The University of Georgia

Arabic Language Program

Course Syllabus

ARAB 2004

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Instructor: Abdelkader Ben Rhit                         email: abdelkader_benrhit@yahoo.fr

                                                                                             benrhit@uga.edu

ARAB 2004: Class meets at (R 201) MWF: 4:40-5:30 pm

Office Hours: By appointment W.2:30 to 3:30 and Fri. 2:30 to 3:30

================================================================================== Instructional Materials:

1.     Al-Tonsi, A., Al-Batal, M., Brustad, K., Al-Kitaab fii Taallum al-Arabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic, Part Two, 2nd edition, Washington D. C.: Georgetown University Press, 2004

2.     Course Description:

This course provides additional practice to help students attain a higher level of skill development (e.g., listening, speaking, reading and writing) and linguistic accuracy. This course adopts a skill-based approach in which students gain mastery of the language through the use of authentic materials taken from various sources (Books, periodicals, videos, and magazines). The selection of the materials is based on the complexity of the tasks and the studentsÕ professional and personal interest. Teaching vocabulary and grammar is integrated to the skill-based activities, and is incorporated in the class activities as an aid to overcome any communication problems. Teaching techniques are student-centered, with the instructor as the facilitator, and the goal of teaching to make students independent users of Arabic. It is expected that students will make mistakes when creating with the language. Trial and error are necessary parts of language acquisition. All class sessions will be conducted mostly in Arabic.

Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students are expected to reach a proficiency level. Students will be able to achieve the following outcomes:

Listening:

Able to understand sentence-length utterances which consist of recombinations of learned utterances on a variety of topics. Content continues to refer primarily to basic personal background and needs, social conventions and somewhat more complex tasks, such as lodging, transportation, and shopping. Additional content areas include literature and history topics and activities, and a greater diversity of instructions and directions.

Speaking:

Able to handle successfully a variety of uncomplicated, basic, and communicative tasks and social situations. Can talk simply about self and family members. Can ask and answer questions and participate in simple conversations on topics beyond the most immediate needs; e.g., personal history and leisure time activities, narrate  stories and describe events. Utterance length increases slightly. Pronunciation may continue to be strongly influenced by first language and fluency may still be strained. Limited vocabulary still necessitates hesitation and may bring about slightly unexpected circumlocution 

Reading:

Able to read consistently with increased understanding simple, connected texts dealing with a variety of basic and social needs. Such texts are still linguistically noncomplex and have a clear underlying internal structure. They impart basic information about which the reader has to make minimal suppositions and to which the reader brings personal interest and/or knowledge. Examples may include short, straightforward descriptions of persons, places, things written for a wide audience. And speaker will be able to narrate short stories. 

Writing

Able to meet a number of practical writing needs. Can write short, simple letters. Content involves personal preferences, daily routine, everyday events, and other topics grounded in personal experience and non personal such as historical and literary matters. Can express present and past times. Evidence of control of the syntax of non-complex sentences and basic inflectional morphology, such as declensions and conjugation. Writing tends to be a loose collection of sentences or sentence fragments on a given topic and provides little evidence of conscious organization.

                                   

Evaluation:

Listening assignments, Homework, Quizzes, and Examinations:

CD work: It is required that you use the CDs that are sold with the textbooks at least an hour a day.

Homework: All homework will be on a Òdone/not done basis.Ó Late homework will not be accepted.

Vocabulary Quizzes: There will be quizzes on a weekly basis that cover the new vocabulary from the vocabulary lists in each lesson, and any other vocabulary used in the reading or dictation texts.

Pop-Quizzes: There will be regular surprise dictation quizzes (graded over 20 points)

General Quizzes: Every two weeks a 20-25 min. quiz on the grammar and vocabulary of the previous lessons. As learning any language is a cumulative procedure, these quizzes will also cover all points of grammar and vocabulary dealt with in previous lessons.

Midterm: Monday. February 25, 2008.

 

Active Class Participation

Students should participate in the classroom activities, which targets understanding and language production. These activities should be done on frequent basis. This requires from the students to come prepared to participate. Active participation entails the following:

(a)  Class attendance. Class attendance is obligatory. Students are allowed to miss only four hours of class for medical or emergency reasons.  Teachers should be notified within 24 hours. 

(b)  Homework assignments: Students are expected to submit their assignments on time. Late assignments will be corrected but will have a negative impact in your grade as shown in Appendix A.

The studentsÕ overall class participation will be graded according to the rating criteria in Appendix A.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

The written exams

It will test your mastery of vocabulary and grammar points. It also include reading, writing and listening tasks to assess the effective use of language in context. A typical exam contains 4 sections:

Listening Section:  Students will listen to an audio or video clip followed by general

                                 comprehension questions.

Grammar Section: The understanding of grammar is tested through multiple choice or

                                 sentence completion tasks.

Reading Section:    Reading comprehension will be test by short texts to check the general

                                 understanding of the text.

Writing Section:    At this level, students will be asked to write a paragraph or two about

                                 one of the topics they covered.

 

 

The scoring will be based on Appendix B. (The Scoring Scheme for Oral Grade)

 

Grading Scale

100-95

A

Pass

94-90

A-

Pass

89-87

B+

Pass

86-83

B

Pass

82-80

B-

Pass

79-75

C+

Fail

74 & below

F

Fail

 

Tips for Success

á       Remember: The teacher facilitates the work and only you can do the work.

á      Active participation in classroom activities requires your presence, and prior preparation. You are allowed to miss only 4 classes per semester. If you miss any extra class, one point per class will be deducted from your final grade.

á      Excused absences should be properly documented. In cases of emergencies, students should present their documents on the next day of return to class. The documents must be on a doctorÕs official stationary and be signed by the doctor. The excuse does not need to contain a description of the illness or medical treatment.

á      To be in good shape, at least an hour of outside classroom work is needed for every hour of classroom instruction.

á      Be on time; turn off all phones. 

 

 

 

Calendar of Activities and Assignments

Week

Activity

Home/classroom assignments/exams

Week 1

Begins 01/07/08

Review

Review

 

Week 2

Begins 01/14/08

Chapter 1                       ابن بطوطة

 

Ex. 1 page 5        

Week 3

Begins 01/21/08

Chapter 2

أعياد واحتفالات

 

Ex. 1 page 41        

Week 4

Begins  01/28/08

Chapter 3

من تاريخ الصحافة العربية

Ex. 8 page 74        

Week 5

Begins 02/04/08

Chapter 4

مهمة الجامعة

 

Ex. 8 page 112        

Week 6

Begins 02/11/08

Chapter 5

شخصيات من الأدب العربي

 

Ex.6 page 139

Week 7

Begins 02/18/08

شخصيات من الأدب العربي

To be continued

Ex.7 Page 144

Week 8

Begins 02/25/08

Chapter 6

من رائدات الحركة النسائية العربية

Midterm

Ex.4 Page 175 + Ex. 5 Page 177

Week 9

Begins 03/3/08

من رائدات الحركة النسائية العربية

To be continued

Write a paragraph describing one of the figures covered in the class.     

Week 10

Week 11

Begins 03/17/08

Spring Break 10-14 Monday –Friday

Chapter 7

ألف ليلة و ليلة

Write a story.

Ex.2 Page 207 + Ex.5 Page 209      

Week 12

Begins 03/24/08

ألف ليلة و ليلة

To be continued

Ex.10 Page 213+ Ex.12  Page 216

Week 13

Begins 04/07/08

Chapter 8

من التاريخ الإجتماعي الإسلامي

Ex.1 Page 237+Ex.2 Page 239

Week 14

Begins 04/14/08

Chapter 9

قضية الفصحى و العامية

Ex. 1 Page 274+Ex.2Page 275+Ex.6 Page 279

Week 15

Begins 21/04/08

Chapter 10

زواج الجيل الجديد

Ex.1 Page 309+Ex.2Page 310

April 28 Classes End

Final Exams April 30, May 1,2,5,6

Wed, Fri, Mon, Tues

Grades Due May 13

 

 

 

Appendix A

Assessment criteria for Active Class Preparation

 

Grade

Description

A

q      The student does not have unjustified absences in the class.

q      He submits all assignments and exams on time with 90% accuracy.

q      He takes an active role in class discussions.

q      His class presentations are carefully thought out and prepared.

B

q      The student has a maximum of 1 unjustified absence in the class.

q      He submits all his assignments on time with 85% accuracy.

q      He takes an active role in class discussions.

q      His class presentations are carefully thought out and prepared.

C

q      The student has a maximum of 2 unjustified absences in the class.

q      He has failed to submit a maximum of 2 assignments on time.

q      He submits his assignments with 80% accuracy.

q      He participates in class when called, but does not take an active role in class discussions.

q      His class presentations are carefully thought out and prepared.

D

q      The student has a maximum of 3 unjustified absences in the class.

q      He has failed to submit a maximum of 3 assignments on time.

q      He submits his assignments with 75% accuracy.

q      He participates in class when called, but does not take and active role in class discussion.

q      His class presentations are carefully thought out and prepared.

F

q      The student has more than 3 unjustified absences.

q      He has failed to submit a maximum of 3 assignments on time.

 

        THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CHOOSING THE

ARABIC COURSE AND WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST

بالتوفيق إنشاء الله