Module ARA1015 for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
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.
| 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).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening/ writing homework | 10 assignments; 30 minutes per assignment (book unit) | 1, 4 | verbal |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 60 | 10 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 60 | 120 minutes | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Written feedback |
| Oral and listening exam | 10 | 30 minutes listening and 5 minutes oral exam | 1-5 | Written and oral feedback |
| Continuous assessment | 30 | Ten in-class tests of 30 minutes each | 1, 3, 5, 6 | Class feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Examination - 90% | 1, 2, 3, 5 | August/September assessment period |
| Oral and listening exam | 30 minutes listening and 5 minutes oral exam - 10% | 1-5 | August/September assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Referral/ deferral examination: 1 x 2 hour written paper: to replace continuous assessment and examination 90%.
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), 3rd Edition, Georgetown University Press, Washington DC 2011
Supporting Materials:
Wehr, Hans A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Wiesbaden, Harassowitz, 1976.
