Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Arabic 1030 - Arabic for Beginners
Course Outline - Fall/Winter, 2008/2009

Instructor: Dr. Yahya Kharrat
Office: UC 253
Phone: 519-661-2111 x85099
Office hours: Monday/Wednesday 1:30-2:30
Tuesday/Thursday 2:30-3:30
Email: ykharrat@uwo.ca

Course Description:

This course aims to develop the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing through the application of grammatical structures and vocabulary development. Aural-oral practice is emphasized in class making students acquire essential conversational skills. Students will learn the Arabic script and sound system, enabling them to read and write simple texts. Besides teaching grammar and language skills, the course will introduce to students significant aspects of Arabic Culture.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to read and write the Arabic alphabet, individual words and numbers, and short sentences; formulate and respond to simple questions; engage in conversations involving greetings and introducing one's self; know general expressions and short phrases that provide important information like gender, age, grade, and nationality; and become familiar with the basic culture of the Arab World.

Prerequisites: This course is intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Arabic. Placement test is given to students beside an oral interview to determine their eligibility for this class.

Antirequisites: Former Arabic 030, Arabic 02, grade 12U

Text and Materials:

Alosh, M., Ahlan wa Sahlan, Functional Modern Standard Arabic for Beginners. Yale University Press.
10-CD Audio Program for Ahlan wa Sahlan [AUDIOBOOK], recommend but not required.
Supplementary materials and exercises provided by the instructor.
*Students must bring the textbook to every class
*Students need to make sure their UWO e-mail account is operational. We use e-mail all the time!

Class Schedule (Section 002):

Tuesday: 03:30 - 05:30 pm - STAB 123
Thursday: 03:30 - 05:30 pm - STAB 123

Student Evaluation:

The following is the distribution of marks:

Tests 30%
Assignments 15%
Dictation 10%
Participation & attendance 10%
Final exam 35%

Attendance and Participation:

Attendance is mandatory. There will be sign-up sheets for each class to record attendance. Students are expected to participate in classroom discussions; students' participation is taken into consideration. Student is responsible for any material she or he missed, and handing in assignment on time. Please turn off cellular phones, ipod, and other electronic gadgets before coming to class.

Tests, Assignments, and Dictations:

There will be three tests, three dictations, and three assignments each term. Students must read the course outline to know the date of every one. There will be NO second chance if you miss any one of them. However, if there is a compelling reason why you are unable to finish the assignment, write the dictation, or take the test, please speak to the instructor in advance.

Lecture Topics (tentative)

TOPIC NOTES

September
04 Introduction to the Course
09 Lesson I
11 Lesson I (Cont.)
16 Lesson II
18 Lesson II (Cont.)
23 Lesson III Dictation #1
25 Lesson III (Cont.) Assignment #1 due
30 Lesson IV

October
02 Lesson IV (Cont.) TEST #1
07 Lesson V
09 Lesson V (Cont.)
14 Lesson VI
16 Lesson VI (Cont.)
21 Lesson VII Assignment #2 due
23 Lesson VII (Cont.) Dictation #2
28 Lesson VIII
30 Lesson VIII (Cont.)

November
04 Lesson IX TEST #2
06 Lesson IX (Cont.)
11 Lesson X Dictation #3
13 Lesson X (Cont.)
18 Lesson XI Assignment #3 due
20 Lesson XI (Cont.)
25 Lesson XII
27 Lesson XII (Cont.) TEST #3

December
02 Lesson XIII

January
06 Lesson XIII (Cont.)
08 Lesson XIV
13 Lesson XIV (Cont.) Dictation #4
15 Lesson XV
20 Lesson XV (Cont.) Assignment #4 due
22 Lesson XVI
27 Lesson XVI (Cont.)
29 Lesson XVII TEST #4

February
03 Lesson XVII (Cont.)
05 Lesson XVIII Dictation #5
10 Lesson XVIII (Cont.)
12 Lesson XIV
17 READING WEEK
19 READING WEEK
24 Lesson XIV (Cont.)
26 Lesson XIX Assignment #5 due

March
03 Lesson XIX (Cont.)
05 Lesson XX TEST #5
10 Lesson XX (Cont.) Dictation #6
12 Lesson XXI
17 Lesson XXI (Cont.) Assignment #6 due
19 Lesson XXII TEST #6
24 Lesson XXII (Cont.)
26 Lesson XXIII
31 Lesson XXIII (Cont.)

April
02 Review for the final
07 Review for the final

Policies and Procedures:

Please Note: You are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully completed all course prerequisites (or have special permission from your Dean to waive the prerequisite) and that you have not taken an antirequisite course. If you are not eligible for the course, you may be removed from it at any time, and it will be deleted from your record. In addition, you will receive no adjustment to your fees. These decisions cannot be appealed.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a major academic offense (see Scholastic Offense Policy in the Western Academic Calendar). Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else's verbatim or paraphrased text in one's own written work without immediate reference. Verbatim text must be surrounded by quotation marks or indented if it is longer than four lines. A reference must follow right after borrowed material (usually the author's name and page number). Without immediate reference to borrowed material, a list of sources at the end of a written assignment does not protect a writer against the possible charge of plagiarism. The University of Western Ontario uses a plagiarism-checking site called Turnitin.com.

Absenteeism: Students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any missed tests, exams, participation components and/or assignments must apply to the Academic Counseling office of their home Faculty and provide documentation. Academic accommodation cannot be granted by the instructor or department.

UWO's Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness (https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm)
Downloadable Student Medical Certificate (SMC): https://studentservices.uwo.ca under the Medical Documentation heading