Elementary Arabic Language I
| Module title | Elementary Arabic Language I |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARA1033A |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Giorgia Ferrari (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
Arabic is spoken by hundreds of millions of people across the world. It is also the language of the Quran, so many Muslims who are not Arabic speakers learn Arabic in order to understand the Quran. Learning Arabic is necessary for you to understand the culture, civilisation and history of the Arab World. It opens the doors for you to appreciate and enjoy the great wealth of literary works written in Arabic.
This is a core module for MArabic and Combined Honours students. This module introduces you to the basics of Modern Written Arabic morphology and syntax as well as the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening in Modern Standard Arabic and prepares you for more advanced Arabic language studies. No prior knowledge of Arabic is required for this module.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to introduce you to the basics of modern written Arabic starting with the alphabet and progressing to simple sentence structures. You will study elementary Arabic grammar and learn how to read and write Arabic. You will also learn how to speak Arabic with elementary fluency and understand what you hear through “listening” activities.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. read elementary texts on familiar topics and understand the main ideas with and without a dictionary, to read texts for basic understanding and finding specific information.
- 2. speak about yourself and your environment and carry out conversations on a variety of topics.
- 3. listen to simple Arabic texts and demonstrate an understanding of what you hear.
- 4. write simple sentences in Arabic using correct grammar and to translate simple sentences from English to Arabic and from Arabic to English
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. identify and use basic linguistic structures in writing and in conversation;
- 6. Use available learning aids in a variety of media, such as a reference grammar and bilingual dictionary, to consolidate learning;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. develop time management skills and demonstrate the capability to conduct independent study;
- 8. work in pairs and groups in conversation and on text-based work;
- 9. confidently use a foreign language;
- 10. use audio-visual material, online resources and the language laboratory.
- 11. work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Introduction to Arabic letters and sounds.
Introduction to Arabic grammar and syntax.
Introduction to some spoken dialects of Arabic.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | 168 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 88 | Lectures: These focus on explaining grammar topics, reading, writing and media. (8 hours per week over 11 weeks |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 44 | Language Workshops and Seminars: These are conducted in small groups and include Pair work, Group work, Language games and Language Lab work. (4 hours per week over 11 weeks) |
| Guided independent study | 40 | Homework assignments and preparation for class. |
| Guided independent study | 40 | Learning grammar |
| Guided independent study | 25 | Learning vocabulary. |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Listening and speaking practice. |
| Guided Independent study | 23 | Preparation for examinations. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation and revision for Arabic classes. This includes grammar drills, short pieces of writing and translation. | 100-300 words per week | 1-10 | Written and oral feedback in the classroom and outside |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 50 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 50 | 2 hours | 1,4,5,7,9,11 | Written and verbal feedback |
| Continuous assessment. Assessed homework assignments and in-class tests contribute to continuous assessment mark. An average mark will be taken of all the marks of both the assessed homework assignments and in-class tests | 30 | One 50-minute in-class test in the fourth week of the term, and one in the eighth week. | 1-10 | Written and verbal feedback |
| Oral test | 10 | 7 minutes | 2,5,9 | Verbal feedback |
| Listening test | 10 | 30 minutes | 3,9 | Written and verbal feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination 2 hours | Examination (2 hours) | 1,4,5,7,9,11 | January assessment period |
| Oral test | Oral test (7 minutes) | 2,5,9 | January assessment period |
| Listening test | Listening test (30 minutes) | 3,9 | January assessment period |
| Continuous Assessment | Written assignment under exam conditions (300 words in Arabic; 2 hours) | 1,4,5,7,9,10 | January assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Brustard, K, Al-Batal, M, Al-Tonsi A, Alif-Baa: An Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds
Brustad,K, Al-Batal, M, Al-Tonsi A, Al-Kitab (vol. I), Georgetown University Press, Washington DC 2004
Supporting Materials:
Wehr, Hans A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz, 1979
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2011 |
| Last revision date | 19/09/2019 |
