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ARAB3012: Arabic Language 4

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Type Open
Level 3
Credits 40
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Modern Languages and Cultures (Arabic)

Prerequisites

  • Arabic Language 2 (ARAB2002) or an equivalent qualification to the satisfaction of the Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Corequisites

  • At least one additional level 3 module in Arabic Studies

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • Persian 1 (ARAB2041)

Aims

  • to consolidate the students' knowledge of the grammar and syntax of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) acquired in Arabic 1 and Arabic 2, and during the placement abroad, with the aim of bringing their knowledge of the language to Advanced level
  • to develop fluency in the reading of texts on a wider range of subject matter in MSA and to further consolidate translation skills both into and from Arabic
  • to develop further at an Advanced level the students ability in the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking
  • to equip the student with the range of linguistic skills required to use the language in further postgraduate work or in employment.

Content

  • The module continues the syllabus used in Arabic 1 and Arabic 2 and builds on the linguistic experience gained during the placement abroad
  • The main textbook used is Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-Arabiyya Part 3, supplemented as necessary by additional materials, including English-Arabic translation exercises, and media taped materials (e.g. news broadcasts).
  • The teaching and resources in this module reflect a commitment to linguistic and cultural diversity. It positions the richness of the (language area)-speaking world at the core of its syllabus.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • by the end of the module, the student should have acquired a sound knowledge of most features of the grammar and syntax of MSA,
  • have developed his/her vocabulary to the point where he/she is able to cope without undue difficulty with extended texts in MSA on an increasing range of topics

Subject-specific Skills:

  • The student should be able to:
  • translate fairly complex pieces of prose texts into and out of Arabic;
  • write straightforward narratives and descriptions on a wide range of topics, and handle social and non-technical business correspondence in Arabic;
  • read and understand extended prose texts on a wide range of topics;
  • comprehend the main ideas and most details of connected discourse in MSA;
  • discuss topics of current and personal interest and handle most situations of daily life in MSA

Key Skills:

  • The student will have:
  • enhanced presentational and interpersonal communication skills;
  • the ability to use language creatively for a wider range of purposes
  • an enhanced experience of language learning techniques, enabling students to further their study of Arabic on their own initiative; enhanced techniques for using target-language source materials

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • language classes enable the grammar and syntax of MSA to be explained in an interactive environment;
  • language exercises enable the student to develop fluency and confidence in the language;
  • regular class tests and homework ensure that progress can be carefully monitored over the year;
  • tutorials provide an opportunity for practicing oral and aural language skills and for the correction of errors;
  • end-of-module examinations provide a measure of the level achieved over the year as a whole.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lecture633 per week1 hour63Yes
Oral Classes211 per week1 hour21Yes
Language Lab211 per week1 hour21Yes
Student preparation and reading time, summative coursework, general background reading, revision for written examinations, etc295 
Total SLAT hours400 

Summative Assessment

Component: Written AssessmentComponent Weighting: 60%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Continuous assessment of written skills25No
Written Examination (in person)3 hours75No
Component: Oral AssessmentComponent Weighting: 20%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Continuous assessment of oral skills25No
Oral Examination (in person)15 minutes75No
Component: Aural AssessmentComponent Weighting: 20%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Continuous assessment of aural skills25No
Aural Examination (in person)1 hour75No

Formative Assessment

Students will be given regular class tests and written homework exercises

More information

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