Advanced Language & Cultures I

Catalog description

Fifth-semester Modern Standard Arabic: reading more complex texts, films, further development of conversation, composition skills, Arab cultures, current issues. ARAB 401 Advanced Language & Cultures I (3)(IL) (BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirement.This language and culture course, which fulfills International Cultures requirement or the Other Cultures requirement within the Bachelor of Arts degree, will offer a continuation of the study of the Modern Standard Arabic language and an exploration of several aspects of Arab cultures. Language skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) are further developed through the exploration of several culturally important themes that illustrate a range of cultural situations and contexts. Among the themes that may be discussed are the following: new opportunities and also persistent problems facing Arab youth; social and economic conditions in which fundamentalist and other groups present their agendas; the condition of women and the pressures often exerted by society's norms and traditions to keep women out of the public scene; cultural, emotional, and literary reactions to the tragedy of displaced peoples; Islam and other religions among Arab cultures; love and the images and symbolism used to describe it; the writings of one or more well-known authors, including the evolution within the works of the author(s) and the influence of these writings on Arab thought; Arabic cultures in various parts of the world, including the U.S. All themes are presented in the target language and represent a wide range of Arabic culture and current issues. The course may also involve popular media such as comics, newspaper headlines, music and songs, and a visit to the library. Class activities and projects are designed to enable students to become active and creative participants and transmitters of new knowledge to their peers. Students will be asked to conduct research using authentic material, and to write a short paper in Arabic as a wrap up of their final presentation.