Textbook:
Al-Kitaab fi ta`allum
al-`arabiyya by Brustad et al.
Dictionary
(recommended, but not required):
A
Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic
(Wehr), edited by J M. Cowan
In this
course students will continue their foray into the world of two
modes of Arabic: the
“Standard” language based on the Classical Arabic of the
Qur’an, and a spoken version “colloquial” from the educated
classes of Egypt.
No one
can be said to “know” Arabic unless both types, “standard”
and “colloquial”, have been mastered. This semester continues the lengthy process of doing just
that.
There
are difficulties in learning a language when contact with the
Professor occurs only once per week. Accordingly, students will be asked to complete homework
assignments by the Monday following each session; these may be sent
to the Professor by fax (860-509-9509), by email, by conventional
mail, or delivered personally.
Assignments will be reviewed and returned to the student the
next class session.
Homework
assignments will be graded; cumulatively they will account for 25% of the final
grade. Chapter tests will also
amount to 25%; attendance and class
participation, 25%; the final exam will also
amount to 25%.
While
ANY syllabus is tentative, every effort will be made to adhere to the following
schedule:
January
27
Lesson 1
February
3
Vocabulary QUIZ, Lesson 1
February
10 Lesson 2
February
17 TEST, Lessons 1 & 2; Lesson 3
February
24 Vocabulary QUIZ, Lesson 3
March 3
Lesson 4
March 10
TEST, Lessons 3 & 4
March 17
NO CLASS
March 24
NO CLASS (Reading Week)
March 31
Lesson 5
April 7 Vocabulary QUIZ, Lesson 5
April 14
Lesson 6
April 21
TEST, Lessons 5 & 6
April 28
Lesson 7
May 5
FINAL EXAM
NB:
When learning a language, it is (infinitely?) better to work
a little each day than to cram on weekends or over large chunks of
time. In other words, an hour each day of review and
preparation during the week is to be preferred over spending the
entirety of a Saturday or Sunday trying to catch-up.
Also, in
learning a language, it is better to use your out-of-class time to
work on material that has already been presented in class, rather
than to “work ahead”. Working
ahead risks internalizing faulty linguistic input: This is NOT a “teach yourself” course!
“I’m
not here to hand out bad grades” is one of my mottos.
Every effort will be made to keep you all up to speed, that
being one of the luxuries of having a small class.
Most
importantly: HAVE FUN!
Even though Arabic is NOT an easy language, it CAN be
enjoyable. I’ll try
to make it that way; if you work, there is that much more chance of
making it that way for yourself.
Steven
Blackburn