Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies programme.
For this course a minimum number of 8 participants is required. If the minimum number of participants is not met, the course will be cancelled.
You need to contact your coordinator of studies in order to check your language level and to do the entry test.
Description
This is the first of a three-course sequence that is designed for students who already have experience with Arabic. This course balances the use of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the written variety common to the 22 Arab countries, and Egyptian Arabic, the most widely used variety of spoken Arabic. The final objective of this course series is to obtain an intermediate level of proficiency in Arabic, aimed at communication with people in the region in everyday social situations and enabling students to follow current affairs in the region via various media.
Course objectives
Students will use relevant grammatical and lexical Arabic structures to perform language functions typical of pre-intermediate level: such as giving reasons, referring to past and present events, negation in a variety of time frames, and expressing opinion and habits.
| Skill | CEFR Level |
|---|---|
| Reading | A1+ |
| Writing | A1+ |
| Listening | A1+ |
| Speaking | A1+ |
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Tutorials
Three two-hour tutorials every week, with the exception of the midterm and exam weeks. Preparation, attendance and active participation are obligatory for all tutorial sessions. This course is offered as part BA International Studies, which is a full-time program of study, and therefore work commitments, holidays, or overseas travel do not constitute valid reasons for absence. The lecturer should be informed in writing of any classes to be missed for a valid reason (i.e., due to unforeseen circumstances that are beyond the student’s control, such as documented illness, family bereavement, problems with residence permits, victim of crime, or railway delays). In case of a justified absence, it is up to the Lecturer to decide whether the missed class should be made up with an extra assignment. The maximum of justified absences during a semester is five. Being absent will result in a lowering of the participation grade by 50% for every absence after the first five (5) times. Absence without notification and approval could result in a grade deduction, work not being marked or a failing grade for the course.
Assessment method
Assessment
- The final grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of the following:
Weighing
| Partial grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Projects | 20% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Quizzes | 10% |
| Participation | 10% |
| Midterm Exam | 20% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
End Grade
To successfully complete the course, please take note that the End Grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of the in-class oral and listening performance, and written exams.
The End Grade needs to be a 6.0 or higher to pass the course.
Resit
If the End Grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), there is a possibility of taking a resit exam. The grade for the resit exam will replace that of the final exam and quizzes (40% of the final grade). No resit for the tutorial (homework, or projects) is possible.
The BA International Studies program does not allow students to resit passed (constituent) examination(s) within the language courses. Language acquisition is, primarily, accomplished through in-class acquisition activities and practical assignments which contribute to the (final) examination. The diverse structure of the language courses and characteristics of language acquisition therefore withhold the possibility to resit a passed examination.
Exam review and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Al-Kitaab Part One, Third Edition (Book + Companion Website Access), Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
Additional material as deemed appropriate by instructor.
Registration
Enrolment for the workgroup through My Studymap is mandatory.
No enrolment needed for the language exams.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Student Affairs Office for BA International Studies
Remarks
Passing this course is an additional requirement for a positive Study Recommendation at the end of the year.
This course uses an integrated communicative language learning approach. Therefore, active participation in the classroom activities is essential for successful learning outcomes.