitaab also contains a set of writing drills to help you reach a good level of composition. All
the writing activities will be assigned as homework and must be handed to your instructor for feedback. The objectives
of this second part of the course are for the students to: develop the ability to use the language both orally and in
written form; acquire new vocabulary by listening to the monologue; and be acquainted with the Arabic grammatical
structures. By the end of this course, the students would be able to read short texts and understand them and write short
compositions as well.
GRADING POLICY
There is a quiz every week on Friday. They cover all the material studied during the week. The quiz duration is ten to
fifteen minutes. The quizzes will be alternately oral or written. You will have an hour and a half to two hours
assignment on a daily basis. There are two exams: a mid-term and a final.
The quizzes (oral/ written; 10 to 15 minutes, every Friday)
The midterm Exam
The final exam
Homework ( on a daily basis)
Attendance and participation (on a daily basis)
15 %
15 %
20 %
25 %
25 %
CLASS SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE COURSE
(subject to change)
Week I
M, August 30. Introduction to the syllabus and grading system. Introduction to the letters and writing
system
W, September 1. Unit I. Latters: ‫ب ت ث و ي‬-‫ ا‬-- -- --- . pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral
conversation
F, September 3
Unit II. Letters: ‫ ي و خ ح ج‬and ‘sukun’. pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral conversation
Week II
W, September 8
Unit III. Letters: ‫ د ذ ز ر أ‬pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral conversation
F, September 10
Unit IV. Letters: ‫ س ش ص ض‬and ‘shadda’. pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral
conversation
Week III
M, September 13
Unit V. Letters: ‫ غ ع ظ ط ة‬pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral conversation
W, September 15
Unit VI. Letters: ‫ ئ ؤ ل ك ق ف‬pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral conversation
F, September 17
Week IV
M, September 20
Unit VII. Letters: ‫ ا ه ن م‬pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral conversation
W, September 22
Unit VIII. Letters: ‫ ا ــــــ ال‬pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral conversation
F, September 24
Unit IX. Letters and short vowels: ‫ ــا ى‬pronunciation and writing. Dictations. Oral conversation
Week V
Monday, September 27
Unit X. Letters and sounds review. Wrap up! Oral conversations review.
THE SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE COURSE
The assignments should be submitted at the beginning of each class and done neatly on a
separate sheet of paper.
NOTA BENE: late work will be accepted no later than the following class period only, and will
be penalized 10%.
Week I
M, Aug 30. Prepare yourself for Unit I: Copy the letters and the short vowels on page 8 five times each. Read the
description of each letter/ sound.
Homework for Sept. 1: Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson five times each.
W, Sept 1.
Prepare yourself for Unit II: Copy the letters and the short vowels on page 27 five times each. Read the description of
each letter/ sound. You have a 10 minutes quiz tomorrow on the letters that you have already learned.
Homework: Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson five times each.
F, Sept 3.
Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson five times each.
Prepare yourself for Unit III: Copy the letters on page 41 five times each. Read the description of each on of the
letters/ sounds.
Week II
W, September 8.
Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson five times each.
Prepare yourself for Unit IV: Copy the letters and the ‘Shadda” on page 55 five times each. Read the description of
each letter/ sound. There is no quiz on Friday!.
F, September 10
Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson six times each.
Prepare yourself for Unit V: Copy the letters on page 74 six times each. Read the description of each letter/ sound.
Week III
M, September 13
Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson six times each.
Prepare yourself for Unit VI: Copy the letters on page 95 six times each. Read the description of each letter/ sound.
W, September 15
Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson seven times each.
Prepare yourself for Unit VII: Copy the letters on page 120 eight times each. Read the description of each letter/
sound. You have an oral quiz on Friday! (Please, seek further details from your instructor)
F, September 17
Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson ten times each.
Prepare yourself for Unit VIII: Copy the letters on page 142 ten times each. Read the description of each letter/
sound.
Week IV
M, September 20
Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson ten times each.
Prepare yourself for Unit IX: Copy the letters and short vowels on page 156 ten times each. Read the description of
each letter/ sound.
W, September 22
Rewrite the letters you have learned in the previous lesson ten times each.
Prepare yourself for Unit X: Copy the letters and short vowels on page 156 ten times each. Read the description of
each letter/ sound. You have a written quiz on Friday! (please, seek more details from your instructor)
F, September 24
Now you know all the letters, congratulations1 Now, learn the names of the Arabic alphabet. Make two separate sheets:
one for the connectors and the other for non-connectors. Learn the vocabulary on page 176 (these are useful words for
you).
Week V
Monday, September 27
We are now going to use Al-Kitaab fi Ta’allum Al-Arabiyya, Part one. Please listen and learn the vocabulary on page
2 and do exercise 3 on page 4. Read carefully the grammar instructions on pages 5-6 and do exc. 4 and 5.
Syllabus for ARAB 102
Course Title: Elementary Arabic
Instructor: Abdelilah Mahtat
Class Hours: M W F, 2:00-2:50 in 203 HYL Hall
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: mahtata2@scranton.edu
Campus phone: (570) 941- 4396
Home phone: (570) 941- 5626
Office: 310 O’Hara (Part Time Faculty Office)
Office hours: M W 4-5 at the Language Learning Center, O’Hara Hall Third Floor
TEXTBOOK
Al Kitaab fi Ta’allum Al ’Arabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic, Part One
Kristen Brustad, Mahmud Al-Batal, Abbas Al-Tonsi.
+ Audio cassettes available at the university bookstore.
+ DVDs including the monologues on Al-Kitaab and various language activities
+ Other material suggested by the instructor
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
The course this semester is a continuation of the first semester. We will be using Al-kitaab textbook. Very
valuable directions of how to make the best use of it are explained in detail in the “Preface to the Student.”
Please DO READ IT. We will cover five chapters this semester (from a review of chapter 5 to chapter 10). The
first page of every chapter offers a set of new vocabulary and a series of grammatical structures. You must
listen to and read the new vocabulary and the grammar explanations BEFORE studying every chapter. You are
also required to do the exercises based on them according to your instructor’s directions. The instructions in
the book are either translated or simply stated in English. We will not spend any time on explaining the
grammar points in class. We will rather exploit class time in practicing the learned vocabulary and doing
grammar drills. Al-kitaab also contains a set of writing drills to help you reach a good level of composition. All
the writing activities will be assigned as homework and must be handed to your instructor for feedback. The
objectives of this semester are for the students to acquire more vocabulary by listening to the monologue and
using the language in the classroom, to more develop the ability to use the language in written form; and be
acquainted with more grammatical structures. By the end of this course, the students will be able to read longer
texts and understand them, discuss simple topics in the classroom, and write short compositions about topics
related to daily life.
GRADING POLICY
There is a quiz every week on Friday covering all the material studied during the week. The quiz duration is
ten to fifteen minutes. The quizzes will be alternately oral or written. You will have an hour and a half to two
hours assignment on a daily basis. There are two exams: a mid-term and a final.
The quizzes (oral/ written; 10 to 15 minutes, every Friday)
The midterm exam
The final exam
Homework ( on a daily basis)
Attendance and participation
15 %
15 %
15 %
25 %
30 %
ASSIGNMENTS, ATTENDENCE AND PARTICIPATION
You are encouraged to use Arabic in the classroom and be involved in the class activities. Attendance and
participation constitute 30 per cent of your grade. As you know, language classes require not only regular
attendance but also much more attention in the classroom. It is essential that you attend every class. Every
session builds up to the next and losing one class affects your participation and homework for the next class.
Absence or late homework seriously damages your language learning process and will affect your grade.
Beginning with the fourth undocumented absence your grade will be lowered 2% for each class missed. More
than six (6) absences may result in a failing grade. Indeed, you must make the best use of this term course by
attending all the sessions, handing in neat and well-reflected assignments on time and participating in the class
activities. Please note: No late assignment is accepted.
THE SYLLABUS
WEEK I
M, January 31: General review, Chapter 5. Watch the video and Oral Activity.
Assignment: Do exc. 5
W, February 2: Translation: Exc. 7. Assignment: Exc. 11and 12
F, February 4: Correction exc.11. Exc.12. Assign: Exc. 2 (Chapter VI, page 92)
WEEK II
M, February 7: Watch video and Oral Activity. Reading: exc. 2 page 92.
Assignment: exc.1; read Grammar pages 93-96
W, February 9: exc.3; assign: exc.6
F, February 11: correction exc.6; exc. 7. Assign: exc.12
WEEK III
M, February 14: Exc. 13. Culture: Arab foods. Assign: writing: Exc.8 on page 98
W, February 16: Culture: an Arab restaurant (page 98-99). Assignment: Exc.2 page 109
F, February 18: (CHAPTER VII) Watch video and Oral Activity (vocabulary page 107). Assign: Exc.3
WEEK IV
M, February 21: Review Vocabulary. Exc.1. Assign: read Grammar page 111, do exc.4 (p.112)
W, February 23: Oral Activity: My family (expressing possession with pronouns).Assign:exc.5
F, February 25: Grammar in Context: Exc.6. Assign: read page 115 and do exc. 7
WEEK V
M, February 28: Oral Activity: uses of the verb: ‫ كان‬Assign: read Grammar pages 117-18 and do exc.10
W, March 2: Review exc.10. Oral activity: bargaining/Arab money. Assign: exc.15 page 126
F, March 4: Reading (Arab newspapers) page 122 (be ready to discuss Arab media in Arabic of course)
Assignment: exc.17 on page 127
WEEK VI
M, March 7: Listening Activity: exc.18 page 128. Assign: Writing exc. 20 page 128
W, March 9: Reading Activity: “looking for a job page” 125. Assign: Exc.2 page 133
F, March 11: (CHAPTER VIII) Watch video and Oral Activity. Assign: exc.1 page 132
WEEK VII
M, March 14: Oral Activity: exc.3 page 133. Assign: read Grammar pages 134-136, do exc.4
W, March 16: Grammar in Context: exc. 5. Assign: read text on page 138 (to be studied in class)
F, March 18: Reading Activity: “Casablanca” page 138. Assign: read Grammar pages 139-143
Do exc. 7 and 9
SPRING BREAK (from Sat, March 19th to Mon, March 28)
WEEK VIII
W, March 30: Review: “derivations in Arabic”: exc. 7 and 9. Assign: exc.13
F, April 1: Oral Activity: exc. 14 page 136. Assign: Writing Activity exc. 152-53
WEEK IX
M, April 4: Listening Activity: page 147. Assign: listen to the tape and do exc. On page 156-57
W, April 6: (CHAPTER IX) Watch video and Oral Activity: exc.4 page 161. Assign: exc. 2
F, April 8: Grammar in Context: Your daily schedule: “the present Tense” page 160. Assign: exc.1
WEEK X
M, April 11: Grammar: exc.5 page 162. Assign: exc.6 page 163
W, April 13: Oral Activity: “at what time do you…?” (Ordinals) page 164-5. Assign: Translation exc.10
F, April 15: Review translation exercise. Assign: Writing assignment (to be designed by the instructor)
WEEK XI
M, April 18: Reading activity: exc.11 pages 168-69. Assign: exc.12
W, April 20: Grammar: exc.13. Assign: exc.15 page 171-72
F, April 22: Listening Activity: exc.14 page 171. Assign: Writing (to be designed by instructor)
WEEK XII
M, April 25: Vocabulary review: exc. 15 page 171-72. Assign: exc. 2 (you need to learn voc. page 175)
W, April 27: (CHAPTER X) Watch video and Oral Activity. Assign: exc.3
F, April 29: Oral Activity: exc.1. Assign: read Grammar page 180 and do exc. 5
WEEK XIII
M, May 2: Grammar: exc.6 page 172. Assign: read Grammar pages 182-83 and do exc.7
W, May 4: Oral Activity: exc.8 page 184. Assign: exc.9
F, May 6: Grammar review: exc. 9. Assign: exc. 10 (derivations)
WEEK XIV
M, May 9: Oral Activity: exc.11 page 186. Assign: Writing (to be designed by instructor)
W, May 11: Reading Comprehension: exc. 12 pages 187-88. Assign: (to be designed by instructor)
F, May 13: Listening Activity: exc.14 page 192. Assign: write about your favorite TV programs.
WEEK XV
M, May 16: Last day of class: Exam review
W, May 18: Final exam