410111 Beginners Modern Standard Arabic
This course is designed for students who have no previous knowledge of the Arabic Language. It introduces students to the alphabet, sound system and basic grammatical structures of Arabic. It also develops the students' vocabulary using specific structures discussed in class. Jordanian colloquial Arabic is integrated in the course. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify the alphabet and the sound system.
- Ask for information, speak about themselves, their families, their interests.
- Read and comprehend sentences and paragraphs in Arabic.
- Use the grammatical structures taught to write sentences and short paragraphs about familiar topics.
410112 Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Beginners Modern Standard Arabic or have been placed in this level. It consolidates and builds upon the material learned in Beginners Modern Standard Arabic. The students expand their vocabulary by reading and listening to short texts in Arabic and are introduced to more advanced grammatical structures that will enable them to write sentences and short paragraphs. The course emphasizes the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Jordanian colloquial Arabic is also integrated in the course. By the end of the course, students are expected to:
- Hold short conversations in Arabic.
- Identify and use the basic grammatical structures learned during the course.
- Read and comprehend short written and spoken texts.
- Write short paragraphs about topics of interest.
410211 Upper Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic
This course consolidates material learned in Beginners Modern Standard Arabic and Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic. It provides students with extensive vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures by using authentic Arabic texts taken from a number of sources. The course aims to further develop the students' reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Issues pertaining to the Arab culture are discussed in class and Jordanian colloquial Arabic is also integrated in the course. By the end of the course, students are expected to:
- Converse more fluently in Arabic.
- Use the grammatical and sentence structures learned during the course.
- Read and comprehend mid-size written and spoken texts.
- Give short oral presentations.
- Write short paragraphs about topics discussed in class.
410212 Advanced Modern Standard Arabic
This course is designed for students who have already completed at least three courses of instruction in Arabic. It expands students' vocabulary and grammar to enable them to express themselves in writing and speaking on a variety of topics; It emphasizes communication in the written and oral forms. During the course, students are exposed to lengthy authentic reading and listening material taken from a number of sources and are taught to skim and scan texts for information and guess the meanings of unfamiliar words from the context. Students are also taught how to summarize and write short essays about topics discussed in class. By the end of the course, students are expected to:
- Interact with native speakers.
- Read and comprehend long authentic written and spoken texts.
- Summarize texts.
- Skim and scan texts for information.
- Give long oral presentations.
- Write short essays about familiar topics.
410101 Arabic Culture and Islamic History
This course discusses a number of topics pertaining to the Arab culture, paying special attention to contemporary Jordanian culture. It introduces students to Arab/Jordanian values, customs, beliefs, music, cuisine and dress. The course also gives a general idea about Islamic history by discussing issues such as the rise of Islam, important practices and beliefs of Islam and Islamic thought.
410102 Politics of the Middle East
This course examines the political trends that have played a role in shaping modern Arab history. It gives a general idea about the Arab regimes and their emergence and discusses concepts such as colonization, nationalism, democratization and political reform in the Arab world.
410103 Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature
This course gives students an overview of modern Arabic literature. It introduces students to selected short stories, novels and poems written by a number of male and female writers to acquaint students with the forms, techniques and themes prevalent in modern Arabic literature. Jordanian modern literature is emphasized.
410104 Media Arabic
This course is designed to give students a general idea about the Arabic used in the media. The course focuses on the vocabulary and structures commonly employed in this genre using authentic material extracted from a number of media sources. Students develop their understanding of the media language by reading news reports and listening to radio and television broadcasts.
410105 Contemporary Arab Cinema
This course introduces students to the development of the cinema in the Arab world. It presents an overview of the recurrent themes prevalent in films, serials, etc produced in this part of the world and examines the impact of the cinema on the Arab societies.
