A. Course Description
1. Catalog Description:
(FLAN) 101 – Arabic for Beginners – 4 s.h.
This course is an introduction to the Arabic language and its script.
Arabic 101 is a combination of oral and written exercises. Prerequisites: none. Letter
grade only. Offered according to demand.
2. Course Outline of the Major Topics and Subtopics:
a. Introduction to course and culture
b. Different dialects in Arabic according to geographical region
c. The Arabic Alphabet
d. Writing in Arabic Script
e. Reading Arabic and using accents
f. Counting in Arabic
g. Different cultures, different mannerisms and behavior
h. Media (articles, newspapers, magazines, music, movies, etc.
3. Basic Instruction Plan and Methods:
Procedural Information:
1. The students will learn the alphabet and how each letter sounds with the three main
accents in the Arabic language.
2. Students will learn how to connect letters of the alphabet to form words. Letters look
different when they are in the beginning and middle of the word. The students will learn
the laws and rules of how to treat these letters.
3. Dialect vs. Classical. The art of reading and writing. How the script flows and the
simplification of the word. The students will have continuous practice on how to
pronounce sounds and letters uncommon to the English language.
4. Students will learn the number system.
6. Keyboarding in Arabic
7. Introduction to Arabic music, movies and culture.
Instructional Methods Used:
Lectures
Group conversation
Written exercises
Dialogues
Quizzes
4. Course Requirements and Means of Evaluation
1.
2.
3.
4.
Continuous active participation (attendance)
Written and oral assignments
Exams (3)
Grading:
Attendance and participation
30%
Assignments
25%
Exam 1
15%
Exam 2
15%
Exam 3
15%
5. Course Materials
Select materials from:
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Wightwick, Jane, Read and Speak Arabic for Beginners, 1st ed., McGraw-Hill,
2003
Wightwick, Jane, Your First 100 Words in Arabic: Beginners Quick & Easy Guide to
Demystifying Non-Roman Scripts, 1st ed., McGraw-Hill Publishing,1999.
Articles from newspapers of different countries in the Middle East.
Arabic (Dubbed) Cartoons—The Lion King
Music from many different artists—Amr Diab, Mustafa Ammar, Shereen, etc.
6: List of References
Awde, Nicholas, The Arabic Alphabet: How to Read & Write It, Saqi Books, 2003.
Mace, John, Teach Yourself Beginner’s Arabic Script, 1st ed., McGraw-Hill Publishing,
2003.
Mughazy, Mustafa, Dardasha: Let’s Speak Egyptian Arabic: A Multidimensional
Approach to the Teaching and Learning of Egyptian Arabic As a Foreign
Language (Let’s Speak African Languages Series), Bilingual ed., National African
Language Resource Center Publishing, 2004.
Saleh, Mohi el-Din, Learning Arabic: A step-by-step Approach to Reading and Writing
Arabic, International Islamic Publishing House.
Wightwick, Jane, Arabic Verbs and Essentials of Grammar: A Practical Guide to Mastery
of Arabic, 1st ed., McGraw-Hill Publishing, 1997.
Wightwick, Jane, English-Arabic Arabic-English Dictionary & Phrasebook (Hippocrene
Dictionary and Phrasebook), 1st ed., Hippocrene Books, 2003.
Wightwick, Jane, Read and Speak Arabic for Beginners, 1st ed., McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Wightwick, Jane, Your First 100 Words in Arabic: Beginners Quick & Easy Guide to
Demystifying Non-Roman Scripts, 1st ed., McGraw-Hill Publishing,1999.
B. Rationale
1. Statement of the major focus and objective of the course.
Students of this course are trained in basic skills such as reading, writing and
counting in Arabic. Greetings, common phrases, and Arabic culture mannerisms are also
introduced.
2. Specify how this new course contributes to the departmental curriculum.
There is a demand for Arabic. The Arabic classes offered have been well
attended. Therefore, the department would like to take this opportunity to broaden its
offerings beyond European languages. Arabic is a language broadly spoken in the Middle
East and in Africa.
3. Indicate any course(s) which may be dropped if this course is approved.
None
C. Impact of this course on other departments, programs, majors or minors.
None