Arabic level 3
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A Post-A/S Level or equivalent module in Arabic language and culture
Module details
- Offered to 3rd & 4th Years
- Thursdays 16.00-18.00
- Planned delivery: On campus (South Kensington)
- 2 term module worth 7.5 ECTS
- Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
- Extra Credit or Degree Credit where your department allows
A communicative module for students with some prior knowledge of the Arabic language and culture of the Arabic-speaking countries.
This module aims to:
- Further develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in a range of contexts regularly encountered in daily life, e.g. at work, college, and leisure
- Familiarise students with commonly used patterns, clusters and collocations in Arabic, e.g. word order, idioms, common usage and regular structures
- Equip students with the knowledge, skills, tools and ‘know how’ to become autonomous learners
- Give an insight into the culture, society and daily life in the Arabic-speaking countries and explore the relationship between language and culture
By the end of the module, students should have reached approximately the B1+ standard of the Common European Framework (CEFR)
To be eligible for this module you need to have done one of the following:
- Successfully completed Arabic Level 2
- Gained an Arabic A/S level Qualification
- Already achieved A2+ or equivalent on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
Please note: The information on this module description is indicative. The module may undergo minor modifications before the start of next academic year.
Information blocks
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- respond to and produce simple spoken language in familiar contexts;
- respond to and produce simple written texts. you will be able to apply your knowledge and skills of grammar and vocabulary at B1-level (in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and demonstrate the relevant level of intercultural awareness in your handling of everyday social interactions in arabic and your use of language;
- engage with a range of digital language learning tools to support your production.
Indicative core content
In this module, you will cover the following linguistic structures:
- the negative particle ‘laysa’;
- interrogatives and question words;
- ‘amma’ and ‘fa’ (as for ….); ordinal numbers;
- the prepositions ‘ilaa’ and ‘3ala’ + pronouns;
- object pronouns; the subjunctive; quantifiers (e.g. all, several, no one, each, every);
- the adjectival sentence;
- the comparative and superlative: ‘af3al’ form;
- conjugation of verbs with a vowel letter: (initial, medial, final);
- negation of the future: ‘lan’;
- ‘kaana’ and its sisters;
- ‘inna’ and its sisters; the jussive mood: ‘lam’;
- verbs with doubled ending; conjugation of ‘maa zaala’.
Topics include:
- daily activities and living with the extended family;
- the ‘family house’; social clubs: ‘al-nadi’;
- media Arabic;
- the weekend;
- friendships and relationships;
- personalities and lifestyles;
- a hotel guide;
- life-changing decisions;
- biographies;
- working and studying abroad;
- Edward Said immigration and nostalgic feelings.
Learning and teaching approach
In line with modern foreign languages communicative and active learning methodologies, the in-class activities will cover all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). These will include pair work and groupwork (dialogue practice, information gap exercises, discussion), individual tasks, discovery and formulation of grammatical rules, work with texts, etc. Homework and coursework tasks will give you the opportunity to revise and consolidate your knowledge and skills and to develop your awareness of how to use language learning tools independently. Our approach not only ensures you engage with a wide range of tasks and activities, but also seeks to support different learning styles.
All pieces of coursework are marked and returned within two weeks. Marking criteria and rubrics are included with each coursework to ensure learners are supported to complete their work and aware of assessment expectations. Detailed feedback is provided for each individual section of the coursework, giving the correct answer(s) along with suggestions for improvement. In addition to the number of points out of a maximum total, an overall percentage grade is given. Generic feedback on each individual piece of coursework is also provided in class.
Assessment
- Coursework (10%): Written coursework including listening comprehension, grammar tasks, and writing (full task: approximately 300 words). Submission time frame: 1 week.
- Examination (20%): In-class test. This 1-hour test will take place at the end of term 1. It will include reading, grammar task(s), and writing (full task approximately 380 words)
- Coursework (10%): In-class speaking task on Teams (7 minutes each).
- Examination (20%): In-class test. This 1-hour test will take place at the end of term 2. It will include reading comprehension, grammar task(s), and writing (full task approximately 380 words).
- Practical (40%): 20-minute end-of-module oral exam consisting of a presentation and spontaneous conversation.
Key information
- 7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
- Available to take for credit towards your degree where your department allows. Also available for extra-credit.
- You must be prepared to attend all classes and and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.
Coursebook: Brustad, K. et al. 2004. Al-Kitaab fi Ta ‘allum al-‘Arabiyya (Part I, with DVDs). Georgetown University Press, supported by additonal materials
Dictionary: Cowan, J.M. 1999. The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic. Fourth Edition. Spoken Language Services.
Relevant websites:
"I really enjoy going to my Horizons class, the module is very interesting and I like the fact that we are a small group, which allows for everyone to talk equally and receive strong feedback."