Arabic level 3
A Post-A/S Level or equivalent module in Arabic language and culture
Module details
- Offered to 3rd & 4th Years
- Thursdays 16.00-18.00
- 2 term module worth 7.5 ECTS
- Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
- Extra Credit or Degree Credit where your department allows
A communicative module for students with some prior knowledge of the Arabic language and culture of the Arabic-speaking countries.
This module aims to:
- Further develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in a range of contexts regularly encountered in daily life, e.g. at work, college, and leisure
- Familiarise students with commonly used patterns, clusters and collocations in Arabic, e.g. word order, idioms, common usage and regular structures
- Equip students with the knowledge, skills, tools and ‘know how’ to become autonomous learners
- Give an insight into the culture, society and daily life in the Arabic-speaking countries and explore the relationship between language and culture
By the end of the module, students should have reached approximately the B1+ standard of the Common European Framework (CEFR)
To be eligible for this module you need to have done one of the following:
- Successfully completed Arabic Level 2
- Gained an Arabic A/S level Qualification
- Already achieved A2+ or equivalent on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
Information blocks
Learning outcomes
This module will equip you with the ability to:
- interact adequately and deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in the Arab World
- understand the main points of clear and slow standard speech on familiar matters relating to personal or professional interest, e.g. radio or TV programmes, current affairs and others
- read and understand texts relating to high frequency everyday or job-related language
- enter unprepared into conversation on familiar topics of personal or professional interest
- use cohesive devices to connect sentences, give reasons and explanations, and narrate a short story or relate the plot of a film
- describe hopes, wishes, dreams, ambitions and plans
- use cultural knowledge and insights to analyse and understand new situations, traditions and practices
Indicative core content
Language
- the negative particle ‘laysa’;
- interrogatives and question words;
- ‘amma’ and ‘fa’ (as for ….); ordinal numbers;
- the prepositions ‘ilaa’ and ‘3ala’ + pronouns;
- object pronouns; the subjunctive; quantifiers (e.g. all, several, no one, each, every);
- the adjectival sentence;
- the comparative and superlative: ‘af3al’ form;
- conjugation of verbs with a vowel letter: (initial, medial, final);
- negation of the future: ‘lan’;
- ‘kaana’ and its sisters;
- ‘inna’ and its sisters; the jussive mood: ‘lam’;
- verbs with doubled ending; conjugation of ‘maa zaala’
Topics
- daily activities and living with the extended family;
- the ‘family house’; social clubs: ‘al-nadi’;
- media Arabic;
- the weekend;
- friendships and relationships;
- personalities and life styles;
- a hotel guide;
- life-changing decisions;
- biographies;
- working and studying abroad;
- Edward Said immigration and nostalgic feelings
Assessment
- Coursework 40% - 4 pieces of written coursework (may include in-class tests)
- Written examination 35% - A two-hour written examination at the end of the Spring term
- Oral examination 25% - A 20-minute oral examination at the end of the module
Key information
- 7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
- Available to take for credit towards your degree where your department allows. Also available for extra-credit.
- You must be prepared to attend all classes and and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.
Coursebook: Brustad, K. et al. 2004. Al-Kitaab fi Ta ‘allum al-‘Arabiyya (Part I, with DVDs). Georgetown University Press, supported by additonal materials
Dictionary: Cowan, J.M. 1999. The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic. Fourth Edition. Spoken Language Services.
Relevant websites:
"I really enjoy going to my Horizons class, the module is very interesting and I like the fact that we are a small group, which allows for everyone to talk equally and receive strong feedback."