Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ARA1015: Arabic for Beginners

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Aims

This module introduces the students to the rudiments of Modern Written Arabic and to the culture of the Arab World. Students are first introduced to the Arabic script, followed by the basics of Arabic grammar and syntax. The module aims to develop all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking, writing and cultural knowledge, by means of written texts and audio-visual clips. By the end of the course, students are expected to have achieved basic proficiency in the language.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Acquire the skills to read simple texts on familiar topics and understand the main ideas with and without a dictionary. 2. Use simple sentence structures, to ask questions and give information about oneself and one's environment and carry out basic conversation on a variety of topics. 3. Translate simple pieces of discourse to and from Arabic. 4. Listen to and understand simple audio clips in Modern Standard Arabic
Discipline-Specific Skills	5. Use a range of simple sentence structures and to be able to apply basic grammar rules in writing and in conversation.
Personal and Key Skills	6. Develop time management skills and ability to conduct independent study. 7. Work in pairs and groups in conversation and on text-based work. 8. Use CALL techniques and the language laboratory.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Alif Baa, Introduction to the Arabic Letters and Sounds

Al-Kitab 1 (Third Edition)

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
110	190	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	80	Lectures. Emphasis on active and passive learning, listening and reading skills, as well as developing confidence to speak Arabic
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	30	Group and pair work with emphasis on conversation and writing skills
Guided Independent study	22	Language laboratory work with the help of DVDs provided
Guided Independent study	22	Assessed in-class tests contribute towards continuous assessment mark. An average mark will be taken of all the marks of assessed in-class tests.
Guided Independent study	146	Private study

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Indicative Basic Reading List:

Brustad,K, Al-Batal, M, Al-Tonsi A, Alif-Baa: An Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds

Brustad,K, Al-Batal, M, Al-Tonsi A, Al-Kitab (vol. I), 3^rd Edition, Georgetown University Press, Washington DC 2011

Supporting Materials:

Wehr, Hans A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Wiesbaden, Harassowitz, 1976.