ARAB 121 - Arabic I

A beginning language course focusing on the study of Modern Standard Arabic. It develops the ability to read, speak, listen and write in Arabic through the consideration of cultural themes, language functions, and authentic situations. Stresses communication using both formal and informal Arabic and exposes the students to the diversity and social issues of the Arab-speaking world.

Prerequisite: Eligible for ENGL 099 . No previous background in the study of this language.

Satisfies Requirement: Humanities/Fine Arts/English

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

1. Pronounce sounds, letters, and words using the modern standard Arabic alphabet, mastering the Arabic letters in both the written and the phonetic forms.
2. Apply simple grammatical structures to daily communication; describing people, places, and things and common interpersonal transactions and protocols, using courtesy phrases and formal and informal address.
3. Identify and discuss basic components of Arabic culture and its diversity: history, geography, living space, social interactions, and various Arabic dialects.
4. Distinguish both verbal and nominal genders and understand that Arabic is a verb-based language.
5. Write simple paragraphs using the present tense, some prepositions, and simple agreement between nouns and adjectives. Comprehend meaning and understand new words in context.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.