ARAB 101-02 Fall 2020 syllabus PDF

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Binghamton University – SUNY Department of Classical & Near Eastern Studies COURSE SYLLABUS

‫اللغة العربية‬ ARAB 101: Elementary Arabic I – Section 01/02 Fall 2020 Scheduled meeting times and locations: Section 1: MW 10:50 am - 11:50 am, over Zoom: ht t ps: / / bi nghamt on. zoom. us/ j / 98540099287?pwd=Zl l hdkRDdnZKVSs yUGhSWkR4Rzk1Zz09

TR 11:40 am – 12:149pm, over Zoom: ht t ps: / / bi nghamt on. z oom. us/ j / 94603561781?pwd=ZnZoUE5VaUg4b0Mr ZFl 3dU1EKzFxUT09

Instructor: B. Arianna Mueller Office Hours: Fri 10-12. Visit http://bit.ly/MuellerOHFall2020 to make an appointment E-mail: [email protected]. Please allow 24 hours for response

۞ Course Description and Objectives Arabic is the fasting growing language in the United States and the fifth most spoken language in the world. ARAB 101 is the first in a sequence of courses in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the language of all official forms of communication and media throughout the Arab world, the register of Arabic taught in countries where Arabic is an official language, the liturgical language of some 1.8 billion Muslims and millions of Arab Christians, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. In this course, you will be introduced to the letters, sounds, and symbols that make up the Arabic writing system, and acquire basic skills in the areas of speaking, reading, writing, and listening. You will develop the ability to speak about yourselves, your lives, and your environment; to initiate and sustain conversations on daily-life topics with educated native speakers; to read simple, authentic texts on familiar topics; to write formal notes and sentences on subjects connected to daily life; to comprehend and produce accurately the basic

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sentence structures of Arabic; and to understand aspects of Arab culture connected to everyday life, including culturally significant idioms used among friends and acquaintances and important expressions for polite interaction with speakers of Arabic. In the first two months of this course, you will complete the textbook Alif Baa. Alif Baa is accompanied by audio, video, and interactive exercises available on a DVD or a companion website, https://books.quia.com/books/, to be used outside of class. Upon completing Alif Baa, you will be able to read and write the alphabet, recognize and produce all letters and sounds, and use some basic greetings and daily expressions from the approximately 200 vocabulary words you will have learned. The second textbook, al-Kitaab fii Taᶜallum al-ᶜArabiyya, Part One (2nd edition), presents the story of an Egyptian family whose members reside in New York and Cairo. Each chapter devotes attention to all skills—listening, reading, writing, and speaking—as well culture, using the basic building blocks of vocabulary and grammar in the format of drills and activities. This semester, we will complete at least the first three chapters of this textbook. This course and all subsequent courses in the MSA track at Binghamton University, in keeping with the methodology of the al-Kitaab textbook series as well as the goals of the University’s Arabic program, focuses on MSA, the formal/written variation of Arabic used and understood in all Arabic-speaking countries. Some Egyptian dialect, especially a few of the common features and vocabulary on which al-Kitaab focuses as part of the story of Maha and her family, will be introduced in class. The Arabic program has a separate course for Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA) which students who have completed at least three semesters of training in MSA are welcome to take.

۞ SUNY Learning Outcomes for General Education Requirements Students who satisfy the Foreign Language requirement will demonstrate: 1. Basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a foreign language. 2. Knowledge of the distinctive features of cultures(s) associated with the languages they are studying.

۞ Required Course Materials (1) Kristen Brustad and Mahmoud Al-Batal. Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds, 3rd edition, Washington D.C.: Georgetown University

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Press, 2011, with accompanying DVD or access to companion website. See MyCourses for additional instructions. (2) Al-Tonsi, A., Al-Batal, M., Brustad, K. al-Kitaab fii Taᶜallum al-ᶜArabiyya: A Textbook for Arabic, Part One, 2nd edition, Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2004 (with accompanying DVDs). Links to this material will be posted on the weekly schedules when the course moves into al-Kitaab. Please bring the textbook we are using at the time to our Zoom each day.

۞ Requirements Attendance: Our class will meet over Zoom at the indicated times each week. Attendance and active participation in these Zoom meetings are required and integral. Students must attend all classes and arrive to class on time—plan to log on a few minutes to ensure a stable connection. After three unexcused absences or tardy arrivals, one percent will be deducted from your final course grade. An additional percent is then deducted for every subsequent absence. Thus, for example, if a student receives 90% for their final grade but has missed three classes, the final grade will be lowered to 89%; four missed classes, and the final grade will be lowered to 88%; and so on. If a student misses a class, it is their responsibility to catch up with class assignments. Participation: Students must come to each class prepared to participate fully in class activities. Preparation includes completing assigned drills and exercises and learning new vocabulary and grammatical structures. Class time should be viewed as a laboratory for students to test and activate the learning and preparation they do at home. Due to the importance of getting ample opportunity to participate and practice, after completing Alif Baa and moving into the first volume of al-Kitaab, we will spend at least 50% of class time working in groups. Respect for each other at all times will ensure a positive and fruitful learning experience. Help and encourage your colleagues: each of you can learn with and from everyone else. While having video on the entirety of the class is not required, it is strongly encouraged, especially during breakout rooms. Being able to see each other will greatly increase your ability to interact and communicate. Demonstrations of engagement such as Zoom polls/annotation also play into participation. Once class begins, students should not leave the Zoom

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session unless in the case of a severe emergency and only after having received permission from the instructor. Class participation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: (1) evidence of preparation prior to class; (2) readiness to respond to the instructors’ questions; (3) full and active participation in all assigned tasks; (4) cooperation and respect for classmates in carrying out group activities. Homework: Students should expect to spend approximately two hours each day on homework, review, and preparation. Homework will be assigned every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (for the weekend). Homework is thus due every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The instructor will collect homework approximately once per week during the course of the semester at the beginning of class (uploaded to MyCourses). On all other days, an answer key will be posted on MyCourses for select drills. Students must check their work as part of their daily preparation and review. Homework must be completed in pencil and be double-spaced at all times. Each of the approximately 12 assignments that are collected will be graded on a range of 1 to 3: 3 = completed with few or no errors 2 = completed with more errors than correct answers 1 = incomplete (e.g., one or more drills missing) or completed with an inordinate number of errors 0 = failure to submit Late assignments will not be accepted. It is important to follow up on any special instructor comments on your homework, and it is your responsibility to come to office hours or make an appointment to see the instructor when needed. Oral Presentation: Each student will be expected to deliver an oral presentation during the final week of classes. Details will be made available through MyCourses.

The instructor will communicate with students outside of class via MyCourses. It is imperative that all students regularly check their MyCourses accounts.

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۞ Assessment 20% Attendance and participation 20% Homework assignments (lowest grade is dropped) 20% Five periodic quizzes: four quizzes will be counted at 5% each of your total grade (lowest grade is dropped) 10% Oral presentation 30% Comprehensive final exam: the final exam will cover vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and writing. Note: There is no midterm for this course.

۞ Letter Grading Scale A

93%-100%

C+

77%-79.99%

A-

90%92.99%

C

73%-76.99%

B+

87%89.99%

C-

70%-72.99%

B

83%86.99%

D

60%-69.99%

B-

80-82.99%

F

59.99% and below

۞ Tentative Weekly Schedule The following schedule is subject to necessary changes and amendments at the instructor’s discretion. A detailed weekly schedule with pages, drills, class activities and precise homework requirements will be posted each Friday morning at 10am to myCourses for the following week. Weeks 0 & 1: basic greetings; complete Units 1 & 2 and begin Unit 3 in Alif Baa 8/26-8/27 8/31-9/3

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Week 2: Units 3-4 in Alif Baa 9/7-9/10 Add/drop deadline 9/8 Week 3: Units 4 in Alif Baa 9/14-9/17 Week 4: Unit 5 in Alif Baa *** Quiz 1 will be administered (covers Units 1-4 of Alif Baa) *** 9/21-9/24 Week 5: Units 6-7 in Alif Baa 9/28-10/1 Week 6: Unit 7-8 in Alif Baa *** Quiz 2 will be administered (covers Units 5-6 of Alif Baa) *** 10/5-10/8 Week 7: Units 8-9 in Alif Baa 10/12-10/15 Week 8: Units 9-10 in Alif Baa *** Quiz 3 will be administered (covers Units 7-10 of Alif Baa) *** 10/19-10/22 Week 9: Lesson 1 in al-Kitaab 10/26-10/29 Withdrawal deadline 10/26 Week 10: Lesson 2 in al-Kitaab 11/2-11/5 Week 11: Lesson 3 in al-Kitaab *** Quiz 4 will be administered (covers Lessons 1-2 of al-Kitaab) *** 11/9-11/12 Week 12: Lesson 4 in al-Kitaab 11/16-11/19 Week 13: Lesson 4 in al-Kitaab Note: No class on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week (Thanksgiving)

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11/23-11/24 Week 14: Oral presentations 11/30—12/3 *** Quiz 5 will be administered (covers Lessons 2-3 of al-Kitaab) *** Week 15: Review day: 12/7 (last day of classes) **Information on the Place and Time of the Final Exam Will Be Provided Later**

۞ Academic Honesty: As signatories to the Binghamton University Academic Honesty Code, and indeed simply as good scholars and citizens, you are required to uphold academic honesty in all aspects of this course. You may find the Student Academic Honesty Code at the following website: < http://bit.ly/Binghamton_Academic_Honesty >. Any student who has previous knowledge of Arabic should speak with the instructor so they can be placed in the proper level. To remain in the incorrect level constitutes a violation of the honesty code.

Student Resources: (Please note: campus safety protocol will likely alter the delivery of these services. Please visit the Binghamton website and/or reach out to the specified contact for more information. ۞ Disability-related Equal Access Accommodations: Students wishing to request academic accommodations to insure their equitable access and participation in this course should notify the instructor by the second week of class. Authorizations from Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) are generally required. We encourage you to contact SSD at (607) 777-2686 to schedule an appointment with the Director or Learning Disabilities Specialist. Their website (www.binghamton.edu/ssd) includes information regarding their Disability Documentation Guidelines. The office is located in University Union, Room 119. ۞University Tutoring Services: http://www.binghamton.edu/tutoring. UTS offers free tutoring for undergraduate students at Binghamton University. All UTS tutoring appointments must be scheduled online through the my.binghamton.edu portal. Walk-in tutoring is also available for select courses. If you have any questions about UTS, call 607-777-9235, or email: [email protected].

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۞ ITS Helpdesk/MyCourses Support: https://www.binghamton.edu/its/ Walk-in: Located in the Computer Center first floor lobby. Call: 607-777-6420; E-mail: [email protected]. ۞ Libraries: http://www.binghamton.edu/libraries The Libraries offer a wide variety and range of services including research assistance, instruction, user-friendly interfaces, digital preservation, digital scanners, and resource sharing. Text: 607-205-8173; Call: 607-777-2345; Email: [email protected] ۞Dean of Students: If you are experiencing undue personal or academic stress at any time during the semester or need to talk with someone about a personal problem or situation, I encourage you to seek support as soon as possible. 1. Dean of Students Office: 607-777-2804 2. Decker Student Health Services Center: 607-777-2221 3. University Police: On campus emergency, 911 4. University Counseling Center: 607-777-2772 5. Interpersonal Violence Prevention: 607-777-3062 6. Harpur Advising: 607-777-6305 7. Office of International Student & Scholar Services: 607-777-2510

How to Excel in ARAB 1011 1 The tips that follow have been gathered from multiple sources, including the introduction to al-Kitaab.

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1. Prepare for active participation in class. You will soon be able to predict the kinds of questions that will be asked and the kinds of activities that be performed in class. Don’t be someone who slows down a colleague by not being ready to participate actively. 2. Once is not enough. There is a well-known Arabic adage: at-tikrár yu‘allim ash-shuṭṭár (“Repetition is the best teacher.”). Whether you are pronouncing new vocabulary along with the website or practicing the writing of a letter or word, you should repeat the activity several times. It is best to listen and repeat new vocabulary words at least ten times. If you cannot pronounce a new word easily, you haven't learned it yet. 3. Study out loud. The only way to train your brain and your mouth to speak Arabic is by doing. Thinking about it is not enough. 4. Study in pairs/groups outside of class. Ask each other questions, quiz each other on the vocabulary, brainstorm about assignments, and go over materials covered together. 5. Personalize vocabulary. Make words relevant by thinking of what you can say about yourself with them. Write extra sentences that are meaningful to you so that the vocabulary becomes yours. Memorization is central to learning any language. The more you memorize, the more quickly you will learn. If you don't know how to memorize well, ask others how they do it, or ask the instructor for help. Experiment with different techniques: usually a combination of oral and written, active and passive exercises works best. I suggest that you try the following techniques until you find the one(s) that work best for you: listen to the new vocabulary words (“formal/written” only) on the DVD or the companion website and repeat each word out loud many times; create physical flashcards, writing the Arabic word on one side (in Arabic, if we have learned all the letters of the word; be sure to add all short vowels, sukuuns, shaddas to the Arabic word so you recall how to read them properly when going over the flash cards) and the English meaning(s) on the other; write out new vocabulary words by hand over and over again and say them out loud as you write and read them; make up your own sentences or phrases (e.g., “This is a big tree.” “He is a new neighbor.” “I drink tea with milk and sugar.”) with new vocabulary in order to personalize them; and quiz each other in groups of two or more with or without the flash cards. It is also important to memorize in chunks or phrases. Memorize all the forms of a word together, such as singular and plural, verb and preposition. The best language learners memorize phrases, sentences, and short, culturally important texts, such as song lyrics, lines of poetry, proverbs, and passages from religious texts. Such cultural references arise often both in readings and in conversation. The definition of culture as the collective memory

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of a people speaks to the importance of this habit. 6. Learn to guess. Think about how you acquired your native tongue: you learned new words by guessing their meaning from context, and you learned how to produce sentences by imitating and using patterns. As adult learners, we can take some shortcuts, but guessing skills remain central to language acquisition. Do not leave blanks on the homework, but do not become frustrated either. Give it your best shot and move on. 7. Resist the temptation to write the meaning of words in English on or near the texts and exercises so that you focus on the Arabic, not the English. Trust your ability to recall meaning with the help of a familiar context. Keep in mind that you will probably forget and relearn a word several times before you retain it, so go ahead and forget, and look it up again if you need to. Forgetting is part of the learning process. 8. Use Quizlet. Quizlet is a free online learning tool for generating flashcards. You can learn new vocabulary by using the various functions under the “STUDY” and “PLAY” modes of the website. The same functions are available on a free app which you can download for your smart phone and then sync by creating a free account. Many have found Quizlet to be a useful tool for memorizing and retaining vocabulary. The main (though not only) vocabulary words for Lessons 1-4 of al-Kitaab can be accessed at the following links: Lesson 1: https://quizlet.com/42450975/al-kitaab-chapter-1-flash-cards/ Lesson 2: https://quizlet.com/24433812/al-kitaab-i-chapter-2-flash-cards/ Lesson 3: https://quizlet.com/24433888/al-kitaab-chapter-3-flash-cards/ Lesson 4: https://quizlet.com/24433974/al-kitaab-chapter-4-flash-cards/ 8. Good language learners learn from their own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others. Correcting mistakes is an essential part of the learning process. During class activities, you will never be penalized for a mistake that you make when trying something new. When your classmates are speaking, be an active listener by listening to what they are saying and how they are saying it. Think about how you would correct their sentences. 9. When it comes to classroom activities and drills, stay focused on the task at hand without rushing to finish. As we move into the second textbook, alKitaab, most in-class activities will be designed to elicit creative play

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with vocabulary and structures. The instructor will often call time before everyone is finished. 10. The first two months of class require an extra time investment on your part. Expect to spend extra time each day on the homework assignments during the first two months as you learn the alphabet. This investment will pay off later: by learning to write what you hear, you will not have spelling problems later on, you will memorize vocabulary more easily, and you will be better able to speak with and understand native speakers of the language.

‫بالتوفيق إن شاء الله‬

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