Arabic Beginners - Accelerated (LL290)

Summary

Level

This is a beginners course for students who have basic or previous knowledge of the Arabic alphabet system and who gained some basic phrases either through their family background or through learning the Qur'an but lack an understanding of the meaning, function and structural patterns of the language.

Main Objectives

To enable students to understand some of the main features of Arabic-speaking societies and how the Arabic language reflects these.
To enhance students' skills in the use of sentence constructions and be able to apply them in spoken and written formulation of simple, everyday language.
To develop students' competencies in the four communications skills leading to their ability to use the language in a variety of predictable contexts.
The course is based on a fast pace approach enabling students by the end of their study to achieve the outcome of Arabic 2.

Credit

This is a 24 or 30 CREDIT module.

Teaching

4 hours language class each week for 21 weeks.
Term One: 2 x 2 hour seminar per week over 9 weeks plus at least 4 hours independent learning each week.
Term Two: 2 x 2 hour hour seminar per week over 10 weeks plus at least 4 hours independent learningeach week.

Students are reminded that 1 credit = 10 hours of study, therefore the minimum expected amount of study is 300 hours, which averages 10 hours per week. A substantial amount of independent study is therefore required.

Tutor:

Nabila Semouh

Course Texts (must be bought by students)

Mastering Arabic 1 by Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar: ISBN 978-1-137-38044-9
CD Pack: ISBN 978-1-137-38043-2 OR
Book and CD Pack: ISBN 978-1-137-38045-6
Mastering Arabic 2 by Jane Wightwick & Mahmoud Gaafar; ISBN 978-0-230-22086-7 (Book and 2 audio CD Pack)
Mastering Arabic 1 Activity Book: ISBN 978-1-137-37226-0
Moodle resources and activities

A copy can be purchased from the University Bookshop, telephone: (024) 7652 3388.

Additional Material (Recommended)

Mastering Arabic Grammar by Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar: ISNB 978-1-403-94109-1
Internet interactive material supplied by teacher and material uploaded on Moodle to enhance learning outside class.
Tutor's handouts.

Course Description

Accelerated Arabic is a course that aims at developing students’ skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar. The course is based on Modern Standard Arabic which is a key variety that is understood across the Arab World despite the variations in dialects. An appreciation of the deviation between MSA and the dialects will be explained and some processes of the main differences will be introduced.

Based on a step-by-step approach, the course is divided into learning blocks each of which focuses on practical, useful and manageable language. You will develop cultural awareness of the Arabic speaking world. You will have access to online and languages@warwick resources for a more independent learning.

Tasks will be set each week to consolidate what you have learnt in class.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module students should be ble to:

Apply a basic knowledge of grammar appropriate to the level.
Develop strategies for understading gist and specific information.
Gain an insight into everyday life in Arab-speaking countries.
Understand the main points in messages and spoken language in areas of immediate personal relevance.

Syllabus

Topics

Course Book 1

Getting started: greetings; letters of the alphabet : group 1 ( ب ت ث ن ي )
Introducing yourself: countries and nationalities
Putting words together; letters of the alphabet: group 2 ( ا د ذ ر ز و )
The family; letters of the alphabet: group 3 ( ج ح خ ه م )
Professions; joining letters; letters of the alphabet: group 4 ( س ش ص ض )
Describing things; letters of the alphabet: group 5 ( ف ق ك ل )
Polite requests; using public transport
Where is it? Letters of the alphabet: group 6 ( ط ظ ع غ )
Asking for and giving directions; describing places
Likes and dislikes
Counting things: In the market; shopping for food
Going Shopping: understanding prices, weights and measurements
Colours: shopping for clothes
Going out: ordering food and drink
Describing past events
Describing a holiday; the weather
Telling the time
Days of the week; months of the year
Describing your daily routine

Course Book 2

Talking about yourself, your family and your childhood.
Describing your house and renting or buying a house/apartment.
Talking about jobs, housework, job vcancies.
Sport and leisure, going out.
Talking about travel and tourism, means of transport, and travel in the Arab World.
Talking about food, cooking and booking a table at a restaurant.
Talking about clothes, fashion and shopping for clothes.
Education and training: school and university studies.
News and media.
The weather and environment.
Health and some medical terms.
Arts and culture

Each unit of Book Two will cover some cultural background on one Middle Eastern country, describing some habits, heritage, etc.

Pronunciation

Short and long vowels: Fathah, Kasrah and Damma and ا ، و ، ي
Length phenomenon: vowels and consonants
Tanween, Shadda and Sukuun
Sun and Moon letters
Special Arabic Sounds
Linking and assimilation

Grammar

Gender
Personal pronouns
Attached pronouns
Nominal sentences
The definite article
Nouns and adjectives
'Yes' and 'No' questions
Interrogative particles & interrogative phrases
Prepositions
Idafa structure
Verb patterns: present tense
Verb patterns: past tense
Future tense
Negation of present, past and future
Added and doubled verbs
Weak verbs: some patterns.
The imperative

Skills

Listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Assessment Scheme

3 written exams and 1 oral test

Exam summary and skills weighting: Assessment

Marking criteria (written): Marking criteria (written), Arabic levels 1/2

Marking criteria (oral): Marking criteria (oral), Arabic 1/2