Arabic courses
101. Elementary Arabic with Lab.
An introduction to Modern Standard Arabic and Arab culture, for students who have never studied Arabic. The course begins with an introduction to Arabic sounds and letters. The teaching and learning emphasize the functional use of Arabic and communication in context by means of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The course also introduces students to aspects of Arabic culture and everyday life in the Middle East. At the end of the course, students will be able to read and write Arabic at a basic level. Also offered through African Studies. This course meets one of two Diversity (DIV13) requirements.
102. Elementary Arabic with Lab.
This is a continuation of Arabic 101. Students learn to differentiate among verbs, nouns, and adjectives and to conjugate verbs in the present and the past. Emphasis is on the four communication skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Understanding more complex elements of Arabic culture and writing is stressed. Also offered through African Studies. This course meets one of two Diversity (DIV13) requirements and the ARTS requirement.
103. Intermediate Arabic with Lab.
This course is geared toward consolidating skills gained in Arabic 101 and 102 while enhancing the ability to converse and conduct oneself in Arabic. Reading skills are enhanced by exposure to more sophisticated examples of literature. Original written expression is encouraged through the composition of short essays. Prerequisite: Arabic 102 or equivalent. Also offered through African Studies.
104. Intermediate Arabic 104 with Lab
This course focuses on expressing yourself: talking about your experiences, expressing opinions and wishes, and presenting persuasive speeches. Social roles are practiced, and many cultural topics are discussed. Grammar is systematically reviewed. The course involves reading and discussing literary works, poems, biographies, and traditions of the Arab World. Arabic media (movies, songs, and online resources) supplement readings, expanding contexts, and vocabulary for further interaction in Arabic. In this class, students will learn popular Arabic songs and will practice reading and writing Arabic with increasing difficulty. Selected passages from the 1001 nights (Arabian Nights), Kalila wa dimna, Modern poems will also be introduced for analysis and discussion. This course satisfies the ARTS requirement.
201. Advanced Arabic (occasionally taught)
In this course, we focus on Arabic at the advanced level through an in-depth examination of grammar, and reading of selected texts to develop the student’s ability in the critical oral and written analysis of integral literary texts. Colloquial Arabic will be introduced (Lebanese). Many cultural subjects will be covered as many films will be discussed and analyzed.
203. Arabic Society through Graphic Novels and Films
Taught in English. This course examines Arabic society through films, graphic novels, and songs from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Special attention will be given to family, personal rights, gender relations, religion, freedom of speech, the Arab experience in the U.S., Arab American relations, and the general stereotypes associated with the region. A good deal of the course is intended to increase students' sensitivity to racial bias and sharpen their awareness of multicultural issues. The course material will be explored through films, songs, graphic novels, readings, and discussions based on the assigned readings and lectures. The films screened as part of the course will be analyzed as socially produced narratives that reveal some of the central tensions and concerns of the culture from which they emerged. Students will be introduced to various genres that characterize Arab cinema, such as epic, comedy, drama, documentary, and historical. This course fulfills the ARTS distribution. Also offered through African Studies & Film and Media.
489-490: Senior Year Experience (SYE)