Elementary Modern Standard Arabic

							SYLLABUS
                                    Arabic 101
                                Providence College
                          School of Continuing Education


Course Objectives:

The main objective of this course is to bring students to a full mastery of Arabic sounds
and the Arabic writing system. In addition, students will be gin to use everyday
conversational Arabic, including a number of greetings and other common expressions,
and will acquire and learn to use a basic vocabulary. Finally, purely linguistic skills will
be complemented with a regular dose of cultural tidbits and discussio ns, with the goal of
awakening in students an awareness and an appreciation of the cultural context in which
the Arabic language is used.

       By the end of the course, students should, with relative ease, be able to:
       (1) Distinguish by ear all the sounds of the Arabic language;
       (2) Produce all the sounds of the Arabic language both in speech and in writing;
       (3) Sound out any given Arabic text composed of familiar words and expressions
               or else with the help of diacritical marks.
       (4) Comfortably use basic words and expressions in everyday speech situations.

Course Requirements:

       Students will be expected to make regular use of the DVDs accompanying the
       textbook, and to spend ample time on pronunciation and writing exercises outside
       class. It is imperative that students become thoroughly familiar with each new set
       of sounds and letters, and to complete all pronunciation and writing drills before
       coming to each class session. In-class time will be dedicated to drilling, dictation,
       reading and other activities designed with the assumption that students have
       already become conversant with the material at hand.

       The textbook used (see below) is composed of ten units. We will cover, on the
       average, one unit per week, starting with the second week of class. Our study of
       each unit will end with an in-class dictation designed to allow students to measure
       their mastery of the material covered. A formal quiz will be administered after the
       completion of every three units. There will be a total of three (3) such quizzes, in
       addition to the final examination.

       Evaluation: Students‟ final marks for the course will be based on the three in-class
       quizzes, the final exam, regular attendance coupled with active class participation,
       and the careful and timely preparation of homework assignments.
       Grades will be computed according to the following percentages:

       Attendance:           10%
       Participation:        10%
       Homework:             10%
       Quizzes (3):          45%
       Final Exam:           25%
       Total                 100%


       Required Text (includes 2 DVDs):
       Brustad, Kristen, Mahmoud Al- Batal and Abbas Al- Tonsi. Alif Baa with DVDs:
       Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds. Second Edition. Washington, D.C.:
       Georgetown University Press, 2004.


                             COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1
      • Introduction & Class Policies
      • Background on the Arabic Language
      • Greetings and other Basic Expressions
      • Map of the Arab World

Week 2 (Unit 1):

       • The Letters alif, baa‟, taa‟ and thaa‟
       • Short Vowels fatHa, Damma and kasra
       • Culture: Saying „Hello‟
       The Arabic Dialects

Week 3 (Unit 2):

       • Unit 1 Dictation
       • The Letters jiim, Haa‟ and khaa‟
       • sukuun as the Absence of a Short Vowel
       • waw and yaa‟ as Consonants „w‟ and „y‟
       • Culture: Polite Forms of Address

Week 4 (Unit 3):

       • Unit 2 Dictation
       • The Letter hamza (Glottal Stop)
       • The Letters daal, dhaal, raa and zaay
       • Culture: Meeting and Greeting People
               “al- Hamdu lillaah”
Week 5

      • Unit 3 Dictation
      • Comprehensive Review of Units 1-3

Week 6

      • * Quiz on Units 1-3
      • Doubling of Consonants: Shadda
      • The Letters seen, sheen, Saad and Daad
      • Grammatical Gender


Week 7 (Unit 5):

      • Review of Quiz on Units 1-3
      • Unit 4 Dictation
      • taa‟ marbuuTa
      • The Letters Taa‟, DHaa‟, „ayn and ghayn
      • Culture: Forms of Address

Week 8 (Unit 6):

      • Unit 5 Dictation
      • The Letters faa‟, qaaf, kaaf and laam
      • Expressions with „Allah‟
      • The Writing of laam-alif
      • Culture: „TafaDDal‟

Week 9

      • Unit 6 Dictation
      • Comprehensive review of Units 4-6

Week 10 (Unit 7):

      • * Quiz on Units 4-6
      • The Letters miim, nuun and haa‟
      • Alphabet Chart
      • Arabic Numerals and Numbers (1-10)
      • Culture: Coffee Time!

Week 11 (Unit 8):

      • Review of Quiz on Units 4-6
      • Unit 7 Dictation
      • The Definite Article: Alif Laam
      • hamzat al-wasl
      • Dagger alif
      • Culture: „salamtak!‟ & „ma „alehsh!‟

Week 12 (Unit 9):

      • Unit 8 Dictation
      • alif maqSuura
      • alif madda
      • hamza on yaa‟ seat
      • hamza on waaw seat
      • Culture: Visiting People

Week 13

      • Unit 9 Dictation
      • Comprehensive Review of Units 7-9
      • Review of Units 1-9

Week 14 (Unit 10):

      • tanween with fatHa, Damma and kasra
      • Writing One-Letter Particles: wa, li, bi and fa
      • Justification of Margins
      • Handwriting Styles
      • Culture: Development of the Arabic Writing System
      • Introduction to Arabic Calligraphy

Week 15

      • * Quiz on Units 7-9
      • Review for Final Exam

Week 16
             FINAL EXAM