Place:

Department of Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences and Health Sciences (310) 825-1898 Quarter: Winter 2011

Arabic XL 1A Reg. # V9874 5 units

Instructor: Said F Abdelrahman C. Phil., Islamic Studies, UCLA E-mail: [email protected] Days/Time/Place: - 01/08/2011 -- 03/19/2011 - Saturdays: 9:00 pm – 1:00 pm - A68 Humanities Course Description: Elementary Arabic assumes no previous knowledge of written or spoken Arabic. It teaches Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is one of three distinct varieties of Arabic. MSA is the Arabic used in books, newspapers, and formal speech everywhere in the Arab world. Classical Arabic (CA) is the language of the Qur’an and Muslim prayer, of older religious, scientific, literary and historical texts and of Christian worship in some Eastern churches. Modern Standard Arabic and Classical Arabic are very similar and this class will prepare you to continue your study of either or both. The colloquial Arabic used in everyday speech is the third distinct variety of Arabic. Colloquial Arabic, which is usually not written, differs greatly from region to region. Although the DVDs that accompany the textbook contain some basic material in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, which is the dialect with the largest number of speakers, we shall not focus on the dialect in detail. The kind of Arabic taught in this class is understood throughout the Arab world, and knowing MSA will make learning a dialect easier later. Goals & Learning Objectives: The main objective of this course is to introduce the Arabic language to students in an atmosphere that combines fun with productivity. Many students approach the Arabic language with a feeling that is a difficult language, not easy to be learned. The course will address this concern, providing different tool and techniques, hoping to replace this feeling with that of a challenge that can easily be met with passion and dedication. The course constitutes two main parts. Part 1 deals with the Alphabet and its sounds. The objective of this part to enable students

to recognize Arabic words and hopefully to read simple Arabic texts. Part 2 will introduce students to basic vocabulary and simple sentence structure. Teaching and learning: Our teaching method is based on the idea that one learns to understand, speak, read and write a language by using it. Language learning takes time. Plan to spend as much time studying outside the class. Do not skip class! Much of the learning takes place in class, using videos, proficiency exercises and conversation. You will not be able to make up this work by studying at home. Good results (and good grades) are directly related to attendance. Try to use Arabic as much as possible in class. Ask your questions in Arabic. Greet the teacher and your classmate in Arabic. Speaking in Arabic will be difficult at first, but it is the best way to learn the language actively. With patience and practice it will become natural. If you already know some Arabic, you will find some parts of the course easy-but remember that Classical and Standard Arabic differ somewhat from Colloquial Arabic, and you cannot always rely on your knowledge of dialect to help you. Conversely, if you have no previous knowledge of Arabic, do not be discouraged if some of your classmates seem to know the language already. What they know is similar but not identical variety of Arabic, and the grammar rules of Standard Arabic are as new to them as they are to you. Finally, if you know another language that uses the Arabic alphabet, such as Persian or Urdu, you will soon realize that some of the letters have different sounds in Arabic than the ones you are used to; you will need to be especially careful to learn the correct Arabic pronunciation of these letters. Required Text: 1) K. Brustad, M. Al-Batal & A. Al-Tonsi, Alif Baa with DVDs, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2004). 2) Brustad et al, Al-Kitaab fii Ta‘allum al-‘Arabiyya with DVDs, Part I, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2004).

DVDs: The audio-visual materials on the DVDs are an integral part and required part of the course. Homework: There will be a written homework assignment for most classes. Please follow these guidelines for full credit: 1. Hand in a separate piece of paper with your name, section and the page exercise number. 2. Copy the sentence you are being drilled on, or enough of it so that we can figure out what it is you are supposed to be doing (and so that you can figure it out later when you review). For fill-in drills, however, you may photocopy the page. Please underline your answers for fill-in drills, otherwise your homework will be penalized. 3. Write neatly. Arabic script should be beautiful. Messy, scrawled homework will be 2

penalized. 4. Skip lines, leaving enough room so that we can write legible corrections for your assistance. 5. Assignments are to be done by yourself. If you ask someone else to explain a rule or to practice speaking with you, you should write out the assignment yourself afterwards. You must not have an Arabic-speaking friend correct your assignment before you hand it in. This is for your own benefit, as you will have an indication of how well you have learned the material, and you risk being subjected to university discipline if an instructor discovers what is happening. Copying is a violation of UCLA’s plagiarism policy, and can result in a grade of F for the entire course. 6. In the absence of a medical excuse, late homework will not be accepted. 7. Homework will be corrected, graded and returned to you. Keep a file of all homework for reference and review. You are encouraged to discuss particular questions with the instructors. Presentation Each student is required to do a presentation during week 9. The student will choose a subject that he likes to talk about and present it to the students in class. The presentation is about 7-10 minutes. In preparation for the presentation, the student is highly recommended to rely heavily on the vocabulary and the grammar he learned throughout the course. The goal of the presentation is not to increase the vocab as much as to use the already known vocab to express oneself effectively. Tests and grading : There will be graded dictations, written quizzes, oral presentation, and a final examination. There is no midterm. Each student is expected to prepare for class having done their homework, and ready to participate. Your course grades will be calculated as follows: • • • • • •

Homework/Class Participation: 25% Dictations: 10% Quizzes: 20% Dictionary: 5 % Oral Presentation: 10% Final: 30%

UCLA Extension Contact for this Course: Program representative: Jennifer Polutan [email protected] Student Records: Students can access and update student records online by visiting: www.uclaextension.edu and clicking on My.Extension on the left navigation bar, selecting 3

Student's Course Essentials, and following the directions to log in. Student's Course Essentials lets you view your grades, request an official transcript, change credit status on a current course, obtain enrollment verification, update your personal information, and much more. Accommodations: If you need any accommodations for a disability, please contact the UCLA Extension Disabled Student Services at: (310) 825-7851 or via e-mail [email protected]

Class schedule: Week 1 • Introduction to Arabic orthography and phonetics • Sound Exercises • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 1 • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 2 • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 3 • Understanding long vowels and short vowels • Listening: Dialogues of Units 1, 2 & 3 and learn vocabulary • Conversation: Greetings Week 2 • The Art of Arabic Calligraphy • Sound Exercises • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 4 • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 5 • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 6 • Comparing sounds • Understanding Al-lam al-Shamsiyyah wal-Qamariyyah • Introducing “Shaddah” • Listening: Dialogues of Units 4, 5 & 6 • Conversation: Introducing oneself Week 3 • QUIZ 1 • Making simple phrases and expressions • Sound out yourself: listen to the sounds and figure them out • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 7 • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 8 • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 9 4

• • • •

Learn your Numbers (1-10) Demonstrative articles and the dagger Alif Listening: Dialogues of Units 7, 8 & 9 Conversation: Introducing oneself (B)

Week 4 • Write your first sentences • Presentation of Alif Baa, Unit 10 • Alif Baa Song • Tanwin • Review • Review of Common Expressions • Dictation Week 5 • QUIZ 2 • Presentation Unit 1 (Al-Kitaab) • Grammar: o Gender (Masculine and Feminine nouns) o Definite article o An-Nisbah o Question words • Culture: Arabic Names • Mapping the Arab World • Conversation: Where do you live? • Writing: write your own story • Make “Your Dictionary” Week 6 • Vocab Quiz • Presentation Unit 2 (Al-Kitaab) • Grammar: o Subject Pronoun o Arabic Sentences: Nominal Sentence o Plurals • Culture: Arabic home • Conversation: What do you study? Where? Why? • Writing: My job Week 7 • QUIZ 3 • Presentation Unit 3 (Al-Kitaab) • Grammar: 5

• • • •

o Genitive Structure o Possessive Pronouns Culture: Arabic Family Conversation: My family Writing: family Tree Prepare for your PRESENTATION

Week 8 • Vocab Quiz and Dictation 2 • Presentation Unit 4 (Al-Kitaab) • Grammar: o Arabic Sentences: Verbal Sentence o Present Tense (Conjugation, Negation and Questions) o Indirect questions • Culture: Arab school system • Conversation: What school you went to and what you like about them? • Writing: My educational life (elementary, middle and high school life) Week 9 • Present “Your Dictionary” • Presentation Unit 5 (Al-Kitaab) • Grammar: o Noun-Adjective Structure o Adverbs o Demonstrative Articles Week 10 • Review • PRESENTATIONS

Week 11 •

Final Exam

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