Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I

Course Description

USF Code: ARA 2220

GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION  

Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I is the first semester of Intermediate –level Modern Standard Arabic. The course will expand and further develop the students understanding and effective use of Modern Standard Arabic, focusing on Chapters eight through eleven of Al-Kitaab (Part 1). The number of chapters covered may be increased if the students exhibit sufficient progress and proficiency in their studies to move forward.  Please note that the first three hours of this semester is for a focused review of vocabulary and grammar listed in Chapters seven.
 
METHOD AND APPROACH

In this program we will follow the steps of (Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum Al-Arabiyya Part Two with its DVDs) chapter by chapter; we may introduce some changes if necessary. The student will prepare the lessons at home, do homework exercises on DVD, listen to texts, read vocabulary and write short sentences or comment about the contents of the texts. Classroom work consists of further practice and clarification of ambiguities. 
 
EXAMPLES OF CLASS ACTIVITIES 

• Listening to the texts in DVDs.  
• Reading and Comprehension of the texts.  
• Making a conversation with classmates.  
• Listening to songs or conversations between people.  
• Writing an essay or decrypting some situations.
• Discussing a subject or topics.  
• Learning grammatical rules in context.  

 
COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this semester you will have progressed from Intermediate I to Intermediate II. The course objective is to strengthen and build upon your foundation at the intermediate level in reading, writing, speaking and listening to MSA. There will be a continued emphasis on developing and refining all language skills, particularly further expanding vocabulary learning and narration in present, past, and future time frames. You will further develop the ability to use the language communicatively and creatively, by using strategies for successful second language learning. Students will give frequent 10-15 minute oral presentations to develop oral production skills and proficiency. Throughout the course materials will be used to provide exposure to various aspects of the language, culture and history of the Arabic speaking world. Additionally, you will learn to use an Arabic dictionary.