Advanced Language & Cultures II

Catalog description

Sixth-semester Modern Standard Arabic: reading more complex texts, films, further development of conversation, composition skills, Arab cultures, current issues. ARAB 402 Advanced Language & Cultures II (3) (IL) (BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.This language and culture course, which fulfills the Humanities or the International Cultures requirement within General Education or the Other Cultures requirement within the Bachelor of Arts degree, will build upon previous courses in the Arabic curriculum and offer a continuation of the study of the Modern Standard Arabic language, an exploration of several aspects of Arab culture in a range of contexts, and the exploration of current issues and topics of interest in Middle Eastern media. Among the themes that may be discussed are the following: the achievements of Arab Nobel Prize winners, holiday traditions, colloquial Arabic, love, social and economic conditions of the poor and the middle-class, practical and psychological problems arising from belonging to a certain social class, ways in which the state (in different countries) relates to the needs of the people, Arab cultures in various parts of the world including the U.S., and a variety of the most recent social and political newspaper and magazine articles.All themes are presented in the target language and represent a wide range of Arabic culture and current issues. The course course may also involve popular media via the reading of comics, relevant headlines, music and songs, and computer practice for students to learn how to type in Arabic and benefit from available resources to equip students with this useful Arabic tool. Class activities and projects are designed to enable students to become active and creative participants and transmitters of new knowledge to their peers. Themes will often be examined comparatively and will draw on students' personal experience to connect with the material presented.The course is designed for students who have completed Arabic 401 in our language sequence or have the equivalent level of language proficiency. At University Park the course will be offered every semester or every other semester, according to enrollment patterns and the availability of staff. At other locations, course-offering patterns will be determined by their needs.