BA Arabic Studies

The course is an integrated course which allows developing a deep understanding of the Arabic Media through authentic texts and audio files from a wide variety of media sources, and enhancing knowledge of the business environment in the Arabic world. This course is designed for advanced level students requiring the language for general vocational and professional purposes. The combined course is delivered entirely in Arabic. It equips students with the skills and knowledge to produce clear, accurate, and engaging news content across various media platforms. Through the Media curriculum students will learn the fundamentals of journalistic writing, including news structure, the inverted pyramid, concise language, and adherence to ethical standards, with a focus on Arabic-language media.  

In addition to honing practical writing skills, students will critically analyse Arabic news media to understand principles of newsworthiness, bias, framing, and the influence of cultural, social, and political contexts on reporting. Through case studies and real-world examples, students will explore how Arabic media shape public opinion and the role of journalists in an evolving digital and global landscape.

The Business curriculum covers the fundamentals of e-commerce, including online business models with special emphasis on digital marketing strategies. The course also highlights the potential dangers and challenges of e-commerce, such as cybersecurity threats, data privacy concerns, fraud, and ethical dilemmas in digital marketing.  

Successful completion of MEST51042 followed by a substantial period of residence in an Arabic speaking country or equivalent.

Free choice dependent on level in Arabic at least a C1 level of the CEFR and subject to level assessment by the Arabic SLT.

With the growing importance of the Middle East in international affairs and initiatives to integrate the Arab world into the global economy, many new business opportunities are opening up. As a result, there is a growing need for western workers to develop their Arabic language skills as well as their understanding of the culture in order to do business effectively. The course will offer to the students: 

• The tools to access media information. 
• Introduction to the vocabulary, style and content of the Arabic press and broadcast media
• Practical training to learn how to comprehend specialized vocabulary, style and subject content through texts by reading, analysing, translating, listening, debating and summarising. 
• Ways to developing their competence in actively using relevant specialist vocabulary in Arabic, and to carry out a range of practical tasks in a business and media context.

3 contact hours a week using blended learning which integrates traditional face-to-face classroom instruction with online digital learning will be applied in the teaching of this course.  BL helps instructors engage students in active learning that promotes skills such as communication, information literacy, creativity and collaboration that transform into the ability to use digital technologies for learning the language. While students will be expected to engage in a learner-centred online environment  classes are devoted to  develop students’ analytical skills in Arabic and expand their reading, writing, and speaking capabilities. Students will work in groups to discuss the concepts presented in class and form their opinions on both Media and Business related matters. And they  will also work in groups to present a marketing project at the end of the semester.  

Part of the course is dedicated to enhancing students’ listening and speaking skills and ability to summarise Media and business related news reports. In addition to completing exercises in an Arabic media textbook, students will listen to real news programs and radio broadcasts, explore blogs, and examine articles from Arabic magazines and newspapers. Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiyya, BBC Arabic, Al-Ahram, Al-Quds, and Al-Arab are among the sources from which authentic mass media materials will be analysed and discussed and orally summarised. 

• Write compelling and factual news articles in Arabic.  
• Employ specialised media and business vocabulary to produce professional content and analyse complex topics in Arabic.
• Identify and critique journalistic techniques and biases in language reporting.
• Demonstrate an understanding of media ethics and their application in Arabic news writing.
• Develop and implement e-commerce strategies tailored to Arabic-speaking markets.
• Design and execute effective digital marketing campaigns in Arabic.
• Identify and address risks in e-commerce, including cybersecurity and ethical considerations, within the Arab world. 

• Comprehend a wide range of media communications: Writing, interviewing, broadcasting, reporting, news coverage, etc.
• Analyse different aspects of Arab businesses or a particular company or commercial organization

• The ability to read, analyse and translate articles and orally summarise news articles.

• develop their ability to improve their own learning and performance by identifying strengths and weaknesses;
• enhance their personal organization and time management skills;
• further develop the ability to work independently;
• strengthen their interpersonal and communicative skills;
• heighten their awareness of and responsiveness to cultural diversity and intercultural communication;
• improve their ability to present information and analysis in a precise and orderly fashion.
• group work contributes to the development of interpersonal and communicative skills and to the capability to work in a team.

Recommended Texts (Media) :

1. Ashtiany, J. Media Arabic (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1997)
2. Kendall, E. The Top 1000 Words for Understanding Media Arabic (Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2005)
3. Lahlali, M. Advanced Media Arabic (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008)
4. Wehr, H., & Cowan, J. M. (1980). A dictionary of modern written Arabic (Arabic and English), Beirut: Librarie du Liban

Recommended Texts (Business)

1. Mili, A. (2011) Arabic for Business Studies, Amel Mili, The lauder Institute, The University of Pennsylvania
2. Rammuny, R. (2000) Business Arabic (Advanced Level) - Authentic Texts and Audio Visual Materials, University of Michigan Press.
3. Bassiouney, R. (2010) Arabic and the media : linguistic analyses and applications. Leiden ; Boston: Brill.