Arabic Language Courses (ARAB)
001. Beginning Arabic I. (A) Sayed. See the CGS Course Guide. **This
course does not fulfill the College language requirement.
This is a beginner course in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It
will introduce you to the speaking, listening, reading, and
writing skills in the standard means of communication in
the Arab world.
The course is proficiency-based, implying that all activities
are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context of the
native-speaking environment from the very beginning. Evaluation
is done by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary
tests, dictations, grammar and translation exercises). We
anticipate that by the end of this course (ARAB 002) students
will range in proficiency from Novice High to Intermedaite
Low on the ACTFL scale; in other words (using the terminology
of the government's Foreign Service Institute), from 'incipient
survival' to 'full' survival' in the native-speaking environment.
002. Beginning Arabic II. (B) Sayed. Prerequisite(s): ARAB 001 or
permission of the instructor. See the CGS Course Guide. **This
course does not fulfill the College language requirement.
003. Continuing Arabic III. (A) Sayed. Prerequisite(s): ARAB 002 or
permission of the instructor. See the CGS Course Guide. **This
course does not fulfill the College language requirement.
This is the continuation of ARAB001 and ARAB 002, the elementary
course in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). This course
is also proficiency-based, implying that all activites within
the couse are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context
of the native-speaking environment from the very beginning. As
in ARAB 001-002, evaluation is done by the more traditional
testing methods (vocabulary tests, grammar and translation
exercises). Completion of this course fulfulls the
College of General Studies language requirement in Arabic
but not the requirement of the School of Arts and Sciences. However,
it should be emphasized that you will need a longer period
of study to achieve proficiency in Arabic. We anticipate
that students range from Intermediate Low to Intermediate
High according to the ACTFL scale.
004. Continuing Arabic IV. (B) Sayed. Prerequisite(s): ARAB 003 or
permission of the instructor. See the CGS Course Guide. **This
course does not fulfill the College language requirement.
031. (ARAB631) Elementary Arabic
I. (A) Staff.
This is the non-intensive beginners course in Modern Standard
Arabic (MSA). It will introduce you to the speaking, listening,
reading and writing skills in the standard means of communication
in the Arab World.
The course is proficiency-based,implying that all activities
within the course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in
the context of the native-speaking environment from the very
beginning.
032. (ARAB632) Elementary Arabic II. (B) Staff. Prerequisite(s): ARAB 031.
033. (ARAB633) Intermediate Arabic
III. (A) Staff.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 032 or equivalent.
This is the continuation of the non-intensive Elementary course
in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). This course is also
proficiency-based, implying that all activities within the
course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context
of the native-speaking environment from the very beginning.
034. (ARAB634) Intermediate Arabic IV. (B) Staff. Prerequisite(s): ARAB 033.
035. (ARAB635) Advanced Intermediate
Arabic I. (A) Staff. Prerequisite(s): ARAB 034.
This is a proficiency-based course which continues from the
first intermediate course, ARAB 033. Emphasis continues
to be on all four language skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, & Writing. The
readings for the class are chosen from actual texts from
both medieval and modern Arabic in a variety of fields and
subjects. Students will be expected to give classroom
presentations and to write short essays in Arabic.
Evaluation will be both Achievement- and proficiency- based. The
test of speaking ability will consist of the Oral Proficiency
Interview.
036. (ARAB636) Advance Intermediate Arabic II. (B) Staff. Prerequisite(s): ARAB 035.
037. (ARAB637) Advanced Arabic
and Syntax I. (A) Rushdie.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 36 or permission of the instructor.
Advanced syntax through the reading of Arab grammarians. Development
of reading in bulk. Emphasis on classical Arabic read
in works by medieval and modern writers. This course
is designed to give the student experience in reading whole
works in Arabic and giving reports on them.
038. (ARAB638) Advanced Arabic & Syntax II. (B) Staff. Prerequisite(s): ARAB 037.
039. (ARAB639) Colloquial Arabic.
(C) Staff.
A one-semester, introductory course to the spoken Arabic of
the Levant region: Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Israel.
131. Intensive Elementary Arabic
I&II. (L) Staff.
Offered through the College of General Studies Summer Session
I.
This is the beginners' course in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It
will introduce the student to speaking, listening, reading,
and writing skills in the standard means of communication
in the Arabic world. The course is proficiency-based,
implying that all activities are aimed at placing the student
in the context of the native-speaking environment from the
very beginning. Evaluation is done by the more traditional
testing methods (vocabulary tests, dictations, grammar and
translation exercises). We anticipate that by the end
of this course students will range in proficiency from Novice
High to Intermediate Low on the ACTFL scale; in other words
(using the terminology of the government's Foreign Service
Institute) from 'incipient survival' to 'full survival' in
the native-speaking environment.
133. Intensive Intermediate Arabic
I&II. (L) Staff.
Offered through the College of General Studies Summer Session
I.
This is a six-week intensive course offered in the summer
through the College of General Studies; see the Penn Summer
Course Guide.
This is the continuation of ARAB031-32 or ARAB 131, the elementary
course in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). This course is
also proficiency-based, implying that all activities within
the course are aimed at placing the student in the context
of the native-speaking environment from the very beginning. As
in ARAB 031-032 or ARAB 131, evaluation is done by the more
traditional testing methods (vocabulary tests, grammar and
translation exercises). Completion of this course fulfills
the College of Arts and Sciences language requirement in Arabic. However,
it should be emphasized that the student will need a longer
period of study to achieve proficiency in Arabic. We
anticipate that students range from Intermediate Low to Intermediate
High according to the ACTFL scale.
135. Intensive Advanced Intermediate
Arabic I&II. (L) Staff. Offered through the College of General Studies Summer
Session I.
This is a six-week intensive course offered in the summer
through the College of General Studies; see Penn Summer Course
Guide. It continues from the first intermediate course,
ARAB 033/034 or ARAB 133.
Emphasis continues to be on all four language skills: speaking,
listening, reading, and writing. Students will be expected
to give classroom presentations and to write short essays in
Arabic. Evaluation will be both achievement-based and
proficiency-based. There is no Oral Proficiency Interview at
the end of this session, but we anticipate that by the end
of this, third year students will range in proficiency from
Intermediate High to Advanced Mid on the ACTFL scale.
331. (ARAB531) Advanced Spoken
Standard Arabic. (C) Staff.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 035 (AMES 033).
The course will concentrate on the reading and speaking skills
at the advanced level. Students will be assigned reading
and audio-visual materials on which to prepare oral classroom
presentations.
Final examination in the course will be based on performance
in the oral proficiency interview.
332. (ARAB532) Advanced Arabic
Composition. (M) Staff.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 035 (AMES 033).
Development of writing skills within a variety of subjects. Extensive
readings in various prose techniques and a thorough review
of Arabic grammar.
SM 432. (COLL226, COML432) Arabic
Readings in Belles-Lettres. (A) Arts & Letters Sector. All Classes. Allen. Prerequisite(s):
Proficiency in ARAB 035.
Readings in Arabic texts taken from a variety of literary
genres from all periods. The course aims to improve
reading skills and vocabulary by introducing students to
extensive passages taken from Arabic literature.
433. Arabic Readings in the Social
Sciences and the Media. (K) Distribution Course in Society. Class of 2009 & prior
only. Staff. Prerequisite(s): Proficiency in ARAB 035.
This course is designed to train students interested in a
professional career involving the use of Arabic written materials. The
texts are selected to reflect various topics and styles. An
additional specialized glossary will be
SM 435. Readings in Islamics. (M) Lowry. Prerequisite(s): Completion
of ARAB 035, Advanced Intermediate Arabic; or permission
of the instructor.
This course provides practice in reading pre-modern classical
Arabic texts drawn from a variety of intellectual disciplines,
especially (but not exclusively) the religious sciences.
SM 436. Introduction to Classical
Arabic Texts. (C) Lowry.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of ARAB 035, Advanced Intermediate
Arabic; or permission of the instructor.
This course aims to provide incoming graduate students and
advanced undergraduate students with an introduction to issues
in Arabic grammar and syntax that commonly arise in pre-modern
Arabic texts.
Students will also be introduced to, and expected to consult,
the standard reference works used as aids in reading such texts. Students
will be expected to prepare a text or set of texts assigned
by the instructor for each session. Preparation means,
for these purposes, supplying all vowels and other necessary
diacritical marks, as well as looking up unfamiliar words and
constructions in appropriate dictionaries or other reference
works.
Regular attendance and thorough preparation are essential to
success in this course. It is intended that, upon completion
of this course, students will be able to work independently
with a wide variety of pre-modern Arabic texts.
531. (ARAB331) Advanced Spoken
Standard Arabic. (A) Staff.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 035.
The course will concentrate on the reading and speaking skills
at the advanced level. Students will be assigned reading
and audio-visual materials on which to prepare oral classroom
presentations.
Final examination in the course will be based on performance
in the oral proficiency interview.
532. (ARAB332) Advanced Arabic
Composition. (M) Staff.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 035.
Development of writing skills within a variety of subjects. Extensive
readings in various prose techniques and a thorough review
of Arabic grammar.
631. (ARAB031) Elementary Arabic
I. (E) Staff.
Prerequisite(s): For the second semester: completion of
the first semester or permission of the instructor.
This is the non-intensive beginners course in Modern Standard
Arabic (MSA). It will introduce you to the speaking, listening,
reading and writing skills in the standard means of communication
in the Arab World. The course is proficiency-based,implying
that all activities within the course are aimed at placing
you, the learner, in the context of the native-speaking environment
from the very beginning.
632. (ARAB032) Elementary Arabic II. (E) Staff.
633. (ARAB033) Intermediate Arabic
III. (E) Staff.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 033 or equivalent. For the
second semester: completion of the first semester or permission
of the instructor.
This is the continuation of the non-intensive Elementary course
in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). This course is also
proficiency-based, implying that all activites within the
course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context
of the native-speaking environment from the very beginning.
634. (ARAB034) Intermediate Arabic IV. (E) Staff.
635. (ARAB035) Advanced Intermediate
Arabic I. Staff.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 033 or permission of instructor.
This is the continuation of the non-intensive Elementary course
in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). This course is also
proficiency-based, implying that all activities within the
course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context
of the native-speaking environment from the very beginning.
636. (ARAB036) Advanced Intermediate Arabic II. (E) Staff.
637. (ARAB037) Advanced Arabic
and Syntax I. (C) Staff.
Prerequisite(s): ARAB 037 or permission of the instructor.
Advanced syntax through the reading of Arab grammarians. Development
of reading in bulk. Emphasis on classical Arabic read
in works by medieval and modern writers. This course
is designed to give the student experience in reading whole
works in Arabic and giving reports on them.
638. (ARAB038) Advanced Arabic & Syntax II. (B) Staff.
639. (ARAB039) Colloquial Arabic.
(M) Staff.
A one-semester, introductory course to the spoken Arabic of
the Levant region: Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Israel.
SM 730. Topics in Islamics. (C) Staff.
The topic may vary from year to year.
SM 731. Topics in Islamic Studies.
(C) Lowry.
Topics vary from year to year in accordance with the interests
and needs of students.