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.
- Important Notes
- Speaking Examinations Information for Students
- Test/exam marks in the Language Centre
- Grammar Skills
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