Johns Hopkins University
The Summer Program 2012
Class Title: First year Arabic I-AS.375.119/120
Instructor: Dr Khalil Tahrawi
Day Phone: (410) 516-8248
Class time: M., Wed. Fri: 9:00 - 12:30 am
Office: 173 Kreiger Hall
Office Hours: Mon. & Wed.( 8:00- 9:00) or ( 12:30-1:00)
Email: ktahrawi@jhu.edu
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Course Description:
This is an initiation course in listening, speaking, reading and writing of Modern Standard
Arabic. In it’s first stage of about three weeks, the students will spend their time in systemic
learning of the sounds and written shapes of Arabic letters. They will also learn the vowel system
of Arabic as a necessary prelude to correct pronunciation and reading. Simultaneously, they will
be learning the most common Arabic phases related to greetings, getting acquainted situations
and other important courtesy expressions.
In it’s second stage, the students will embark systemically on listening to recorded texts, reading
written productions of these texts, learning specific base vocabulary and building up a repertoire
of about 150 words. Basic grammatical rules related to nouns, verbs and particles will be learned,
not as an end in themselves, but as a necessary tool to understanding how the language works.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course the students will be able to:
1. Master the sounds of the Arabic alphabet.
2. Master the writing system of Arabic in regard to the right shaping of the letters, connected and
non-connected letters.
3. Learn the vowel system of Arabic, both short and long vowels.
4. Learn the most common phrases related to greeting, getting acquainted situations and other
courtesy expressions.
5. Learn how to listen to recorded short texts with comprehension.
6. Learn how to correctly read written productions of these texts.
7. Listening to recorded material and being able to take dictation.
8. Build up a vocabulary repertoire of about 300-500 basic words.
9. Understand simple grammatical concepts related to nouns, verbs and particles.
10. Learn how to ask basic questions and articulating answers to them, both verbally and in
writing.
11. Learn the pronouns, both subject pronouns and possessive pronouns.
12 Initiation in learning the verb conjugation paradigm of both present and past tense.
13.To increase their awareness of the Arabic culture and it’s extended Islamic aspects.
14. To learn how to carry on a basic conversation in Arabic on given topics.
15. To be able to write short compositions in Arabic of about one or two paragraphs.
16. Listening and watching DVD episodes in Arabic, following to the storyline and enjoying the
experience.
Course Requirements:
1. Attending class regularly and participating in class activities and drilling.
2. Turning in homework assignments in a timely matter.
3. Using the language lab to finish assigned work.
Evaluation Criterion:
Student’s grades will be based on the following:
1. Attendance and class participation - 20%
2. Homework assignments and lab work - 20%
3. Periodical oral and written tests (in 2-3 units (or lessons) at a time) - 25%
4. A final oral-conversational and written test - 20%
5. A final oral presentation on a cultural topic - 15%
Resource materials:
1. Alif Baa with DVD’s by Al-Batal, Brustad & Al-Tonsi, 3rd Edition. (Required text)
2. Al Kitab Fii Ta’allum Al-‘Arabiyyah, by Al-Batal et al. 2nd Edition (required text after the
3rd week)
3. Supplementary recorded materials and DVD’s in the Language Lab.
4. Handouts.
Alif Baa Textbook
Note: All drills assigned at home must be turned in the next day
Week 1
May 30 & June 1
• Introduction
• Units 1-3
• Introducing all letters
• Doing related drills
Week 2
June 4, 6 & 8
• Quiz on units 1-3
• Review the letters introduced in the first week
• Introducing all the letters in units 4-6
• Doing the related drills
• Quiz on units 4-6
• Introducing the letters in units 7-10
• Doing related drills
Week 3
June 11, 13 & 15
• Oral and written tests on units 1-10
• STARTING Al-KITAAB TEXTBOOK
• Reading the vocabulary and the text of lesson 1
• Introducing the feminine and masculine
• Doing the related drills
• Culture: Arabic names
• Grammar: The definite article, the nisba adjective and the interrogative particles
• Doing the related drills
• Quiz on lesson 1
• Reading the vocabulary and text of lesson 2
• Grammar: Subject pronouns and the plural
• Drills: All grammar related
• Culture: house work
Week 4
June 18, 20 & 22
• Continuing with lesson 2
• Grammar: Nominal sentence
• Drills: All grammar related
• Quiz on lesson 2
• Lesson three: Vocabulary and text
• Culture: The Arabic families and Arabic universities
• Grammar: Constructive phrase and the passive nouns
• Drills: All grammar related
• Finishing lesson 3
• Lesson 4: vocabulary and text
• Grammar: Present tense and doing the related drills
• Culture: Arabic schools
Week 5
June 25, 27 & 29
• Quiz on lesson 3
• Negating the present tense
• The verbal sentence
• Listening: Drills 13 and 14
• Culture: Family tree of the prophet
• Finishing lesson 4
• Reading: Vocabulary and the text of lesson 5
• Grammar: Adverbs, noun-adjective phrase
• Drills: All grammar related drills
• Quiz on lesson 4
• Continuing with lesson 5
• Grammar: The demonstrative pronouns
• Drills: 12 and 13
• Culture: Arabic music
The Second Term
Course # : 375.120
Week 1
July 2, 4 & 6
• Finishing lesson 5
• Reading: Vocabulary and the text on lesson 6
• Grammar: The gerund
• Drills: 2, 5, 7, 8
• Culture: Who is the TA in the Arabic universities
• Quiz on lesson 5
• Continuing with lesson 6
• Grammar: Answering questions with “why”
• Drills: 12, 13, 16, 17, 18
• Culture: The Arabic food
• Quiz on lesson 6
• Oral exam
Week 2
July 9, 11 & 13
• Lesson 7
• Readings, vocabulary and text
• Doing drills 1-4
• Explaining the grammatical points:
- Pronouns & prepositions
- Fronted predicate
• Culture: Egyptian high school diploma
Homework: Drill 7
• Reading the text of lesson 7
• Finishing the grammatical points
• Doing all the related drills
• Doing the reading and listening drills (12 & 13)
• Culture: Arabic currencies and Arab hobbies
• Homework: My hobby (talk about your hobbies)
Week 3
July 16, 18 & 20
• Vocabulary quiz on lesson 7
• Reading the text of drill 17
• Doing drills 16 & 18
• Starting lesson 8
• Reading the vocabulary and text of lesson 8
• Doing drills 1-5
• Grammar: Explaining the past tense and it’s negation
• Explaining the root and pattern
• Doing all the related drills
• Studying the numbers 11-100
Homework: Drill 6
• Continuing with lesson 8
• Doing the listening drill #16
• Talking about the pictures of drill #17
• Learning how to fill out an application for admission in an Arabic school
• Reading the text of drill 20 and answering the questions
Homework: Write a story about each set of pictures of drill 17
Week 4
July 23, 25 & 27
• Test on lesson 8
• Starting lesson 9
• Reading the vocabulary and text
• Doing drills 1-5
• Grammar: Learning how to negate a nominal sentence
• Continuing with lesson 9
• Learning the ordinal numbers
• Doing the reading and listening drills (10 & 11)
• Talking about the pictures of drill 14
• Reading the text of drill 17
Homework:Write a story describing the pictures of drill 17
• Quiz on lesson 9
• Finishing the review drills (15 & 16)
• Starting lesson 10
• Reading the vocabulary and text of lesson 10
• Doing drills 1-7
• Explaining the grammatical points
• Culture: The Arabic family
Week 5
July 30/ August 1 & 3
• Continuing with lesson 10
• Finishing the grammatical points
• Doing all the related drills
• Doing the oral drill #13
• Doing the listening drill #14
Homework: Write a story about the picture of drill 15
• Continuing with lesson 10
• Reading and addressing the text of a king in Egypt
• Translating the sentences of drill 17 to Arabic
• Final Presentations