Learn Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) Online2023-09-25T12:51:21+00:00

Learn Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) Online

Modern Standard Arabic Courses from Novice to Advanced Levels

As its name indicates, MSA is the modern counterpart of Classical Arabic. It is the official language of 22 Arab countries where it is used in the oral and written form on all formal occasions. The main difference between MSA and Classical Arabic lies in the vocabulary. MSA reflects the needs of contemporary expression whereas Classical Arabic reflects the needs of older styles.

At Arab Academy we offer:

  • Modern Standard Arabic for adults
  • Modern Standard Arabic for teens (middle and high school students
  • Modern Standard Arabic for Children

Course Outline for MSA 100 (The Alphabet)

Course Description

MSA 100 is for learners with no prior knowledge of Arabic. This is Arabic for beginners. The course presents an introduction to the Arabic sound system and script. Pronunciation and writing of every letter is given separately and in the context of words and simple sentences. Completion of this course requires 40 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 100, students will be able to:

  1. Distinguish between the Arabic letters in their oral and written forms.
  2. Distinguish the shape of the letter when it comes in the beginning, middle or end of the word.
  3. Read simple 3-4 letter words.
  4. Write the letters correctly in the beginning, middle and end of the word.
  5. Learn some simple vocabulary related to everyday life.

Knowledge

This Arabic for beginners course covers the following knowledge areas:

  • The Alphabet

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 101

Course Description

This course is designed for students who know the Arabic alphabet and nothing or very little beyond it. It revolves around daily life situations that students encounter. At the end of the course students will be able to communicate with native speakers on a number of everyday life situations that include ordering food, talking about daily routines, asking for and giving directions, shopping and asking for prices. They will have some understanding of the basic structures of Modern Standard Arabic. Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 101, students will be able to:

  1. Initiate social interactions: initiate and respond to simple situations.
  2. Talk about themselves, their names, jobs, friends.
  3. Describe people, talk about how they look and feel.
  4. Exchange basic information with strangers.
  5. Compose simple sentences about their background and interests.

Knowledge

This course covers the following topics:

  1. Arab culture especially as it relates to:
    * Self and family
    * Habits and traditions
  2. Self as Part of a Group at Work
  3. Socializing
  4. Marital Traditions
  5. Social Interaction

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 102

Course Description

This course is suitable for learners who know the Arabic alphabet and some basic communicative functions. It revolves around situations that visitors to the Middle East are likely to encounter. At the end of the course students will be able to communicate with native speakers on a number of everyday life situations that include ordering food, visiting tourist sites, asking for and giving directions, shopping and asking for the price. Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 102, students will be able to:

  1. Initiate social interactions, ask for basic information, and be aware of basic cultural aspects of social interaction in the Arab world;
  2. Talk about themselves, their education, and their family with any native speaker of Arabic.
  3. Comprehend simple written texts on familiar topics.
  4. Compose simple paragraphs about themselves.

Knowledge

This course covers the following topics:

  1. Arab culture especially as it relates to:
    * Food
    * Outings
  2. Tourist Attractions in the Middle East
  3. Shopping
  4. Jobs
  5. Phone calls

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 103

Course Description

This course is designed for students who are familiar with daily life situations in Modern Standard Arabic and are preparing to move up to communicating on professional topics. It aims at bridging the gap between novice and intermediate levels. Students are exposed to a combination of both simplified and authentic material in order to prepare them for the next level, which will only deal with authentic material taken from Arab media. At the end of the course, students are able to express themselves on topics that go beyond daily life situations into social issues related to the world around them. Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 103, students will be able to:

  1. Read and understand simplified texts that relate to issues that are of interest to young Arabs.
  2. Expand your speech beyond the self to discuss social issues that affect the people around us such as emotion, social problems, etc.
  3. Comprehend simple to more complex sentences that revolve around familiar topics.
  4. Comprehend simple audio/video texts on familiar topics.
  5. Express views in simple terms about issues that rotate around the self and the people around them.

Knowledge

This course covers the following knowledge areas:

  • Biography
  • Feasts
  • The Village and the City
  • Society
  • A day in My Life
  • Traditional Markets
  • Marriage
  • Culture
  • Planning for the Future
  • Technology and the Society
  • Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 201

Course Description

This course is designed to reinforce all the linguistic skills at both the reception and production levels.

It is based on newspaper articles from different parts of the Arab world. The articles revolve around a number of themes, and the structure of the language is discussed and reviewed. Course material focuses on professional topics, including: society, traditional Arts, health care, family, and accommodation. Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 201, students will be able to:

  1. Read Arabic newspaper articles and be able to understand main ideas on a variety of topics.
  2. Expand their speech beyond the self to discuss some of the issues that are of interest to Arabs.
  3. Comprehend simple to more complex written texts on familiar topics.
  4. Comprehend simple audio/video texts on familiar topics.
  5. Express their views in simple terms about issues that are of interest to the educated people in the Arab world.

Knowledge

This course is designed to assist students to enhance their abilities to comprehend newspaper articles and discuss topics with educated Arabs revolving around:

Society

  • Poverty
  • The Arab Spirit
  • Extravagance

Family

  • Marital Vacation
  • Tips for Married Couples
  • Family Ties

Traditional Arts

  • Calligraphy
  • Al-Khayyaamiyyah
  • Pottery

Accommodation

  • Housing Problems
  • Profitable Investment
  • Emigration from Rural to Urban Areas

Heath Care

  • Laughing and Immunity
  • Physical Therapy
  • Natural Herbs

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 202

Course Description

MSA 202 is based on newspaper articles from different parts of the Arab world. The articles revolve around a number of themes, and the structure of the language is discussed and reviewed. Course material focuses on professional topics, including: crime, health, Arab markets, diseases in modern societies, Arab Songs. At the end of the course, you should be able to read Arabic newspapers with a good general understanding, especially on familiar topics. You should be able to express yourself by combining and recombining known elements.

Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 202, students will be able to:

  1. Read newspaper articles and understand consistently with increased understanding simple connected texts on a variety of topics.
  2. Expand your speech beyond social interactions to discuss some of the problems that are of interest to Arabs.
  3. Comprehend linguistically noncomplex written texts on familiar topics.
  4. Comprehend simple audio/video texts on familiar topics.
  5. Express their views and impart basic information about issues that are of interest to the educated people in the Arab world.

Knowledge

This course is designed to assist students to enhance their abilities to comprehend newspaper articles and discuss topics with educated Arabs revolving around:
The course comprises 15 newspaper articles revolving around 5 topics:

Health

  • Weak Memory
  • Coffee and Cigarettes
  • Harmful Effects of Sun

Humanitarian Issues

  • Elderly People
  • Cloning
  • Trading in Body Parts

Arab Markets

  • Historical Markets
  • Markets of Jeddah
  • Om Dorman Market

Marriage

  • The Divorced
  • Going on Strike against Marriage
  • Business Women

Diseases in Modern Societies

  • Back Pains
  • Depression
  • Worrying

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 203

Course Description

MSA 203 is designed for students at the intermediate high level. It exposes them to newspaper articles taken from different parts of the Arab World. Cultural aspects are carefully intertwined along with the language in the course. The material focuses on professional topics, such as marital issues, food and diet, educational topics, traditional arts, economic issues, entertainment, and Arab leaders. Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 203, students will be able to:

  1. Read Arabic newspaper articles and be able to understand main ideas on a variety of topics.
  2. Expand your speech beyond social interactions to discuss some of the problems that are of interest to Arabs.
  3. Communicate with a fair degree of ease on professional topics related to life in the Middle East.
  4. Handle successfully many uncomplicated tasks and social situations requiring an exchange of basic information related to work, school, recreation, particular interests and areas of competence.
  5. Be able to express your views in simple terms about issues that are of interest to the educated people in the Arab world.

Knowledge

This course is designed to assist students to enhance their abilities to comprehend newspaper articles and discuss topics with educated Arabs revolving around:

Weapons

  • Satelites .. Technology as a Weapon for Spying
  • Carry Weapon Law in America
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction

Education

  • Al-Azhar Institution
  • Education Crisis
  • Scientific Development

Economic Problems

  • Unemployment
  • Budget Deficit
  • Overpopulation

International Issues

  • Peace
  • Human Rights
  • Globalization

Heritage

  • A Thousand and One Nights
  • Kalila and Demna
  • Juha

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 301

Course Description

MSA 301 is an advanced course in learning Modern Standard Arabic. It is based on newspaper articles from diverse Arab magazines. The articles cover diverse topics. The courses focus on professional topics, link words and the structure of complex sentences. Learners are exposed to authentic texts and are taught how to deal with them. Course material includes articles on the following topics: Arab medicine, Arab authors, food, women, and messages. Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

  1. By the completion of MSA 301, students will be able to:
  2. Read Arabic newspaper articles and be able to understand main ideas on a variety of topics.
  3. Expand their speech beyond social interactions to discuss some of the problems that are of interest to Arabs.
  4. Comprehend more complex written texts on familiar topics.
  5. Comprehend audio/video texts on familiar topics.
  6. Express their views in simple terms about issues that are of interest to the educated people in the Arab world.

Knowledge

This course is designed to assist students to enhance their abilities to comprehend newspaper articles and discuss topics with educated Arabs revolving around:

Arab Medicine

  • Avicenne
  • Al-Razy
  • Origin of Arab Medicine

Science of Economics

  • Food Security
  • Saving
  • Economics

Environment

  • Environment and Development
  • Environmental Economics
  • Recycling

International Politics

  • The United Nations
  • Occupation and Independence
  • International Organizations

Arab Authors

  • Naguib Mahfouz
  • Shawki
  • Imru2 Al-Qays

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 302

Course Description

MSA 302 revolves around newspaper articles from diverse Arab magazines. The articles cover diverse topics. The courses focus on professional topics, link words and the structure of complex sentences. Learners are exposed to authentic texts and are taught how to deal with them. Course material focuses on professional topics, including: Marriage, Environment, Education, Economic Problems and Economic Science. Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 302, students will be able to:

  1. Read Arabic newspaper articles and follow essential points of more complex written discourse in areas of special interest or knowledge.
  2. Understand parts of texts which are conceptually abstract and linguistically complex.
  3. Comprehend main ideas when they listen to audio/video pieces on familiar topics.
  4. Comprehend facts to make appropriate inferences and express their views in simple terms about issues that are of interest to the educated people in the Arab world.

Knowledge

This course is designed to assist students to enhance their abilities to comprehend newspaper articles and discuss topics with educated Arabs revolving around:

Women

  • Male and Female Equality and Non-discimination
  • Role of the Egyptian Woman in the Modern Society
  • Male and Female Discrimination .. Culture of Disgrace

Culture and heritage

  • Secrets of Arabesque .. Master of Islamic Arts
  • Popular Tales
  • Tanoura Dance .. From Turkish Sufism to Country’s Folklore

Egyptian characters

  • Huda Shaarawy
  • Refa’a al-Tahtawi
  • Abdul Nasser

Sports

  • Make of an Olympic Champion
  • Camel Racing
  • Health Benefits of Sports

Religion and Science

  • Historical Relation Between Science and Religion
  • Religion and the Evolution Theory
  • What is Islam?

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

Course Outline for MSA 303

Course Description

MSA 303 is an advanced course in Modern Standard Arabic. It is based on newspaper articles from diverse Arab magazines. The articles cover diverse topics. The courses focus on professional topics, link words and the structure of complex sentences. Learners are exposed to authentic texts and are taught how to deal with them. At the end of the level, students should be able to express their thoughts on the topics they studied with a fair degree of ease and be able to grasp beyond the main ideas of articles they come across that revolve around similar areas. They participate actively in most informal and some formal exchanges on a variety of concrete topics relating to work, school, home, and leisure activities, as well as to events of current, public, and personal interest or individual relevance. Completion of this course requires 80 hours.

Learning Outcomes for the Course

By the completion of MSA 303, students will be able to:

  1. Read Arabic newspaper articles and be able to understand main ideas on a variety of topics.
  2. Expand their speech beyond social interactions to discuss some of the problems that are of interest to Arabs.
  3. Comprehend more complex written texts on familiar topics.
  4. Comprehend audio/video texts on familiar topics.
  5. Express your views in simple terms about issues that are of interest to the educated people in the Arab world.

Knowledge

This course is designed to assist students to enhance their abilities to comprehend newspaper articles and discuss topics with educated Arabs revolving around:

Negligence

  • Neglecting Children
  • The Farce of the Ring Road at Night
  • Medical Negligence

Technology

  • Things You Must Know About Genetic Engineering
  • The Robot .. Man’s Devil Friend
  • Nanotechnology Changes Our Lives

Struggle and Terrorism

  • Terrorism and Islam
  • The Islamic State Organization
  • The Middle East .. A Place of Conflicts and Tension

Environmental Issues

  • Climate Change and the Arab World
  • Renewable Energy in Arab Countries ..Facts and Hopes
  • Nuclear Wastes .. Imminent Risk That Threatens Man and the Environment

Human Rights

  • The Role of United Nations in Protecting Human Rights Treaties
  • Types of Human Rights
  • Cases of Children Rights

Assessment Overview

The following are the components of the evaluation criteria for the course:

  • Online activities (40%)
  • Writing assignments (20%)
  • Tests (40%)

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