BA Arabic Studies

This is an advanced level language course which teaches the skills of reception (reading and listening), production (speaking and writing) in the target language and mediation between the target language and English. Through this course students will further develop their linguistic competences, specifically in the use of a wider range of syntactic structures. Students will be working independently within a blended learning environment which integrates traditional, face-to-face classroom instruction with online digital learning available via Blackboard and supplemented by extra online resources to aid students in their independent learning. . The course will also develop written production skills, paying special attention to a more advanced range of specific areas of style, and a broader range of functions through addressing language and cultural specific themes. It will also develop students’ translation skills (Arabic to English and English to Arabic) and enable them to produce oral discourse in more sophisticated contexts.  

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

Available to students taking Arabic Studies, MES with Arabic, and any joint degree with Arabic.

To enable the students to achieve a broader awareness and understanding of the culture and current affairs of the Arab World.  

Obtain full awareness of the use of the Arabic written and spoken language in many contexts.  

There is no set text book for this level. Throughout the year Students will study authentic Arabic texts of various literary genres relating to the Arabic language and Middle Eastern culture and contemporary current affairs issues. The content material will be shared by the course lecturer.  

The content of the material may change at the discretion of the course convenor depending on the current situation and affairs in the MENA region. 

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 build their knowledge and writing and speaking skills   Students will read and discuss in the target language a number of source texts written in a variety of registers on a variety of topics. There will be exercises in translation into and from the target language. There will one class per week devoted to oral communication and listening comprehension.  

Office Hour: 2 hours per week 

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the historical development and cultural context of topics covered in relation to the Arab World.  
• Comprehend complex written and spoken texts in MSA, including news reports, academic discussions, and cultural analyses.
• Speak fluently and accurately about a range of current affairs and cultural topics, using appropriate and varied vocabulary.
• Translate effectively into English and into Arabic texts which present more sophisticated syntactic, lexical and conceptual challenges.  
• Write coherent and stylistically appropriate essays, summaries, and opinion pieces in MSA, demonstrating advanced grammatical control and precision.
• Deliver clear, well-researched group presentations on current topics in Arabic, enhancing both oral communication and research skills.
• Summarise spoken texts with clarity and accuracy, focusing on main ideas and details. 

• Broaden intellectual and cultural interests by drawing from both the topics covered and suggested Independent Learning tasks.
• Develop the ability to research, analyse, discuss, evaluate and provide supporting evidence on issues relating to the Arab World.

• Understand most of the details of the Arabic language, written and spoken, and how it is used in different context and on a variety of topics.
• Read and understand various kinds of source texts (journalistic, literary, etc.) dealing with a variety of topics.
• Converse fluently, accurately and in a participatory fashion on a variety of topics. 
• Write accurately, relevantly, succinctly and clearly about ideas, events and topics, using complex and varied language.

• Develop the ability to improve their own learning and performance by identifying strengths and weaknesses.
• Enhance their personal organization and time management skills.
• Strengthen their interpersonal and communicative skills and the capability to work in a team through group work.
• 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 through essays and oral presentations.
• Improve their ability to work and learn independently.
• Improve their IT skills.

Students will have formative assessment during the semester to assess their progress and to give them written feedback on it. This will be spread over the weeks and will test all four language skills.    

There are no set texts. Material will be distributed by the course tutor.

Suggested list of references is included below while a more extensive one will be provided on Blackboard.

Students are advised to have at the very least (i) an Arabic-English dictionary (ii) an English-Arabic dictionary (iii) a grammar reference book.

Wehr, Hans, A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Arabic-English Dictionary (Urbana, Illinois: Spoken Languages Services, 1994); Doniach, N.S. et al., The Concise Oxford English-Arabic Dictionary (Oxford: OUP, 1984); Buckley, R., Modern Literary Arabic (Beyrouth: Librairie du Liban, 2005); Haywood, J.A.   & Nahmed, H.M., A New Arabic Grammar of the Written Language (Lund Humphries, 1995); Dickens, James & Watson, Janet E., Standard Arabic: An Advanced Course (Cambridge: CUP, 1999). Arabic newspapers.

Extra-curricular activities – CONTINGENT UPON SECURING AUTHORISED NATIVE SPEAKERS:  L-PAL  a scheme where students are given the opportunity to pair up with a native Arabic-speaking partner. They meet to exchange help with their studied languages (English and Arabic) and therefore help each other progress. The emphasis is on conversation.  

This course and all its materials are available on Blackboard. Resources to extend on classroom work and for self-study will be available. Work will be classified according to skill, e.g. Reading, Listening, Grammar, etc. and there will also be folders for weekly work.