Arabic-L:PEDA:more on colloquial summer programs

Mon Apr 7 20:10:26 UTC 2008

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Arabic-L: Mon 07 Apr 2008
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1) Subject:more on colloquial summer programs

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1)
Date: 07 Apr 2008
From:"David Wilmsen" <david.wilmsen at gmail.com>
Subject:more on colloquial summer programs

More on colloquial summer programs; as it happens, I just got  
information
today about the Arabic program at Bir Zeit University in Ramallah,  
where you
can take 12 hours per week of spoken Palestinian Arabic or MSA or both.
Check the website:  *http://www.birzeit.edu/* <http://www.birzeit.edu/>

As is the case with many university websites, the Bir Zeit site is not
entirely intuative in its layout, so here are the classes offered:

_____________________________________

*The Palestine and Arabic Studies Program**
*__________________ ____________________

*Introduction *

The Palestine and Arabic Studies (PAS) Program is an academic program at
Birzeit University that offers international students the opportunity to
combine the study of the Arabic language with social science courses  
about
Palestine and the Arab World. International students carry out their  
studies
while experiencing first hand the political and social realities on the
ground.

Drawing upon its record of reputable language and social science  
professors,
Birzeit University has produced this comprehensive international study
program, offering accredited courses of academic quality, together  
with a
series of extra-curricular lectures and field trips. The year-round  
program
consists of three semesters, two regular semesters and one intensive  
summer
semester. Students may enroll at the beginning of any semester. The PAS
Program is open to university students and graduates from around the  
world,
those working in a field related to the Middle East, and those who  
wish to
gain an in-depth knowledge of the region, its language and cultures.

The PAS Program comprises Arabic language and social science courses  
from
which students may select a maximum of four courses during the regular
semesters or three courses in the summer. The Arabic courses include  
four
levels of Modern Standard Arabic and two levels of Colloquial Arabic
(Jerusalem dialect).

Arabic courses are designed to teach the language as an integral part  
of the
culture, while the social science courses, taught in English, provide
analyses of Arab and Palestinian issues in the disciplines of politics,
sociology, literature, and history. International students proficient in
Arabic may, with permission, take courses in various fields that are  
taught
in Arabic and offered within the university's regular program.  
International
students can also register for classes that are taught in English,  
such as
French, English, math, business and various economic courses along with
Birzeit University regular students.

_______________________________________________
*Arabic and Social Science Courses:
Study Options, Accreditation and Extra-Curricular
Activities*_______________________________________________

*Arabic Courses *

Birzeit University has offered courses in Arabic as a Foreign Language  
(AFL)
to non-native speakers for over eighteen years. The University's highly
qualified professors of AFL have drawn upon their extensive local and
international experience to formulate two streams of language courses  
for
the PAS Program: one in Modern Standard Arabic and one in Colloquial  
Arabic
(Jerusalem dialect).

Language placement tests are given at the beginning of the program (for
students who have previous knowledge in Arabic and not to beginners) to
ensure that each student is placed in the appropriate level. The levels
offered depend on student demand.

*MODERN STANDARD ARABIC *

*ARSK 131 - Modern Standard Arabic I* (Fall & Spring - 8 hrs/wk, 3  
credits.
Summer - 12 hrs/wk, 3 credits) - For students with no previous  
knowledge of
Modern Standard Arabic.

This course is designed for students requiring Arabic for academic  
purposes.
It introduces students to the Arabic script and phonology, and combines
training in the four language skills: reading, writing, listening and
speaking. Its methodology entails the introduction of basic vocabulary  
and
grammatical structures through oral communication activities, followed  
by
short readings and situational dialogues in which the newly introduced
structures are utilized.

Assessment includes:      classroom participation;      regular written
assignments;      achievement tests;   mid-term examination;     final
examination.