Fall 2005

ARA 380C • Advanced Readings in Arabic I

Course Description

This is the first of a two-semester sequence which aims at training students in the skills of Reading Comprehension at the Advanced to Advanced Plus levels on the ACTFL scale and helping them acquire a broad understanding of Arab culture through texts. It will begin with a quick review of previously learned vocabulary and lexical expansions thereof. Readings for the course consist exclusively of authentic materials on various contemporary topics in the humanities and the social sciences, and various genres including commentaries, essays, short stories, biographies, journal and magazine articles etc., and reflect narrative, expository, descriptive and argumentative styles. The students are expected to present and to discuss orally the materials read, using cohesive paragraph-length discourse, to write outlines, paraphrases, summaries, and compositions, based on the materials read, and to demonstrate an Advanced/Advanced Plus level of comprehension of texts by performing tasks of increasing complexity, including making inferences.

Grading Policy

Homework and Class Participation: 40% Take Home Exams: 30% Book Report: 30%

Texts

Abboud, Peter, Abbas al-Tonsi, and Aman Attieh, Come Let's Read With the Arabs. Advanced Level Come Let's Speak Fusha with the Arabs. Advanced Level.

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