OVERVIEW

The course consists of a theory module and a two-semester practical module (9 credits). The theory module lasts 30 hours and analyses the morpho-syntactic structures used in the written and oral communication and included in the Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) second-year syllabus. The practical module “lettorato”, held by a native language expert, lasts 100 hours and involves exercises aimed at developing language skills and preparing students for the exam.

- Students from other departments or those who choose Arabic as a third language (6 credits) are not required to take the theoretical module exam, but only the written and the oral ones for the practical part, “Lettorato” (100 hours).

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course intends to continue to give students a broad knowledge of the morpho-syntax of Standard Arabic as well as equip them with the essential skills for the comprehension, the analysis and the translation of a variety of texts. It also aims to enable students to produce own medium-length texts on a variety of topics and comment on them orally.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to deepen students' knowledge of the morpho-syntactic system of Standard Arabic acquired in the first year. The main learning objective is to address the study of the Arabic language verbal system and further elements of sentence structure. The course also aims to consolidate students' language skills and to enable them to develop a broad and varied vocabulary.

- At the end of this course, the student will have acquired the necessary skills for the analysis, the translation, the comprehension and for the oral/written presentation of medium-length texts of different types.

- The student will acquire a lexicon of about 500 words related to the areas covered.

- The level of Arabic expected at the end of the second year will be between A2.2 and B1.1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

PREREQUISITES

Students are allowed to take the second year exams only after passing all the exams from the previous year (Lettorato + Theory module).

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, seminars, and listening and speaking exercises.

The theory module lessons will be held in the first semester and the practical part is annual. Attendance is not compulsory but highly recommended as it ensures a more fruitful and faster learning. The lessons of the first semester will start approximately at the beginning of October according to the university teaching timetable.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Morphology and syntax:

• Tense, aspect and mood in Arabic;
• Verb with initial hamzah;
• Geminate verb root;
• Verb with weak initial و;
• Hollow root;
• Defective verb root;
• Verbal nouns;
• Verb modes (subjunctive, conditional-jussive, imperative);
• Verb derivation patterns;
• Relative and final clauses;
• Coordination (phrasal).

- A detailed syllabus of the practical module will be published at the beginning of the academic year, but generally includes:

• Some syntactic elements (The demonstrative, inna and her sisters, the sisters of kāna, relative clauses, comparatives, indefinite adjectives, the five nouns);
• Written and oral practice on the grammatical contents covered in the theory module;
• Reading and translation of texts on different topics;
• Listening comprehension and dictation exercises;
• Conversation practice;
• Vocabulary Activities;
• Writing tasks on everyday topics such as family, work, study and personal interests.

- The syllabus is the same for non-attending students. Bibliographical material and texts covered during the course will be available on Aulaweb.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sana Darghmouni, Kalima/Parola: lezioni di scrittura e grammatica araba con esercizi, Edumond Le Monnier, 2018;

L. Veccia Vaglieri, Grammatica teorico-pratica della lingua araba - vol. 1, Istituto per l'Oriente C. A. Nallino, Roma 2011 (II edizione).

- Luc-Willy Deheuvels, Grammatica araba. Manuale di arabo moderno con esercizi e cd audio per l'ascolto, Bologna 2010;
- Al-Batal M., K. Brustad, A. Al-Tonsi, AL-Kitaab: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Washington, Georgetown University Press, 1997.
- Vocabolario Arabo-Italiano, Roma, Istituto per L'Oriente (Pubblicazioni dell'IPO), 1993;
- Dizionario, Italiano-Arabo, Arabo-Italiano, Eros Baldissera, Bologna, Zanichelli, 1998;
- Further bibliographic material will be provided during the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

NASSER AHMED ISMAIL AHMED (President)

ABDELHALEEM HUSSEIN ABDELMOTTALEB SOLAIMAN

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons will be held in person in the first semester starting from the first week of October, according to the university teaching timetable.  

Class schedule

ARABIC LANGUAGE II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The course includes a mid-year test to be held at the end of the first semester, in which students must demonstrate that they have learned the topics and the vocabulary covered in class and are able to use them in their speaking and writing. Upon completion of this test, a bonus of up to 2 points will be awarded and added to the grade of the final written test.

The final exam will consist of:

A written examination which consists of a reading comprehension with questions as well as  grammar and translation exercises on the topics covered in the practical module.

In the oral exam students will be asked to read and translate the texts studied in the practical module and to discuss and analyse the morphosyntactic topics dealt with in the theory module.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students’ learning outcomes will be assessed at the end of the academic year through a final written exam and a final oral one. All the course contents may be subject to evaluation. Both exams determine whether the expected learning outcomes have been achieved by the students, through a series of questions.

The written exam assesses the learning outcomes of the practical module whereas the oral exam aims to ascertain the knowledge of the morpho-syntactic topics addressed in the theoretical module, as well as the acquisition of language skills.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the lecturer and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.