Module ARA2178 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
ARA2178: Year Abroad with Work Placement B
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
The aims of this module are to advance your knowledge of Arabic grammar and syntax as well as reading, writing, speaking and listening skills through a wide range of authentic Arabic texts, to facilitate your acquisition of a spoken dialect of Arabic, and to immerse you in first-hand experience of Arab society and culture. This is done via Arabic language teaching, a media project as well as a work placement towards the end of your stay.
The work placement component of the module aims to guide you through the process of obtaining a work placement for an organisation/company based in the Middle East. It will promote knowledge and understanding of communicating in a practical working environment, whether in local/regional projects or as part of global frameworks within NGOs, media agencies and other organisations. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of individual projects and programmes in the context of working in a specific field in the Middle East. You will also monitor your own personal development through work experience before, during and after the work placement.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. read and understand a variety of Arabic texts including a range of linguistic styles such as in literature, poetry, religious texts and media; and demonstrate the ability to communicate in a spoken Arabic dialect and Compose spoken and written Arabic using correct grammar; 2. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the institutional and political context of at least one type of organization working in the Middle East; 3. describe, analyse and deploy one methodology in the area of Middle East and Islamic Studies in the final reflective placement report; and relate your personal experience on your work placement to existing scholarly literature in the context of working in your specific field in the Middle East; and 4. demonstrate familiarity with the specific academic fields relevant to the chosen project topic with regard to these fields methods and conventions; relevant bibliographies and secondary literature (in your available languages); and the current state of issues and problems in the relevant fields. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. demonstrate fluency in a spoken Arabic dialect and identify, describe and use a range of linguistic forms and structures in writing and in conversation; 6. demonstrate that you have assimilated information about another culture and have experienced at first hand the cultural and social aspects of an Arab country; and 7. exercise informed judgement concerning the practical constraints of organizations working in the region; understand the effect of the organizations institutional and political contexts on its policies and programmes; exhibit an understanding of the relationship between knowledge and practice and demonstrate knowledge of relevant literature in the field; 8. collate, analyse and assess material from a range of sources, including primary sources (where relevant); and understand and use relevant terminology, and handle different approaches in the field; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 9. adapt to living in a new environment and confidence in the use of a foreign language; 10. work independently and organise your own time to produce a substantial piece of research to a deadline and demonstrate time management skills through independent study, as well as working in pairs and groups in conversation and on text-based work; 11. develop a personal profile and curriculum vitae for work in the Middle East that demonstrates skills in Middle East and Islamic Studies; perform in a work environment in a manner in keeping with the expectations of the host organisation; |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment conducted by host institutions. This may include homework and coursework assignments. Host institutions may differ on methods of assessment | This will vary depending on the host institution | 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 | Oral and written feedback |
| One work placement application (in English) | One-page covering letters and a two-page CV | 11 | Oral feedback |
| One work placement review (in English) | Two-page personal development plan | 2, 3, 7 | Oral feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 85 | 0 |
...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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average taken from results of termly examinations | 85 | Set by host institution | 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 | Written Feedback |
| Work Placement | 15 | 1,000 words reflective project report | 2, 3, 7, 8 | Written Feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Termly examinations set by host institution | Written examination (3 hours) - 65%; Oral examination (10 minutes) 10%; Listening examination (30 minutes) 10%. | 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 | August/September reassessment period |
| Work Placement reflective project | Work Placement reflective project (1000 words) 15% | 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11 | August/September reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
If required a student will be offered a referred or deferred examination at the IAIS in August/September. The papers for the referred/deferred examinations will be set by the host institution and marked by IAIS (This includes oral, listening and written examinations). In cases of failure, students may be asked to withdraw from the MArabic programme, repeat the year abroad at their own expense, or potentially transfer to a three-year degree programme.
