History & Fiction in Arabic

Catalog description

This course is intended to provide a more advanced exposure to Arabic language skills beyond those offered by the standard Arabic curriculum, particularly in reading, writing, and grammar of MSA and some exposure historical forms of Arabic like Classical Arabic and Middle Arabic, not to mention important genres like the modern academic article, memoirs, chronicles, and biography. Students will refine their readings skills and will be able to read at a quicker rate by the end of the semester, and increase their active vocabulary accordingly. Students will also practice writing and explore some of the finer points of Arabic grammar. Along the way, students will learn a good bit about the history of the Arab world, and grapple with the fuzzy border between history and memory, fact and fiction.