Arab Academy
www.arabacademy.com
Catalogue
I: Arab Academy
Mission Statement 5
History 6
Profile 6
Advisory Board 6
Faculty 6
Scholarships & Financial Support 7
Campus 7
II: Admissions
Admission Policy 7
Academic Preparation 7
Transfer Admission 7
Readmission 8
Auditors 8
III: Academic Regulations
Registration 8
Calendar 8
Change of Courses 9
Credit hours 9
Academic Load 9
Course Requirements 9
Grades/Examinations 9
Class Attendance 10
Transcripts 11
IV: Non-Academic Regulations
Academic Honesty Policy 11 Privacy Rights of Student Records 12
V: Student Finances
Tuition and Fees 12 Refund Policy 12
Scholarships 12 Student Work Program 12
VI: Student Life
Activities 13
Services 13
Student Conduct 13
VII: Online Academic System 14
VIII: Academic Programs
University 18
School for non-native speakers of Arabic
Arabic for Young Youth (9 – 18 yrs) 19
Arabic for School Children (5 – 18
yrs) 19
Quranic Arabic for
Children & Youth (5 - 18 yrs) 19
School for native speakers of Arabic
Arabic for Native Speakers (5 – 18 yrs) 19
IX: Course Listings of University:
Arabic Courses for Adults (18 - 99
yrs)
General Purpose Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic 20
Colloquial Arabic 21
Arabic for Special Purposes
Islamic Arabic
Quran
22
Hadith 22
Sirah 23
Prophets 23
Business Arabic 23
X: Course Listings of Arabic for Young Youth
Online Arabic Courses for Young
Youth (9 - 18 yrs)
General Purpose Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic 24
XI: Course Listings of Arabic for School Children
Online Arabic Courses for School Children
(5 - 18 yrs)
General Purpose Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic
26
XII: Course Listings of Quranic Arabic School
Online
Arabic Courses for Children & Youth (5 - 18 yrs)
General Purpose Arabic
Stories of Prophets in the
Quran 27
Quran 27
XIII: Course Listings of Arabic School for Native Speakers
Online
Arabic Courses for Children & Youth (5 - 18 yrs)
General Purpose Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic
28
XIV: Research
Research Support 28
Arabic Language Research 28
XV: Testing Unit
Placement Tests 29
Proficiency Tests 29
Appendices:
Appendix A: Student Enrolment Statistics 29
Appendix B: Advisory Board 32
Appendix C: Course Requirements 33
I: Arab Academy
Mission Statement
The Arab Academy is a secular, privately owned
institution that aims at promoting Arabic language and culture throughout the
world by offering web based Arabic language instruction. It is independent in
nature and does not promote any particular school of thought. It aims at
facilitating the learning of Arabic notwithstanding the geographical location
of students.
The Arab Academy considers it of great importance to enable the global learner
to access an Arabic language classroom, through the utilization of electronic
technology. Arabic is a language spoken in 22 Arab countries in the Middle East. It is one of the six UN official languages. Those languages are: Arabic,
Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Arabic is also the liturgical
language of 1.2 billion Muslims throughout the world. Learning Arabic and understanding
Arab culture is an essential step towards the realization and promotion of
global understanding and tolerance.
The Arab Academy is the leading provider of online
Arabic language courses and proficiency tests. General language courses as well
as Arabic for Special Purposes are given. General language courses comprise
standard Arabic as well as colloquial Arabic. Arabic for Special purposes comprises
Business Arabic as well as Islamic Arabic. Islamic Arabic introduces learners
to the classical texts of the Quran in an objective academic way without any
attempts to influence students one way or the other.
To conclude, the Arab Academy aims at providing technologically advanced Arabic language courses for learners of Arabic as a Foreign Language of all ages and all language levels. It strives to offer and maintain an environment conducive to academic excellence. For this purpose, all courses and services offered are based on state of the art technology, designed and supervised by highly qualified faculty. The Arab Academy maintains high standards of academic achievement, professional behavior and ethical conduct.
History
The Arab Academy was founded in 1996 by Mrs. Sanaa Ghanem, an Egyptian teacher with long experience in the field of Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language. The intention was to develop Arabic language interactive material that was professionally designed and tested. The programs were first put on CD’s and were tested in ‘live’ classrooms by ‘real’ teachers and students. Then in 1999, the material was put online and the first group of students was registered for testing purposes.
The official launching of the Arab Academy’s University (adult Arabic language program) took place in September 2000 with the registration of 2000 students from 69 countries. In September of the following year, the Arab Academy’s School opened its doors (online!), and students registered from different parts of the world. The youngest student at the Academy was 5 years old and the eldest was 72! The Arab Academy’s diversity in its programs and language levels enable students of all ages and interests to find the course and level that is most suitable to them.
The Arab Academy launched its official site in English. Mirror sites in French, German and Indonesian followed suit. More languages are being added.
Profile
The Arab Academy has had over 10,000 students from 129 countries since it started operating in September 2000. Over 55% of students are from the United States and Canada. Appendix A provides student enrolment statistics.
Advisory Board
The Arab Academy’s advisory board comprises top professionals in the field of Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language drawn from the United States and Egypt. It also includes a number of highly qualified professionals in relevant areas. A full listing of the board is given in appendix B.
Faculty
The faculty of the Arab Academy are highly qualified professionals in the fields of Arabic language, teaching methods, and Arabic literature. They are native speakers with experience at reputable institutions such as the American University in Cairo, Al-Azhar university and other institutions.
Scholarships & Financial Support
The Arab Academy was established and has been
sustained since its inception through the support of private individuals from Egypt. The founding trustee donated funds to establish and create the online curriculum
and support staff. Revenue accrued from fees partially covers the salaries and
expenses of faculty and staff. Nevertheless, a limited number of scholarships
are offered to students on a need assessment basis.
Campus
The Arab Academy has a virtual campus that is
accessible to its learners from wherever they are all over the world (as long
as they can access the Internet). The Arab Academy’s campus has most of the
facilities of a ‘brick and mortar’ one. In addition to the classrooms and the
access to the faculty and support staff, students have a students Board (to
simulate the cafeteria where students from all courses meet and chat). There
is also a webliography with links to relevant sites that are posted by students
and faculty. Then there are activities that are organized by students in areas
of general interest to the community of learners.
The Arab Academy also runs study abroad programs in Cairo, Egypt.
II: Admissions
Admission Policy
The Arab Academy offers non-degree Arabic language courses. Students of all ages, nationalities, mother tongues, levels of education and Arabic language competence are admitted. The Arab Academy’s team of professional faculty and staff administer placement tests and place students in the courses that suit their ages, interests and language levels.
Academic Preparation
The Arab Academy offers serious Arabic Language programs that dedicated students are able to fulfill. Motivated and hardworking students are likely to succeed in meeting the challenges of studying at the Arab Academy.
Transfer Admission
Students who have studied Arabic at other
institutions need to take placement tests in order to ensure that they are
placed at the courses that suit their linguistic levels.
The Arab Academy adheres to strict academic procedures. Schools, colleges and
universities accept the transfer of the Arab Academy’s credit hours for the
following reasons:
- The Arab Academy is a serious online language institution that offers a
program that covers all Arabic language levels (novice low to intermediate
high)
- The Arab Academy is supervised and monitored by
professionals in the field of teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language
- Contact hours and credit hours are clearly indicated for all courses offered.
Students should check with their advisors and get their institution’s approval before registering at the Arab Academy.
Readmission
Students who studied at the Arab Academy may be re-admitted at the program without sitting for a placement test, if they were away for 12 months or less. Students, who have left the Arab Academy for longer than a year, need to take the placement test again before they can be admitted into the program. They will be placed according to their test results.
Auditors
Registered students at the Arab Academy may audit courses that they have previously studied. This enables them to revisit and review what they have learnt before, while they are studying new material. Non-registered students may not audit courses. All students at the Arab Academy are expected to participate actively on the courses they are registered in.
III: Academic Regulations
Registration
Students may register directly at the Arab Academy or through its affiliates. The Arab Academy provides administrative accounts to partner institutions that allow them to register their own students into the Arab Academy’s online Arabic program. In the latter case, students register and pay through their institutions.
Calendar
Online Courses:
The Arab Academy’s advanced automated system allows maximum flexibility to
students and administrators. There are no fixed dates for starting a class.
Students may register on any day of the year and a personalized schedule is
automatically generated providing students with a schedule that is distributed
over an average of 12 weeks (for university students) and 8 months (for school
children). University students have to complete a course within a maximum of 6
months, and school students have to complete the course within a maximum of 12
months. The idea is to complete the course requirements within the recommended
time regardless of when a student starts. Certificates are issued upon
successful completion of course requirements.
On Site Courses:
The Arab Academy's on site courses run for the 12 months of the year. The Arab Academy runs sessions that accommodate students in the United States, Britain and other countries. The schedule is organized to fit into the schedules of their home
universities. Students not linked to academic institutions can start their
courses on any month.
Change of Courses
There is rarely a need to change courses after registration. This is mainly due to the reliability of our placement tests. However, students may still request to change the courses within one week of starting the program.
Credit hours
Coursework is counted in credit hours. One credit
hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours. Hence, a course of 3 credit hours is
one whose online sessions would require student’s attendance for 45 hours
online. The student is expected to study for a similar number of hours outside
of class, that is, offline.
Academic Load
The Arab Academy’s online system is quite flexible. Students may take the load
that is most convenient to them and may adjust their pace. The maximum load
that is allowed is 15 credit hours. It is possible for students to complete
their studies earlier or later than the default settings of 12 weeks, so long
as they complete the course requirements.
Course Requirements
The Arab Academy adheres to strict academic
regulations. Students are expected to attend their classes or online sessions,
interact with teachers and other students, and take tests.
Below are the course requirements:
- Attendance 10%
- Homework 35%
- Writing 10%
- Tests 35%
- Arabic Board 5%
- Class Participation 5%
(Appendix C: Course Requirements)
Grades/Examinations
Students are expected to take online tests at the end
of every session. Tests are timed and most of them are for one hour. At the
end of the test, the student is able to view immediately his or her score as
well as the corrections. Scores of students are recorded automatically in
his/her “View My Scores” page. Students’ grades are accessible to students,
teachers and administrators.
When a student completes the course requirements and takes the final exam, he
or she is expected to notify the registrar by clicking on the link “I have
completed this course and would like to move on to the next one”. That link is
in the classroom of every course. The student is taken to his/her own control
panel, and from there the student is able to activate the passwords for the
next level.
The following grading system is used at the university level:
|
Scale for transferring scores to letter grades |
|
|
Grade |
Percentage |
|
A+ |
98-100 |
|
A |
92-97 |
|
A- |
90-91 |
|
B+ |
88-89 |
|
B |
82-87 |
|
B- |
80-81 |
|
C+ |
78-79 |
|
C |
72-77 |
|
C- |
70-71 |
|
D+ |
68-69 |
|
D |
62-67 |
|
D- |
60-61 |
|
F |
0-59 |
The following grading system is used for school children:
|
Scale for transferring scores to letter grades |
|
|
E.E.
|
90-100 |
|
M.E.
|
80-89 |
|
M.A.
|
70-79 |
|
N. |
50-69 |
|
N.A. |
0-49 |
Class Attendance
Attending class is obligatory
(online or on site). There is a minimum amount of time that students are
expected to spend on every session. Online students may choose the time, place
and day that are most convenient for them. As long as they satisfy the minimum
required time, students are free to choose the time and place.
On Site students have a set schedule that they need
to respect.
Transcripts
Students who have attended and successfully completed
courses at the Arab Academy, may request transcripts from the registrar.
Electronic transcripts are sent to them and to any other institution or person
upon their request. Students may also request a certificate of level.
Students who are currently enrolled in courses at the Arab Academy may request attestation of attendance.
Electronic transcripts, certificates and attestations of attendance are for
free. Students apply online for them and the system sends it to them
automatically. Alternatively, students may request a sealed and stamped hard
copy. They are charged fees to cover administrative charges and postage
expenses.
IV: Non-degree Academic Regulations
Academic Honesty Policy
The Arab Academy expects from its students the
highest standards of scholarly conduct. It is the responsibility of faculty
and students to promote and adhere to academic honesty. Academic dishonesty is
not accepted and it includes the following:
- Receipt of information during examination
- Use of unauthorized material during examination
- Transfer of unauthorized information to another student
- Plagiarism
An instructor has full authority to deal with an academic dishonesty incident within the context of his/her course. The instructor has to communicate with the student involved and report to the Academic Director within two weeks of the time the instructor became aware of the incident. The Arab Academy reserves the right to take disciplinary action, which could entail giving the student an “F” grade up to the dismissal of student from the program.
Privacy Rights of Student
Records
All information collected by the Arab Academy pertaining to students is strictly for its internal use. Unless a student
request that his/her transcripts, certificates or any other documentation, be
sent to a specific person or institution, a student’s information remains
confidential and is only used by the Arab Academy.
The Arab Academy utilizes students’ information as follows. Contact information is used to get in touch with students when necessary. Students’ personal information and grade sheets are used by the faculty and administration to keep a track of their overall performance. Personal information is used to assess the needs of students (as well as requirements of sponsors) should they apply for financial aid.
Students’ information is not shared by any third party without their permission and is otherwise strictly for the Academy's administrative use.
V: Student Finances
Tuition and Fees
Tuition fees are announced each academic year on the Arab Academy’s site. They are also available in downloadable format from the site. Fees are stated in US dollars and are based on credit hours at the university level and by academic year at the school level.
Refund Policy
Online:
Students may get a refund within 3 days of registration. After this period,
they are not entitled for a refund.
On Site:
Students may get a refund if they cancel 30 days prior to the first day of
classes. After this period, they are not entitled for a refund.
Scholarships
The Arab Academy is an institution
that depends upon tuition to operate its activities. Nevertheless, a limited
number of scholarships are given on occasions. When scholarships are available,
the Arab Academy sends an announcement to its mailing list. To subscribe to
the Arab Academy’s newsletter go to:
http://www.arabacademy.com/newsletter
Student
Work Program
Work for students is not available on a regular
basis. When the need arises, an announcement is put on the Students' board.
All work assignments are expected to be done online. Such work includes
translation, testing, research, etc.
VI: Student Life
Activities
The Arab Academy’s students originate from a large
number of countries of different languages, mother tongues and cultures. They
all have one element in common which is interest in the Arabic language and
culture. Students are encouraged to participate in activities that enhance
this interest. This is done through special areas on the site that are run and
managed by students. They comprise online tests and quizzes, the objective of
which is to participate collectively in expanding areas of knowledge.
Students who join our study abroad program are also encouraged to join our
cultural trips and outings.
Services
The Arab Academy has a virtual campus that simulates
a brick and mortar one. In lieu of the cafeteria where students meet and chat,
the Arab Academy has a chatroom and a number of boards where students from all
courses and language levels meet. Friendships amongst students develop
notwithstanding geographical barriers.
The Arab Academy offers its students a bibliography and a webliography. The
bibliography provides links with abstracts on the most famous books for
teaching Arabic as a foreign language. The webliography provides links to web
sites that are of relevance to the language and culture. Students and faculty
members post information on the books and web sites alike.
Student Conduct
The Arab Academy is an independent secular,
non-religious institution that aims at promoting Arabic language and culture.
Its board, faculty members and personnel do not take positions on political
and/or religious matters. Students are expected to do the same.
Students at the Arab Academy are part of a rich and varied global community.
In spite of differences, a friendly, supportive and encouraging atmosphere is
one that prevails at the Arab Academy. Students are expected to show concern
and provide assistance and support to each other as they cooperate in their
exciting learning journey.
In order to ensure that the Arab Academy maintains its integrity in its academic work and its place as a purely academic online institution, the following is not allowed (on the boards of the Arab Academy, chatrooms or in any communication within the framework of the Academy) and is considered as a violation of Arab Academy’s policies.
- Discussion of political or religious issues
- Using obscene, aggressive or disrespectful language
- Display of disrespect to people of different religions, faiths, nationalities
or race
VII: Online Academic System
Studying online is relatively new, and therefore below you will find answers to
the questions posed by students, teachers, administrators and parents.
1. How is the online Arabic language curriculum utilized?
The online curriculum offered by the Arab Academy provides a venue for learners and teachers to utilize the latest technology to their benefit. Learners log onto the courses from their classrooms via the Internet. Then they work on the online interactive sessions. Teachers monitor students' progress through advanced student tracking tools. The time spent on every session as well as scores are recorded. Teachers, in a very short time, are able to grasp the level of every student and how well they are progressing. They send them personalized messages through the mailing list that is built into the system. This enables learners to feel they are getting the individual attention of their teachers at all times, and enables teachers to monitor and supervise large numbers of students effortlessly and more effectively. The result is a noticeable increase in the levels of motivation of learners and their absorption of the material studied.
2. Why use the Arab Academy's curriculum?
The Arab Academy's curriculum is designed by professionals in the field of "Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language". A team of teachers monitors the program, update and enhance it on a regular basis. Having an interactive curriculum that is based on sound pedagogy and advanced technical features puts students and teachers on the right track to effective learning (maximum learning in the shortest period of time). It ensures uniformity and reliability amongst students at different classrooms. The Arabic classes are bound to be successful and students’ retention increases greatly.
3. How are students monitored?
The Arab Academy is based on an intelligent educational system that is fully automated. The system measures the time spent on activities, scores on tests and the level of participation in academic and extra curricular activities that are available on the site. When used in a classroom setting, teachers enter students' grades on classroom attendance and participation. At the end of the semester, the system issues detailed reports as well as transcripts and certificates.
4. What is a typical lesson composed of?
A lesson is composed of interactive learning pages followed by intelligent exercises and games that are full of graphics, sound and text. The learning pages and the activities vary by type of school and course.
5. How are students evaluated?
Like in any classroom setting, students are the evaluation criteria are based on:
- Attendance: contact hours is measured in terms of time spent online. For every credit hour, 15 contact hours are expected.
- Class participation and activities: students are expected to participate actively. This is measured by the number of questions and comments posed to teachers and students via the online boards.
It is also measured by the number of questions they
respond to.
- Online tests: all tests are given online in order to ensure standardization.
Students may take the tests at home or at the university's computer lab.
- Writing: students have to demonstrate an ability to communicate successfully
in the written form.
In the case of institutional use, the following criteria are added:
- Classroom Attendance & Participation: teachers are expected to notify the
system of student’s classroom attendance as well as their participation as
those are factors that are calculated in the overall grade.
6. Is there online interaction between learners and teachers?
Interaction amongst students and between students and teachers is no longer limited to class time or to the time spent on campus. Interaction can take place at any time of day and on any day including weekends. This takes place via the Arab Academy’s online boards and chatrooms. This greatly motivates students and increases their interests in their studies.
7. How can the program be used at schools, colleges & universities?
- Classroom Setting:
Teachers at institutions with ongoing Arabic Language programs, use the Arab Academy program in class. They use a computer connected to a projector to run the program for the whole group. Teachers then ask students to do their homework on line, hence increasing the time that the student is exposed to the language in both the oral and written forms. The interactive activities make students more motivated and more engrossed in their studies. Studying Arabic becomes more of an enjoyable game and less of a strenuous learning activity.
- Online Only with supervision from the institution's teachers
Institutions may register students who live far away or at other states online only. Those students would not come to school, college or university but will work online and be supervised by the institution's teachers online.
- Online Only with supervision from Arab Academy’s teachers
In the case where institutions have a shortage of teachers they may still register students who live far away or at other states online only. Those students would be supervised by Arab Academy’s teachers online. Students get a certificate of completion from their institution.
8. How much do teachers need to know about computers in order to use the curriculum?
Very little computer knowledge is needed from teachers. A detailed user's guide has been prepared to simplify matters and help teachers understand the system without spending too much time on the computer.
Teachers should be able to do the following:
- Turn computers on and off
- Open Internet Explorer and navigate to the Arab Academy site
- Enter passwords and select the year they are teaching
- Click on the activity that they need to use in class
- Click on “Students Activities” or “Student
Tracking” from the classroom in order to supervise their students and monitor
their progress.
- Teachers also need to have E-mail accounts that they check regularly.
9. How will students benefit from the program?
- Exposure: the online curriculum multiplies the time students are actually exposed to listening to Arabic as pronounced by native speakers.
- Motivation: the online interactive curriculum greatly increases students’ motivation
- Concentration: the interactive curriculum makes each student focus on the activities in order to do the exercises and activities. This sharpens the level of concentration to a large extent. In ‘real’ classrooms, students may respond to a teacher’s question when his or her turn comes up then relax for a short while till his or her turn gets back. Online, students are actively involved the whole time.
- Personalization: the online system personalizes
students’ profiles. Students are greeted by their names and get to see a
report on their progress. This personalization increases the level of interest
and motivation.
- Pace: students are able to move at the pace that is most suitable to them
- Special Needs: students with special needs are able to use the program in a
way that would allow them to meet their special needs without disrupting the
whole class.
10. How will teachers benefit from the program?
The system allows teachers to focus on teaching (rather than content development) for they can rely on the professionally designed interactive curriculum of the Arab Academy. Teachers appreciate the following:
- Curriculum: The Arab Academy’s curriculum is designed to meet the needs of non-native speakers of Arabic at all ages and language levels.
- Activities: The curriculum is very well structured. Every group of activities focuses on well-specified skills such as: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Teachers are provided with the tools they need to enable them to make their class as successful and enjoyable as possible.
- Achievement Tests: teachers need not worry about preparing
well-measured and reliable tests that cover the whole curriculum. Tests are
automatically generated (to cover all aspects that were taught) and corrected
(with 100% accuracy). Scores are automatically saved on the record of each
student.
- Placement Tests: students are given tests at the beginning of the
semester that ensures the placement of students in courses at the right
language level.
- Student Tracking: teachers are able to track the progress of each student in great detail due to the intelligent learning management system. The teacher gets to know how much time each student has spent online, whether students have completed the requirements, their scores on the tests, etc. Teachers may view the progress of the whole class or go deeper into the report of each student.
- Problem Areas: Teachers are able to detect problem areas of students (if there were any), due to the system's intelligent student tracking facilities.
- Students’ Levels: Very often teachers face a problem where there are different levels within the same class. This is one of the most common problems in a language classroom. Teachers are able to handle this problem more effectively through the system’s personalization. Advanced students may be given more challenging activities to work on and less advanced ones may be given easier tasks. Also, the teacher may change the pace of students allowing those who are up to it, to move faster than others. Through the Arab Academy’s system, optimization of class time and student satisfaction is guaranteed.
VIII: Academic Programs
University
The Arab Academy’s language levels are based on the
proficiency scale guidelines provided by the American Council on the Teaching
of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The Arab Academy offers nine language levels:
novice low, novice mid, novice high, intermediate low, intermediate mid,
intermediate high, advanced low, advanced mid and advanced high. Each of those
levels is composed of 45 contact hours. Those levels are preceded by novice
zero which introduces the alphabet. Novice zero is composed of 15 contact
hours.
Courses are offered in the following areas of interest:
I: General Purpose Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic
Colloquial Arabic
II: Arabic for Special Purposes
Islamic Arabic
Quran
Hadith
Sirah
Stories of Prophets
Business Arabic
Business Writing
Arabic for Politics
School
School for non-native speakers of Arabic
The Arab Academy runs three types of schools to meet the needs of young
learners of Arabic, who are non-native speakers of the language.
Arabic for Youth (9 – 18 yrs)
This school is for students who wish
to study Arabic as a Foreign Language at middle level to high school. Students
may register at the Arab Academy, study online, and then transfer the credit
hours to their respective schools. Schools may also register directly with the
Arab Academy and have all its students and teachers utilize the resources of
the Arab Academy’s Arabic school for Youth.
This program is
composed of three language levels (in addition to level zero which introduces
the alphabet) that are based on national US standards for teaching a Foreign
Language as furnished to us by Fairfax County, Virginia. It follows a
communicative functional approach and is based on topics and situations that
young people typically face. No prior knowledge of Arabic is required of students.
Arabic for School Children (5 – 18 yrs)
There are two
separate programs at this school: one is for students who wish to study Arabic
as a Foreign Language and the other is for students who wish to study Arabic as
a First Language. Each program runs from KG to Year 12 and teaches Modern
Standard Arabic. The programs focus on communicative skills and prepare
students for life in the Arab World as well as for conducting research in the
fields of Middle Eastern Politics, History and Islamic studies.
Those courses prepare students to sit for the following exams:
I: International
Baccalaureate Organization: Arabic Language
Ab
Initio
Language B (Arabic
Language)
II: Edexcel GCSE: Arabic
Language
General Certificate of Secondary Education
International General Certificate of Secondary Education
The Arabic school for children also offers optional Quranic Arabic courses.
IX: Course Listings of University
1. General Purpose
Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic
Level 0: Novice Zero – Arabic 100
Contact hours: 15;
Credit hours: 1
ACTFL
Listening & Speaking Scales: Novice Low
This level presents an introduction to the Arabic sound system and script.
Pronunciation and writing of every letter is given separately and in context.
It is a prerequisite to all other courses.
While the course aims at teaching the alphabet, it is not limited to that. It is very rich in cultural and historical information. The history of the Arabic language and the family tree of the Arabic script are given. Students are expected to learn the alphabet and appreciate its historical and artistic beauty as illustrated in the art of calligraphy. Before starting on the Arabic alphabet a multimedia presentation on the differences between the Arabic and Latin alphabets is given. At the end of the course, students should be fairly familiar with the Arabic sound system and script.
Level 1: Novice Low, Mid & High
– Arabic 101,
102, 103
Contact hours: 45 each; Credit
hours: 3 each
ACTFL Listening & Speaking
Scales: Novice Low, Novice Mid, Novice High
This is a series of three courses designed for a year of
intensive studies in Modern Standard Arabic at the novice level. The first
course is suitable for learners who have studied the Arabic alphabet and know
nothing or very little beyond this. Arabic 101 and Arabic102 revolve around
daily life situations. Arabic 103 prepares students for the intermediate
levels by presenting to them authentic material in the form of short stories
and popular Arabic songs from throughout the Arab World.
The courses
present systematic and structured material in Modern Standard Arabic. They
follow a communicative functional approach with heavy emphasis on the receptive
(listening and reading) as well as the productive skills (writing and speaking).
Level
2: Intermediate Low, Mid High – Arabic 201, 202, 203, 301, 302, 303
Contact hours: 45 each; Credit hours: 3
each
ACTFL Listening & Speaking Scales: Intermediate Low, Intermediate Mid,
Intermediate High
Intermediate courses pave the way for students to learn Arabic for professional reasons. They are based on newspaper articles covering a wide range of topics: politics, economics, social issues, environment, Arabic scholars, ….
The objective of the intermediate level courses is to expose learners to authentic texts, news broadcasts and other media. At the end of the level, students should be able to communicate and engage in meaningful discussions with native speakers over a wide range of social and professional topics.
Level
3: Advanced – Listening: Arabic 401, 402, 403
Contact hours: 45 each; Credit hours: 3
each
ACTFL Listening Scales: Advanced
This is a series of four courses designed for students at the advanced levels. The courses expand your knowledge of the Arab world as it presents oral discussions that take place in Arabic between intellectuals in the Middle East.
The objective of the advanced level courses is to enable learners to listen to news broadcasts and interviews on the media, related to political, economic, and social topics. At the end of the level, students should be able to understand native speakers as they discuss professional topics at normal speed.
Colloquial Arabic
Colloquial
101
Contact hours: 45; Credit hours: 3
Pre-requisite: Arabic100
ACTFL Listening & Speaking Scales: Novice Low
This course aims at introducing Egyptian Colloquial Arabic to non-native
speakers. Knowledge of the Arabic alphabet is a pre-requisite to the course
(even though transcription is provided). The course is recommended for
students who have never studied any variety of Arabic before or to those who
have studied Modern Standard Arabic only.
The course follows a communicative functional approach and aims at enhancing
listening and speaking skills. Students are introduced to daily life
situations that foreigners living in an Arab country are likely to encounter.
At the end of the course, students should be able to communicate with native
speakers on day-to-day topics.
2. Arabic for
Special Purposes
Islamic Arabic
Arabic of Quran
Quran 101, Quran 102, Quran 103
Contact hours: 45
each; Credit hours: 3 each
Pre-requisite: Arabic100
This is a series of three courses that are based on the most popular verses in the Quran; namely Part Thirty. This is the last part of the Quran and it comprises the verses that Muslims use in their daily prayers and are most familiar with. Comprehension of those verses result in a closer understanding of Islamic slogans and expressions. The courses focus strictly on the language.
At the end of the series, students should be able to comprehend verses from Part Thirty. They are better equipped to read the different interpretations of the Quranic verses and appraise them from a linguistic viewpoint.
Quran 201, Quran 202, Quran 203
Contact hours: 45 each;
Credit hours: 3 each
This is a series of three courses that are based on part 29 as well as Surat-un-Nisaa2
(Women). Those verses are longer and more complex in nature than the verses of
Part Thirty. Comprehension of those verses result in a deeper insight on Islam
and the language of the Quran. The courses focus strictly on the language.
At the end of the series, students should be able to listen to and comprehend
the general meaning of verses that they have not previously encountered.
Arabic of Hadith
Hadith 101, Hadith 102, Hadith 103
Contact
hours: 15 each; Credit hours: 1 each
This is a series
of two courses that are based on sayings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A number
of topics of general interest were chosen then sayings and relevant verses are
given. All sayings are taken from “Sahih Al-Bukhari” and therefore their
authenticity is quite reliable.
The objective of the courses is to acquaint students with the language of the
sayings. Those sayings are around 1400 years old and therefore their style and
choice of vocabulary is quite classical. At the end of the course, students
would be able to understand and comprehend a number of sayings and would have
developed familiarity with their style.
Sirah
Sirah101, Sirah 102, Sirah 103
Contact hours: 8 each;
Credit hours: .5 each
This is a series of two courses that aim at introducing the life of prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) in simplified Arabic. The language used corresponds in
complexity to that of the Standard Arabic courses. It is recommended that
Islamic Arabic courses and Modern Standard Arabic courses be studied in
parallel.
The objective is to build students’ knowledge of Arabic in the context of the
biography of Muhammad. At the end of the courses, students should be fairly
familiar with vocabulary pertaining to the life of Muhammad (PBUH).
Prophets
Prophets 1 - 15
Contact hours: 45 each; Credit hours: 3 each
Pre-requisite:
Arabic 100 or knowledge of the Arabic alphabet
This is a series of 15 courses, where each course presents the story of a prophet from the Quran. Verses that are related to stories of prophets in the Quran, are given, in the context of simplified Arabic stories. The stories gradually add up in the level of complexity. The courses are high in graphics content, for there is a picture for every sentence to enable learners to retain the meaning of the verses. They are recommended for students with interest in Quranic Arabic and Islam.
Business Arabic
Business Correspondence 1
Contact hours: 45
each; Credit hours: 3 each
This is a series of
courses that aim at enabling students to write and correspond in the proper
form in the business world. Official letters for different purposes:
invitations, requests, complaints, etc are introduced. This course is
particularly suitable for businessmen who have contacts or work assignments in
the Middle East.
At the end of the course, students should be able to comprehend and compose
business letters using the correct form and style.
Political Arabic
Middle East Politics 1
Contact hours: 45;
Credit hours: 3
This course focuses on the political language that is used in media and amongst politicans. A variety of topics are chosen that touch upon key political issues are discussed. This course is particularly suitable for journalists, diplomats and other advanced learners with interest in the political situation in the Middle East. At the end of the course, students should be able to partake in and comprehend all types of communication covering political issues.
X: Course Listings
of Arabic for Young Youth (9 – 18 yrs)
Arabic
for Young Youth: Level 0
Contact hours: 15
Pre-requisite to all other levels
This level presents an introduction to the Arabic sound system and script. Pronunciation and writing of every letter is given separately and in context. It is a prerequisite to all other courses.
While the course aims at teaching the alphabet, it is not limited to that. It is very rich in cultural and historical information. The history of the Arabic language and the family tree of the Arabic script are given. Students are expected to learn the alphabet and appreciate its historical and artistic beauty as illustrated in the art of calligraphy. Before starting on the Arabic alphabet a multimedia presentation on the differences between the Arabic and Latin alphabets is given. At the end of the course, students should be fairly familiar with the Arabic sound system and script.
Arabic
for Young Youth: Level 1 (Parts 1-4)
Contact hours: 140 Number
of Words: 759
Pre-requisite: Arabic
for Young Youth: Level 0
National US Standards for Teaching a Foreign Language at middle and high
schools – Level 1
This course is designed for young adults who have studied the Arabic alphabet and know nothing or very little beyond this. It revolves around daily life situations that young people typically face. The topics revolve aroun