MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
Middle East Institute
Arabic 101 Syllabus
Instructor Name:
E-mail:
Phone:
MEI Phone: (202) 785-2710
MEI Email: [email protected]
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to reading and writing Arabic. The course presents the letters of the Arabic
Alphabet and the sounds that it represents. This course aims at bringing the student to a level where
he/she can read the Arabic script and be able to write in Arabic. The course also introduces the speaking
so students can start to converse in Arabic without having to wait until they perfect the reading.
This course will enable students to read and write Modern Standard Arabic (the language of radio,
television, and newspapers throughout the Arab World), as well as to enable them to communicate in
Modern Standard Arabic at a very basic level.
NOTES:
1.
Regular class attendance and handing in homework assignments.
2.
Homework for each week is due at the beginning of the following week.
3.
Midterm exam to be given at the beginning of the fifth week of classes.
4.
Final exam to be given at the end of the course.
5.
Students must use the DVDs corresponding to the material offered in the classroom
and it is recommended to get access to the accompanying website.
Textbook
Brustad, K. et Al. Alif Baa with DVDs: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds, Third Edition.
Georgetown University Press.
MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
Grade distribution:
20% Participation & Attendance
20% Homework & Preparation
25% Midterm
35% Final exam
NOTES:


This syllabus is subject to change
Drills &Exercise in bold need to turned in
Week 1
Unit 1&2
‫ ي‬, , ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ ا‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ت ث‬
In Class
Preparation & Homework
Day 1
Unit1
Day 1
Introduction to the Arabic Alphabet
-Read through the unit ahead
-Listening exercise 1. Pg.2
-Listening Exercise 2. Dialect Variation in Arabic pg.9
-Drill 1 pg.10
-Drill 3. Pg.13
-Memorize new vocabulary pg.15
-Read through unit 2.
-Arabic letters and sounds pg.2
-Special Characteristics of Arabic Script pp.3-6
-Pronunciation of Arabic pg.7-8
-Formal and Spoken Arabic pp.8-9
-Dialect Variation in Arabic pg.9
-Transliteration system pp.9-13
-Drill 2. Reading in Transliteration pg.13
-Drill 4 pg.16
-Cultural Note: Saying “Hello” pg.17
______________________________________
Day 2
Unit 2
-‫ ا‬aa {alif} pg.20
-Listening exercise 1. Pg.20
-Writing ‫ ا ـ‬pp.21-22
- baa pp.23-25
_________________________________________
Day 2
-Drill 1 pg. 21
-Listening exercise 2 pg.23.
-Listening exercise 3. Pg.26
-Listening exercise 4 pg.28
-Listening exercise 5.
-Drill 3. Word recognition pg.29
MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
- ‫ ت‬taa pp.26-27
- ‫ ث‬thaa pp.27-29
- uu pg.29/30
- ‫ ي‬ii pp.31-32
-Short Vowels ‫ ـ‬, ‫ ـ‬, ‫ ـ‬pg.34
- ‫ ــ‬a {fatha} pg.35
-Writing ‫ ــ‬pg.36
- Writing ‫ ــ‬pg.37
- ‫ ــ‬i {kasra} pg.37
-Drill 9. Letter recognition pg.38
-Drill 12. Reading aloud pg.39
-Vocabulary pp.41-42
-Listening exercise 6. Pg.30
-Listening exercise 7. Pg.31
-Listening exercise 8. Pg.34
-Drill 6. Pg.35
-Drill 7 pg.35
-Listening exercise 9. Pg.35
-Drill 8. Fatha dictation pg.36
-Listening exercise 10. Pg.37
-Listening exercise 11. Pg.38
-Drill 10. Pg.38
-Drill 12. Reading aloud pg.39
-Memorize Vocabulary pp.41-42
-Culture “Shaking Hands” pg.44
- Read through the unit 3 ahead.
*
Homework to be turned in:
-Drill 2.Dictation pg.27
-Drill 4. Dictation pg.31
-Drill 5. Dictation pg.33
-Drill 11Dictation pg.39
-Letter connection pg.39-40
Week 2
Unit 3 & Unit 4(up to pg.85)
‫ د ر‬, ‫ء أ‬,‫ ـ‬, , ‫ ي‬, ‫ج ح خ‬
In Class
Preparation & Homework
Day 3
Unit 3
Day 3
, ,‫ي‬,‫جحخ‬
, ,‫ي‬,‫جحخ‬
- ‫ ج‬jiim / gim pp.46-48
-Listening exercise 1. Variation of ‫ ج‬pg.46
-Listening exercise 2. Pronouncing ‫ ح‬pg.49
-Listening exercise 3. Pronouncing ‫ خ‬pg.51
-Drill 3. Recognizing , ‫ ح‬, ‫ج‬and ‫ خ‬pg.52
-Drill 12. Vocabulary matching pg.62
-Drill 14. Listen and interact pg.63
-Culture Note: Expressions Sabah il-khayr! And alHamdu li-llah pg.64
-Read through the unit 4 ahead
-
‫ ح‬Haa pp.48-50
‫ خ‬khaa pp.51-52
-Drill 6. Reading aloud pg.53
- ‫ ــ‬sukun pp.54-55
- waw
-Listening exercise 5. Pronouncing pg.55
-Listening exercise 6. Hearing and pronouncing
MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
pg.56
- ‫ ي‬yaa pg.
-Listening exercise 7. Pronouncing ‫ ي‬pg.57
-Listening exercise 8. Pg.57
-Drill 9. Reading aloud pg. 58
-New vocabulary pp.61-62
*Homework to be turned in
-Drill 1. Dictation pg.48
-Drill 2. Dictation pg.51
-Drill 4. Letter connection pg.52-53
-Drill 5. Dictation pg.53
-Drill 7. Dictation pg.56
-Drill 8. Dictation pg.57
-Drill 10. Letter connection pp.58-59
-Drill 11. Dictation pg.59
______________________________________
Day 4
Unit 4 up to page 85
________________________________________
Day 4
‫ د ر‬, ‫ء أ‬,‫ـ‬
‫ د ر‬, ‫ء أ‬,‫ـ‬
- ‫ ء‬hamza pp.66-69
-Listening exercise 1. Pg.67
-Listening exercise 2. Pg.67
-Listening exercise 3. Pg.68
-Writing ‫ ء أ‬pg.68
-Listening exercise 4. Final hamza pg.69
-Arabic Numbers pp.71-73
-New Vocabulary pp.74-75
- ‫ د‬daal pg.77-78
-Listening exercise 5. Pg.77
- pp.78-80
-Listening exercise 6. Pg.79
- ‫ ر‬raa pp.81-82
-Listening exercise 7. Pg.81
- zaay pp.82-83\
-Listening exercise 8. Pg.82
-Drill 11. Reading aloud pg.85
-Drill 1. Recognizing hamza pg.67
-Culture Note: Introducing Someone pg.76
-Drill 7 pg.79
-Drill 8. Pg.80
* Homework to be turned in:
-Drill 2. Dictation pg.70
-Drill 9. Letter connection pg.84
-Drill 10. Dictation pg.85
MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
Week 3
Continue Unit 4 & Unit 5
!‫ل‬
‫ ات‬,
, ‫ص‬, ‫ش‬,
In Class
,‫ـ‬
Preparation & Homework
Day 5
Continue Unit 4
Day 5
-New Vocabulary pg.86
-Drill 14 pg.87
-Drill 16. Pg.87
-Culture Note: Forms of Address pg.89
-Drill 15 pg.87
-Drill 17. Pg.88
-Read through the unit 5 ahead.
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Day 6
Unit 5
_________________________________________
Day 6
- ‫ ـ‬shadda pp.92-95
-Listening exercise 1. Pg.92
-Listening exercise 2. Pg.93
siin pp.95-97
-Listening exercise 3. Pg.96
-‫ ش‬shin pp.98-99
-New Vocabulary pg.100
- ‫ ص‬Saad pp.102- 104
-Listening exercise 5. Pg.102
-Listening exercise 7. Pg.102
-Drill 9. Pg.105
Daad pp.106-108
-Listening exercise 8. Pg.106
-Listening exercise 10. Pg.106
-Drill 13. Pg.109
-Drill 16. Reading aloud pg.111
-New Vocabulary and conversation pp.112-113
-Roots pg.115
-Drill 1. Pg.93
-Drill 2. Pg.93
-Culture Note: Good-bye! Pg.101
-Listening exercise 6. Pg.102
-Drill 7. Pg.103
-Drill 8. Pg.105
-Listening exercise 9. Pg.106
-Drill 11. Pg.106
-Drill 12. Pg.108
-Drill 17. Vocabulary Matching pg.113
-Drill 18. Listen and Interact pg.113
-Read through the unit 6 ahead.
*Homework to be turned in:
-Drill 3. Dictation pg.95
-Drill 4. Dictation pg.98
-Drill 5. Dictation pg.99
-Drill 10. Dictation pg.105
-Drill 14. Letter Connection pg.109-110
-Drill 15. Dictation pg.110
MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
Week 4
Unit 6 & Unit 7 (up to pg162.)
‫ل‬,
, ,‫ف‬, ,‫ع‬,‫ظ‬, ,‫ة‬
In Class
Preparation & Homework
Day 7
Unit 6
Day 7
-Gender in Arabic ‫ ة‬taa marbuuTa pp.118-120
-Listening exercise 1. Pg.118
Ta app.120-123
-Listening exercise 3. Pg.120
-Listening exercise 4. Pg.121
-Drill 5. Pg.124
- ‫ ظ‬pp.125-127
-Listening exercise 5. Pg.125
-Listening exercise 7. Pg.125
-Listening exercise 8. Pg.127
-Drill 9. Pg.128
-Drill 12. Reading aloud pg.129
-New Vocabulary pp.130-131
- ‫ ع‬cayn pp.133-135
-Listening exercise 9. Pg.133
-Listening exercise 10. Pg.133
-Drill 15. Pg.136
ghayn pp.137-139
-Listening exercise 12. Pg.137
-Listening exercise 13. Pg. 138
-Drill 19. Pg.140
-Drill 22. Word recognition pg.142
-New Vocabulary pg.143
-Drill 28. Reading aloud pg.144
-Drill 1. Pg.118
-Listening exercise 2. Pg.120
-Drill 2. Pg.121
-Drill 3. Pg.121
-Drill 4. Pg.123
-Listening exercise 6. Pg.125
-Drill 7. Pg.125
-Drill 8. Pg.127
-Drill 10. Pg.128
-Culture Note; tishrab ahwa? Pg.132
-Drill 14. Pg.134
-Drill 16. Pg.136
-Listening exercise 11. Pg.137
-Drill 18. Pg.139
-Drill 20. Pg.140
-Drill 24 pg.143
-Drill 25 pg.143
-Drill 27 pg.144
_________________________________________
Day 8
Unit 7 (up to pg.162)
- ‫ ف‬faa pp.146-147
-Listening exercise 1. Pg.146
qaaf pp.148-151
-Listening exercise 3. Pg.149
- kaaf pp.151-154
-Listening exercise 4 pg.151
-Listening exercise 5. Pg.152
-Drill 5. Pg.154
- ‫ ل‬laam pp.156-159
-Read through the unit 7 ahead
*Homework o be turned in:
-Drill 11. Dictation pg.128
-Drill 17. Dictation pg.137
-Drill 21. Letter connection pg.141
-Drill 23 Dictation pg.142
_________________________________________
Day 8
-Listening exercise .2 pg.149
-Drill 2. Pg.149
-Drill 4. Pg.154
-Drill 6. Pg.155
-Drill 10. Pg.161
MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
-Listening exercise 6. Pg.156
-Drill 9. Pg.161
-Drill 12. Pg.162
*Homework to be turned in:
-Drill 1. Dictation pg.148
-Drill 3. Dictation pg.151
-Drill 7. Dictation pg.155
-Drill 8. Dictation pg.160
-Drill 11. Dictation pg.162.
**Prepare for Midterm on Units 1-6
Week 5
Review, Midterm & Continue Unit 7
In Class
Preparation & Homework
Day 9
Review
Midterm
Day 9
Day 10
Day 10
Continue with Unit 7
Continue with Unit 7
-New Vocabulary pp.163-164
-Drill 15. Vocabulary Practice pg.165
-Drill 17. Reading aloud pg.165
-Expressions with Allah pg.166
-Drill 13. Pg.164
-Drill 16. Pg.165
-Culture; Guests’ and Hosts’ Role pg.167
-Read through the unit 8 ahead.
Week 6
Unit 8&Unit 9 (up to pg.203)
‫ ئ‬, ‫ ؤ‬, ‫ آ‬, ‫ هـ‬,
In Class
,
Preparation & Homework
Day 11
Unit 8
Day 11
- miim pp.170-172
-Listening exercise 1. pg.170
pp.173-174
-Listening exercise 2. Pg.173
- ‫ هـ‬PP.175-178
-Drill 3. Pg.179
-Drill 5. Pg.180
-Drill 10. Pg.190
-Drill 13. Pg.191
-Drill 14. Pg.191
MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
-Listening exercise 3. Pg.176
-Listening exercise 4. Pg.178
-Drill 4. Pg.179
- Reading Strategies pp.181-182
- More about ‫ ه ة‬hammza ‫ ئ ئـ‬, ‫ ؤ‬pp.183-185
-Listening exercise 5. Pg.183
-Listening exercise 6. Pg.184
- ‫ ألف م ة آ‬alif madda pp.185-186
-Listening exercise 7. Pg.185
-Drill 8. Word recognition pg.187
-New Vocabulary pp.189-190
-Drill 11. Pg.190
-Drill 12 pg.191
_________________________________________
Day 12
Unit 9 (up to pg.203)
*Homework to be turned in:
-Drill 1. Dictation pg.173
-Drill 2. Dictation pg.175
-Drill 6. Dictation pg.180
-Drill 9. Letter connection pp.187-188
_______________________________________
Day 12
...‫ال‬
- .. ‫ال‬
‫ ألف ا‬alif laam pp.194-196
-Listening exercise 1. Pg.194
-Listening exercise 2. Pg.195
-Drill 1. Reading ‫ ال‬pg.196
-Drill 3. Pg.197
-Drill 5 pg.198
-Drill 6. Dictation pg.199
- ‫ ه ة ال صل ا‬pp.200-201
-Listening exercise 3. Pg.200
-Drill 7. Pg.201
-Drill 8. Using ‫ ال‬in phrases pg.202
-Drill 9. Pg.203
-Drill 10. Pg.203
-Drill 2. Pg.197
-Drill 4. Pg.198
-Drill 11. Pg.205
-Drill 13. Pg.205
-Read through unit 10 ahead.
Week 7
Continue Unit 9, Unit 10 & Review for Final
‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ا‬,
In Class
Preparation & Homework
Day 13
Continue with Unit 9
Day 13
- New Vocabulary pg.204
-Drill 12. Pg.205
-Drill 14. Pg.205
-Culture: ! ‫م ش‬
-Roots and Patterns pp.207-209
-Drill 11 pg.205
-Listening exercise 8. Pg.222
MEI ARABIC 101 SYLLABUS
-Listening exercise 4. Pg. 208
-Drill 16. Pg.209
Unit 10
‫رة‬
‫ ألف م‬alif maqsuura pp.212-213
- ‫ألف ق ي ة‬alif qasiira (short alif) pp.213-214
-Listening exercise 2. Pg.213
-Formal Arabic pg.215
-Grammatical Endings ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ــ‬
‫ ــ تن ين‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫( ــ‬tanwiin) pp.215-220
-Listening exercise 3. Pg.216
-Listening exercise 4. Pg.217
-Listening exercise 5. Pg.219
-Listening exercise 6. Pg.220
-Definite Endings ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬, ‫ ــ‬pg.221
-Drill 1. Reading loud in formal Arabic pg.222
-Writing Styles
Handwriting pp.223-224
-Culture: The Development of the Arabic Writing
System pg.225
-Calligraphy pg.225
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Day 14
Day 14
*Review for Final
*Study for Final on Units 7– 10
Week 8
Final