Elementary Arabic I & II

THIS COURSE FULFILLS FOUR CREDITS OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES CORE REQUIREMENT IN THE HUMANTITIES AREA OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDIES PROGRAM

COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructor: Rana A. Mikati Office: FL Somsen

Office Hours: M,W 1:00-12:00 or by appointment. E-Mail: [email protected]

Course Material:

1) Alif Baa, an intrduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds by Brustad, Al-Batal & Al- Tonsi, Georgetown University Press, ISBN-1-58901-102-3. This book comes with DVDs that you will use every night. We will use this text book for almost the first 2 months.

2) Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya, Part I by Brustad, Al-Batal & Al-Tonsi, Georgetown university Press, ISBN- 1-58901-104-X. This book also comes with DVDs and we will use it after finishing Alif Baa, beginning in early November.

Composition of Grade:

1. Attendance and Participation (25%): You must attend classes and come prepared to participate fully in class activities. This means listening to CDs, any recommended online material and learning new vocabulary and structure so that you can actively use them in class. The WSU policy on excused absences will be applied (see Student Handbook ). For unexcused absences: do not skip class as it will affect your grade negatively. Please inform us of absence as soon as possible before-not after- the class you will miss.

2.Attendance Assignments(25%): There will be written assignments due at the beginning of each class on the day designated in the syllabus. Late homework assignments may be checked but will not be given any credit unless excused by the teacher. You are encouraged to study and work on homework assignments together, with the stipulation that each student must participate fully in doing the work and must submit her/his own individual paper. Please hand in homework written out on a separate sheet of paper. It is important to follow up on any instructor’s comments on your homework, and it is your responsibility to come to office hours or make an appointment to see me.

3. Quizzes and Presentations(25%): There will be several short quizzes (15-20 minutes each) and 3-4 oral presentations (some in groups). You will be informed of the dates of these quizzes and presentations at least a week in advance, if there were any changes in the syllabus.

4.Mid term Exam(10%):

5.Final Examination(15%): The final examination will be comprehensive and will test all the skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Grade Scale: A (100-90%) B (89-80%) C (79-70%) D (69-60%) F (59-0%)

Pass/No credit option: “D” or higher

Retro-active credit policy:

The department recommends that students who meet the prerequisites for French, German, or Spanish 101, 102, or 201 enroll in the next higher elementary or intermediate course. By earning a grade of “A” or “B” in WSU’s language courses 102, 201, or 202, students may obtain retroactive credit for course 101 and any sequel courses below the course in which they earned the “A” or “B.” Qualifying students may apply for retroactive credit by completing the appropriate form(s) and paying a fee of $5 per credit in order to receive a grade of “P” (pass) in the appropriate course(s). For information about credit by examination, see page 23 of the course catalog. The foreign language faculty reserves the right to depart from these guidelines when warranted by exceptional circumstances.

Student Learning Curriculum Outcomes:

Upon graduation, students earning this degree should be able to: LANGUAGE STRUCTURE AND VOCABULARY 1. Identify the forms and uses of various verb tenses and moods as appropriate in given contexts. 2. Select grammatically correct words, phrases or sentences, including idiomatic expressions, to complete given sentences and passages. 3. Construct sentences from specified elements, (e.g., words, phrases, and clauses). 4. Apply conventions of spelling, capitalization, punctuation and format as appropriate for given contexts. 5. Understand language as a system. LISTENING 1. Derive essential information from oral messages in real-life situations. 2. Respond appropriately to nonverbal cues as they relate to verbal messages. SPEAKING In response to a given prompt, appropriately and effectively communicate a message, provide information or description, and tell a story. READING Demonstrate comprehension of everyday authentic materials such as instructions, newspapers, commonly used reference works, advertising copy, menus, transportation schedules, travel guides, etc. WRITING In response to an assigned topic, write a well-organized, cohesive passage of several paragraphs (approximately 200-250 words) that carries out a specific task such as narrating an event in the appropriate tense(s); describing a person, place or thing; analyzing a situation or text; persuading through rational argumentation.

University Studies Humanities Requirement Outcomes:

A. Identify and understand specific elements and assumptions of a particular Humanities discipline

Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources (e.g. media and online materials), and a variety of assessments (e.g. tests, quizzes, drills, presentations, feedback, and collaborative learning), students will:

 understand language as a system  practice and master the sounds of L2 (Target language)  study grammatical concepts and analysis  gain level-appropriate proficiency in the target language  appreciate the two-fold nature of language learning (cognitive and behavioral response)  correct L1 (native language) interference  consciously analyze features of language that are automatic in L1  contrast with those features which must be acquired in L2  comprehend language as the clearest and most fundamental reflection of a culture, civilization, and social reality

B. Understand how historical context, cultural values, and gender influence perceptions and interpretations

Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources, and a variety of assessments, students will:

 learn that native speakers classify, define, structure, and conceptualize the world in categories that may differ from those of the students  discuss how these categories establish and reflect different cultural, social, historical, and gender expectations  explore through examples “invisible” cultural differences and deal with them constructively and creatively  study the contemporary cultures of the Arabic-speaking world with regard to historical, social, and linguistic differences despite the “common” language

C. Understand the role of critical analysis (e.g. aesthetic, historical, literary, philosophical, rhetorical) in interpreting and evaluating expressions of human experience

Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources, and a variety of assessments, students will:

 consistently compare and analyze the target language and variant cultures in order to produce culturally accurate interpretations of aesthetic, social, historical, and linguistic material  acquire the ability to understand and speak L2 actively  perceive and experience the world through the medium of a new language and culture  view their native language and culture with greater objectivity  learn to differentiate the subtleties distinguishing the cultures of the Arabic speaking world