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.

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 Skills1. 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 Skills5. 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 organization’s 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 Skills9. 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;