Fall 2009

ARA 325K • EGYPTIAN ARABIC

Course Description

The course assumes Intermediate Proficiency in Arabic with some basic familiarity with Egyptian or another dialect. It is designed to help students develop proficiency in the Arabic dialect of Cairo, Egypt, with the goals of comprehending and participating in interactions among native speakers of Egyptian Arabic on familiar topics, and reading for comprehension materials written in Egyptian Arabic, such as advertisements, comic strips, movie posters, song lyrics, plays etc. Students will learn how to navigate everyday situations such as social interactions, shopping, ordering food at a restaurant, asking for directions etc. They will also develop sensitivity with regard to the culturally appropriate ways of using the language in different situations. The course adopts a communicative approach which stresses pair-work and group-work. Not open to native speakers of Arabic.

Grading Policy

To be provided by the instructor.

Texts

Dardasha: Egyptian Arabic, Elementary Level, Mustafa Mughazy NALRC Press,Madison, Wisconsin 2004.

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