Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ARA2148: Arabic for Beginners II

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to enhance your reading, writing and communication skills in Modern Written Arabic. 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, you are expected to have achieved basic to intermediate 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. Use grammatical tools learned on the module to create and understand complex sentences that include main and subordinate clauses; 2. Use acquired vocabulary to converse and write on a range of topics, including: oneself; friends, family and colleagues; work; and location 3. translate basic pieces of discourse between Arabic and English; 4. understanding of simple audio-visual clips in Modern Standard Arabic.
Discipline-Specific Skills	5. Apply elementary grammar rules in writing and in conversation; 6. read more advanced texts on a variety of topics and understand the main ideas with and without a dictionary.
Personal and Key Skills	7. Develop time management skills and ability to conduct independent study; 8. Work in pairs and groups in conversation 9. Demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Learning/Teaching Methods

Interactive language learning approach: Pair work, group work, and work in the language laboratory. Emphasis on active and passive learning, listening and reading skills, as well as developing confidence to speak Arabic. Directed independent learning and private study.

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	66	Lectures (3 hrs/wk, scheduled). Emphasis on active and passive learning, listening and reading skills, as well as developing confidence to speak Arabic.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	44	Group and pair work (2hrs/week, scheduled) with emphasis on conversation and writing skills.
Guided Independent study	22	Language laboratory work with the help of DVDs provided
Guided Independent study	22	Preparation for 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, including reviewing new grammar rules learned in class; learning vocabulary; practising grammar and vocabulary through drill exercises; preparatory reading and vocabulary acquisition; reading for comprehension and language development; listening to and watching audio-visual materials; writing short compositions; web-based activities; revising for examinations.

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	1,3	Verbal and/or written

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	50	20

...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	50	3 hours	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9	Written feedback
Listening examination	10	30 minutes	1, 3, 4, 7, 9	Written and/or oral feedback
Oral examination	10	7 minutes	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9	Oral feedback
Continuous assessment	30	One test in the fifth week of each term, and one in the tenth week	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9	Written and/or oral feedback
	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 (3 hours)	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9	August/September reassessment period
Listening Examination	Listening examination (30 minutes)	1, 3, 4, 7, 9	August/September reassessment period
Oral Examination	Oral examination (7 minutes)	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9	August/September reassessment period
Continuous assessment	Written assignment (300 words in Arabic, 2 hrs)	3, 4, 5, 7	August/September reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

The examination replacing the continuous assessment will focus on essay composition in Arabic and on translation of extended texts in Arabic and English.