Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies.
Description
This is an MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) course for beginners. MSA is the common language in the 22 Arabic countries, and is widely spread in the inter-Arab media (such as al-Jazeera). This course will provide students with the basics in Arabic and give them a good background if they wish, later on, to learn one of the many dialects of the region. The course is based on an interactive method, giving space to the student to practice and to make sure he/she is progressing in the learning process. Based on an attractive text book, with audio visual material helping the student to efficiently improve pronunciation as well as listening and fluency skills, the course requires a lot of self-teaching at home. Introduction of communicative skills as well as grammar basics will be done through the story of Egyptian and Syrian students, introducing learners to an Arabic cultural environment.
Course objectives
This elementary course familiarises students with Arabic script and phonetics and aims at giving them the possibility to understand basic structures of MSA. With the following course in the second semester, it forms an integrated language course. At the end of the total learning process, participants will be able to read and understand simple texts (with help of the dictionary), to follow simple speeches, and to converse about routine matters.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
Three two hour seminars every week.
Assessment method
Learning aim Assessment Percentage Use of the target language to present and interact with correct pronunciation, vocabulary items and grammar In Class oral assignment (twice per semester) 10% Mastering Arabic script In class dictation test 10% Use of course contents, including vocabulary items, grammar, character writing I Written Exam 20% Understanding of basic conversations in the target language, use of target language to interact with native speaker Final Listening exam/Oral exam 30% Use of course contents, including vocabulary items, grammar, character writing II Final Written exam 30%### Blackboard
Blackboard will be used. Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.
Reading list
1) Compulsory Literature
Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, Abbas Al-Tonsi, Alif Baa, Introduction to Arabic letters and Sounds, Third Edition, 2010, Georgetown University Press. (For the two first weeks)
Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, Abbas Al-Tonsi, Al-Kitaab fii Ta’allum al-‘Arabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic, Part One, Second Edition, 2004, Georgetown University Press.
2) Recommended Literature & Other Sources (e.g. websites, Academic Journals, documentaries etc.)
Hans Wehr, A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (Arabic-English). Edited by J. Milton Cowan. Fourth Edition, considerably enlarged and amended by the author. (Ithaca, N.Y., 1994).
Registration
Students are requested to register through uSis, the registration system of Leiden University for this course. General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable