Department of Foreign Languages
Syllabus Spring 2015
Course: ARBC 2600
CRN: 22662
MW/ 4:00 pm-5:50 pm
DeBartolo 447
Department web-page: http://web.ysu.edu/class/forlang
Instructor: Madeleine Clendinin
E-Mail: mmclendenin@ysu.edu
Phone: (330) 941-3461
Office Hours: M & W 5:50 to 6:30
Important Dates: Last day to add classes or change grading option: Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Last day to withdraw with 100% refund: Sunday, January 25, 2015
Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W”: Thursday, March 26, 2015
Final Examination: May 8, Friday, 1300-1500
Course Description: 2600. Intermediate Arabic. A continuation of ARBC 1550 with intensive training in
understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Arabic. Geography and daily life, as well as appreciation of the
culture of Arabic speakers. Assignments in the Language Learning and Resource Center (LLRC). Prereq.: ARBC
1550. 4 s.h.
Course Objectives: This course will continue to build on the skills and strategies acquired in Arabic 1500 for all listening,
reading, speaking, writing and culture.
By the end of this course the dedicated students will be able to:
1. Speak about themselves, their families and their daily life.
2. Read and understand simple authentic texts on familiar topics .
3. Write about people, activities, events, experiences and topics of interest.
4. Gain greater understanding and appreciation of the culture and traditions of the Arab speaking world.
Grading:
Tests/assignments/projects
Quizzes
Journal
Homework
Final exam oral and written
40%
10%
10%
10%
30%
A=90-100%; B=80-89.9%; C=70-79.9-xx%; D=60-69.9%; F=Below 60%
Textbooks:
Brustad et al., Al-Kitaab fii Ta callum al-cArabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic, Part 1, 3rd
edition with DVD
Companion website (www.alkitaabtextbook.com - additional online access fee applies), 2011.
ISBN 978-158901736-8
Companion Website
You are encouraged to purchase online access to the companion websites for Al-Kitaab. All of the
exercises, video, and audio featured in the textbooks are also available on the companion website at
alkitaabtextbook.com. Use the “Registration Instructions” handout (will be provided in class to enroll).
Some of the drills and exercises will be designated as graded. No late work will be accepted unless you
could not do it due to an emergency.
Notes
- How much you learn Arabic will depend on how much effort you put into it.
There are many ways to reinforce what is being taught in the classroom, such as Arabic books,
CD's, DVD's, online material (www.quizlet.com, www.arabic withoutwalls.com,
qasidonline.com, you tube Arabic lessons,..), Language Lab audios, meeting native
speakers and watching Arabic Satellite television channels.
-Learning a new language is totally different from learning another subject at the university, in
that learning a new language is more scientific. It's like building blocks; to do well in this course
you will have to understand and know everything that you are taught from the first day of class.
The work done in every class builds onto what was done in the previous lesson and the others
before it.
-A very important part of the learning process is being exposed to new learning material. I am
always there to assist you in understanding the new concepts, do not hesitate to ask for
clarification!
-You are in charge of your learning outcome and it is your responsibility to ask for help when
you need it, schedule visits and come and see me during office hours to go over homework and
to answer any questions you may have.
Important: You will find it impossible to keep up if you start missing classes. It will not be
possible to start catching up when you have to prepare for a test or for the exams.
Attendance of classes is therefore not optional, but compulsory.
If you miss two or more unexcused absences, you risk your grade to be dropped by a letter grade: A
becomes a B, B becomes a C, and a C becomes a D and so forth.
To avoid the consequences, attend class regularly, and in case of an emergency, bring a written or
doctor’s Excuse and make up the work you missed while absent ASAP.
Expectations
You are expected to come to class regularly and on time, and to be prepared for grammar discussions,
drills and oral language practice.
Homework: Read the explanation in your textbook, listen to all listening exercises and watch your DVD
on a daily basis. Be prepared to ask questions and practice what you’ve learned during class.
Cell phones are not permitted during class.
University and Department Policies Applicable to All Classes
Academic Honesty: It is assumed that students will do their own work. Students may help one another by sharing
knowledge and information when doing assignments inside and outside of class. However, students must not copy
from one another or from any source, nor should they seek help from native speakers in preparing graded
assignments outside of class. Translation software may not be used. Furthermore, students must not help one
another during tests.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Anyone requiring special adaptations or accommodations should inform the
instructor as soon as possible. In accordance with University procedures, if you have a documented disability and
require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 275
Fifth Avenue (phone: 330-941-1372) at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an
accommodation is required. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Disability
Services.
Auditors: Students auditing this course receive no credit and are not obligated to take tests. However, attendance is
required. To receive the AU “grade,” auditors must attend 60% of the class meetings. If this attendance
requirement is not met, a W will be recorded instead of an AU.
Cancellation of Class: If this class is being cancelled on a particular day because of instructor illness or for other
reasons, notification will be sent to the student email address <_____@student.ysu.edu> as soon as pos sible.
Departmental Attendance Policy: The Department has developed the following attendance policy. Please note
that this policy exists independent of any class participation grading component your course may have:
• Students who miss 50% or more of the classes shall have their final grade lowered by 2 letter grades (i.e.,
an A will become a C, a B will become a D, and a C or D will become an F).
• Students who miss between 25 and 49% of the classes shall have their final grade lowered by 1 letter grade
(i.e., an A will become a B, a B will become a C, a C will become a D, and a D will become an F).
• Excused absences will not be counted in the above calculations, but for an absence to be excused,
acceptable documentation must be provided to and approved by th e instructor and then passed on to the
Department Chair)
Make-up Policy: Graded work missed (or not submitted) due to an excused absence must be made up as quickly as
possible. Students will be allowed one day per day of excused absence to make up the missed work (e.g., if class
meets MTWF and you miss Tuesday and Wednesday and return to class on Friday, you would have to make up the
work by the next Tuesday). A “make-up request” form must be filled out and signed by the student and instructor.
This form will include an explanation for why the student requires a make-up and will specify the DATE and TIME
when the make-up will be given or the assignment will be turned in. Failure to meet the deadline will result in a
grade of zero for the assignment. If you are unable to take an exam as scheduled, you must notify the instructor as
soon as possible. A legitimate, documented, excuse (illness, accident, death in the family, obligation to represent the
university at a sporting or other event, etc.) will be required for the authorization to make up the exam.
Incomplete Policy: Incompletes will be given only in cases in which students have completed all assignments and
evaluations for the first thirteen week (or the first five weeks in a six-week summer session or the first ten weeks in
a twelve-week summer session) and have, at the time of the request, a course average which would enable them to
receive credit for the course. A “Request for Incomplete” form must be filled out and signed by both the student and
the instructor. This form will include an explanation of why the student requires an Incomplete and appropriate
documentation to support the request is to be provided at this time. A University “Explanation of an Incomplete
Grade” form will be filed only after the Chair has conferred with the instructor and approved the granting of the
Incomplete. Under normal circumstances students will have one month from the date of the final examination to
remove the Incomplete. Please note that it is University policy that for Fall courses, the final date for completing
the coursework is March 1 of the following semester; for Spring courses, the final date is September 1 of the
following semester; and for Summer courses, the final date is October 1 of the follo wing semester.
Extra Credit: Department policy forbids the awarding of extra credit.