‫جامعة توليدو‬

Syllabus ‫العربي االبتدائي األول‬

ARBC 1110
Gaby Semaan
Office: FH 2400 N
Office Phone: (419) 530 2546
Office Hours: MW 10:00-11:00; 12:45- 2:15 (FH 2400N)
& by appointment (for virtual or face to face).
E-mail address: [email protected]
Class Hours: MW 2:30-4:20 Class Location: FH 2430

“There can be no real learning of a language without understanding something of the patterns
and values of the culture of which it is a part” Robert Lado.

Course Description

Arabic 1110, Elementary Arabic I, is the introductory course to Arabic language. In this
course you will start to build up your proficiency in the four language skills (speaking,
listening, reading, and writing). The course will stress active use of the language. To
accomplish this, we will take a communicative approach to Arabic, covering not only
communicating in Modern standard but also in colloquial Arabic as much as possible. Thus,
the course curriculum will be based on the textbook and additional material that will be
provided throughout the semester. This will include handouts, dictations, music, educational
games and so forth.

Credit Hours: 4 credits

Goals

General:
By the end of the semester, you should be able to:
 Read and understand passages within the range of vocabulary and structures
covered in this course.
 Carry out conversations on a range of topics.
 Understand contextualized speech on a range of subjects.

Specific:
By the end of the semester, you should be able to:

 Be able to identify the Arabic letters and the sounds they represent.
 Be able to produce the sounds of Arabic letters and all the diacritical marks.
 Be able to connect Arabic letters to make words (and pronounce them) and write
basic Arabic words and sentences.
 Engage in predictable conversations and be able to ask and answer basic highly
predictable and formulaic questions
 Become familiar with basic aspects of Arabic culture (such as appropriate greetings
and responses)
 Present information about yourself, your school and major, family… (at the beginning
level)
 Be able to carry basic conversation with Arabic native speakers on limited topics by
using familiar and memorized phrases and basic vocabulary.
 Understand the main idea, as well as a few details and idiomatic expressions, in
simple, short, and highly predictable texts on very familiar topics.
Text

(Optional)Brustad, K., Al-Batal, M., & Al-Tonsi, A. (3rd Edition - 2009). Alif Baa: Introduction
to Arabic letters and sounds. Washington, D.C: Georgetown University Press.

Brustad, K., Al-Batal, M., & Al-Tonsi, A. Al-kitab fii taallum al arabiyya (with DVDs) (3rd ed.)
Part one. Washington, D.C: Georgetown University Press.

Aids to Success

Following are some keys that you need in order to succeed in learning a foreign language
(Arabic in this case):

 Motivation: You need an incentive—a reason to pursue your goal. Students with high
motivation generally do best. So, whatever your motivation might be, talking to your
grandparents, traveling, making friends, or getting a date with an Arabic speaking
individual , PLEASE keep that in mind.
 Humility: Don’t expect too much of yourself—mistakes are inevitable, especially at
first. In this class we are going to laugh at our mistakes. So, keep your sense of
humor! Remember that when you are learning a language you are like a child
learning to walk, often you stumble, but you just have to get up and try again.
 Patience: the language gets easier with time. You will not think you’ve made
progress unless when you look back.

 Practice. A regular routine will help you to become fluent. Try to practice every day,
even if for just a few minutes. Remember, “’a little and often’ is preferable to ‘a lot but
seldom.’”

Helpful Tools
Each person has his/her own learning style. Whatever yours is, you may find it helpful to
use a combination of the following tools to enhance your progress:
 Flash cards.
 Books Website: http://www.alkitaabtextbook.com/books/
 Audiocassettes and videocassettes: We have some audiovisual material at the
language lab located at the fifth floor of UH.
 Interactive computer programs / Internet sites: Some of these allow you to record
your voice and compare your pronunciation with that of native speakers of the
language. A suggestive list will be provided.
 Radio and television: If you have access to Arabic radio or television programs,
tune in and see how much you can understand.
 Magazines, books and e-sites: Try reading printed material in Arabic, making sure
that the comprehension level is neither too high nor too low.

Grading & Evaluation

 Quizzes: 200
 Expect multiple quizzes over the period of the semester. These would be short
quizzes that would take only a portion (10-15 min) of the class meeting periods.
Quizzes may or may not be announced in advance.

 Midterm: 100
Only in extremely grave circumstances will students be able to make up the midterm.
Under such circumstances, students are expected to contact me in advance and let
me know. Only in an emergency situation will this be unnecessary. If you miss the
midterm, you have to retake it at the testing center.

 Final: 150
The final exam will be take place at the scheduled exam time for the course during
the final exams week.

 Attendance and participation: 250

This should be self-explanatory. However, if you think you need clarification about it,
see me .

 Recorded Videos: 150

You are expected to record three different videos ranging from 1-5 minutes
throughout the course of the semester. More instructions will be provided in class.

 FLLC visits: 50
You are expected to visit the FLLC and watch Arabic TV programs at least 5 times
for at least 30 minutes each time. You’ll report to the class what you have watched.
Make sure to sign in and out on the sign up sheet located at the front desk of the
FLLC and on the sheet designated for the purpose of watching the Arabic channels.

 Oral conversation: 50
This activity involves a face-to-face conversation with your instructor or someone
designated by him.

 Reading test: 50
Like the oral conversation, all students are to take this test sometime by the end of
the semester. More details will be provided later.

Letter Grade Breakdown

950+ A 780 - 819 B- 650 - 679 D+
900 - 949 A- 750 - 779 C+ 620 - 649 D
860- 899 B+ 720 - 749 C 580 - 619 D-
820 - 859 B 680 - 719 C- < 579 F

General Policies:

Attendance: This is not a correspondence course; your attendance and active participation
are required at every single session. This will help you achieve the goals of this course and
accomplish your personal academic goals. Thus, your regular attendance and informed
active participation are expected. It is your responsibility to check with your instructor or
classmates in case you missed a class to know what assignments or quizzes were assigned
during that class. Missing classes without a legitimate excuse will lower your grade. Anyone
who gets in a habit of arriving late will be considered absent if he/she is not in class when
attendance is taken.

Assignments: Assignments will be announced in class and are due on the day specified.
Late work, if accepted, might lower your grade. All homework will be graded on a
satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis unless otherwise announced. Arrangements will be made
that everybody will have access to assignments from the optional text.

Cell phones: Please either turn them OFF for the duration of the class or put them on a
setting that would not disturb others.

Academic Honesty (Plagiarism):

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. The UT’s policy of academic dishonesty as
explained in your student handbook will be applied. The results of academic dishonesty may
range from failure in the assignment/paper and class to suspension from the University. If
students are uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, they should seek
advice of the writing center or talk to me.

Institutional Classroom Attendance Policy

Please be aware that the university has implemented an attendance policy, which requires
faculty to verify student participation in every class a student is registered at the start of each
new semester/course. For this course, if you have not attended/participated in class
(completed any course activities or assignments) within the first 14 days, I am required by
federal law to report you as not attended. Unfortunately, not attending/participating in class
impacts your eligibility to receive financial aid, so it is VERY important that you attend class
and complete course work in these first two weeks. Please contact me as soon as possible
to discuss options and/or possible accommodations if you have any difficulty completing
assignments within the first two weeks.

Policy Statement on Non‐Discrimination on the Basis of Disability (ADA):The University

is an equal opportunity educational institution. Please read The University’s Policy Statement
on Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability Americans with Disability Act Compliance.
Students can find this policy along with other university policies listed by audience on the
University Policy webpage (http://www.utoledo.edu/policies/audience.html/#students).

Academic Accommodations* (Include the following, verbatim; please refer to the face-to-face
syllabus guidelines for more guidance/details.) The University of Toledo embraces the
inclusion of students with disabilities. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunity and
seamless access for full participation in all courses. For students who have an
Accommodations Memo from the Office of Accessibility and Disability Resources, I invite you
to correspond with me as soon as possible so that we can communicate confidentially about
implementing accommodations in this course.

For students who have not established accommodations with the Office of Accessibility
and Disability Resources and are experiencing disability access barriers or are interested
in a referral to health care resources for a potential disability, please connect with the office
by calling 419.530.4981 or sending an email to [email protected].

ACADEMIC AND SUPPORT SERVICES. Please follow this link to view a comprehensive
list of Student Academic and Support Services
(http://www.utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/departments.html) available to you as a student

SAFETY AND HEALTH SERVICES FOR UT STUDENTS Please use the following link to
view a comprehensive list Campus Health and Safety Services available to you as a student.
https://www.utoledo.edu/offices/provost/utc/docs/CampusHealthSafetyContacts.pdf

RELIGIOUS ACCOMODATIONS
A student is permitted to be absent, without penalty, for up to three days each academic
semester to take holidays for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system or to
participate in organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination
church, or other religious or spiritual organization.

Alternative Accommodations: Alternative accommodations will be provided to students

who miss exams and/or other academic requirements because of such absences under the
following circumstances:

i. The student’s sincerely held religious belief or practice severely affects the
student’s ability to take an exam or meet an academic requirement; and

ii. the student submits a form through https://forms.office.com/r/gBBCQkQj3H (which

includes a link to the non-exhaustive list of religious holidays/holy days) within 14
days after the first day of instruction; and

iii. the Office of the Provost will send notification to each instructor indicating the
specific dates for which the student will be absent; and

iv. the student and faculty member agree on how and when the missed coursework
and/or exam will be completed, which may be prior to or after the missed class, but
must be completed before the end of the term.

Grievance procedure A student may notify the institution of any grievance regarding the
policy’s implementation using the 3364-71-05.1 Academic grievance procedure.

Resources Related to Sexual or Gender-based Violence and Harassment

The University of Toledo cares greatly about the health and well-being of our students, staff,
and faculty, and takes all sexual or gender-based violence and harassment very seriously. If
you have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, and/or
stalking and want a confidential place to obtain support and information, please contact the
Center for Student Advocacy and Wellness on the main campus in Health and Human
Services Room 3017. You can call 419.530.2497 during regular business hours and
419.530.3431 for 24 hour assistance from a trained advocate. In-person, walk-in
appointments are also available Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Center for
Student Advocacy and Wellness provides free and confidential advocacy and counseling
services to students, faculty and staff. The YWCA H.O.P.E. Center also can be accessed as
an off-campus confidential resource at 419.241.7273. Faculty, teaching assistants, and
other university employees are mandated reporters of any incidents of sexual or gender-
based violence or harassment. Thus, any disclosures of sexual or gender-based violence or
harassment on or off campus made to faculty or teaching assistants, or other university
employees must be forwarded to the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Office will then
contact you regarding your rights, your option to participate in the investigation, interim safety
measures and/or academic accommodations, and the need to proceed with an investigation
(even if none is requested). Your participation in the process is voluntary. You may call
419.530.3152 to file a complaint or visit the following website for more information and
resources: http://www.utoledo.edu/title-ix/. Policies relating to Title IX can be found at:
http://www.utoledo.edu/title-ix/policies.html.

Course Calendar
The provided course calendar is a tentative one that may change based on the needs of the
class. Please remember that the assignments assigned on the calendar are not the only
ones that you will have to do. Additional work will be assigned and announced in class. Due
dates for assignments are also tentative and may change. All assignments and due dates
will be announced in class.
 Date Activity/ Text Assignments **
8/26 Syllabus/introduction to course/ Unit 1 started All assignments will be announced
in class
8/28 Unit 1 (Alif Baa) / Introductions
9/02    Labor Day    No Classes

9/04 Unit 2 (Alif Baa) / Greetings

9/09 Unit 3 (Alif Baa) / More Greetings
9/11 Unit 4 (Alif Baa) / Simple questions
9/16 Unit 5 (Alif Baa) / More questions
9/18 Video Production time. Video One: Introducing
yourself/self bio
9/23 Unit 6 (Alif Baa) / Calendar (Days)
9/25 Unit 7 (Alif Baa) / Calendar (Days)
09/30 Unit 8 (Alif Baa) /Calendat (Months)
10/02 Unit 9 (Alif Baa) /Numbers
10/07 Unit 9/Numbers continued and Midterm Revision
10/09 Midterm
10/14 Fall Break No Classes Have fun
10/16 Midterm return/ Unit 10 (Alif Baa)
10/21 Unit 10 (Alif Baa) continued / Numbers continued Video Two
10/23 Unit 10 continued/Introduction to new book Video Two:

10/28 Chapter 1 in Al Kitaab + House

10/30 Chapter 1 in Al Kitaab
11/04 Chapter 1 in Al Kitaab + Bedroom
11/06 Chapter 2 in Al Kitaab + Living Room
11/11 Veterans Day 😊 😊 No Classes

11/13 Chapter 2 in Al Kitaab + Kitchen

11/18 Video Three Production time Video Three

11/20 Chapter 3 in Al Kitaab

11/25 Chapter 3 in Al Kitaab
11/27 Day Before Thanksgiving No Class (Have Fun) No Classes

12/02 Chapter 3 in Al Kitaab

12/04 Reading and conversation tests (Not meeting in class) during office hours and class
time in instructor’s office or as announced in class.
12/109 Final (2:45-4:45) Please note that this date is based on the registrar’s schedule announced on their webpage.
However, they make the following disclaimer ”All provisions within this schedule are subject to change without notice”
ATTENDANCE
The University of Toledo has a missed class policy. Anyone with a temperature at or
above 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or who is experiencing symptoms consistent with
COVID-19 should not come to campus and do a self-administered COVID test or contact
their primary care physician or the Main Campus Health Center at 419.530.3451 or
Health Science Campus Student Health and Wellness Center at 419.383.5000 to get
tested and treated. For more information on the symptoms of COVID-19, please go
to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.