العربية | Arabic
Why Study Arabic?
Learning Arabic opens new cultural vistas, enhances travel and career opportunities, and broadens horizons in ways students may not even imagine at the outset. The benefits of learning Arabic can hardly be overstated in a world where it is spoken by nearly 300 million people.
Arabic is a primary language of Islam, a faith with over one billion adherents. Muslims believe that God revealed the words of the Qur'an to Muhammad in Arabic, sanctifying the language. As Islam spread, the Muslim empires became the cultural, scientific and political centers of the world, for centuries spearheading advances in mathematics, medicine, sociology and the arts. Arabic is also spoken by many oriental Christians and Jews, as well as by Druze, Baha'i and Yazidis.
The Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures currently offers courses in Modern Standard Arabic. This is the form of Arabic used and recognized across the Arab world and is also the language of the news and media. It is used in conversation between educated Arabs from different countries.
Career Opportunities
Proficiency in Arabic is a path to a wide range of professional opportunities. Arabic speakers are in great demand among:
- International organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank
- International business companies
- Foreign aid agencies
- Intelligence agencies
- Education
- Law, Medicine and Journalism , and other professions where speakers of Arabic also enjoy a wide range of exciting career choices.
Though Arabic is certainly a challenging and unconventional language to learn, the cultural and professional benefits it offers are unsurpassed. Arabic is spoken throughout much of North Africa and the Middle East. Arabic is also an official language of many international organizations, including the United Nations.
Arabic Culture Club
This fun student club celebrates Arabic culture and is not religiously or politically affiliated. We meet twice a month to watch films, enjoy Arab cuisine, hear speakers, etc. Tutoring is also available.
For more information, contact Dr. Hirchi.
Courses in Arabic
- LARA 105: First-Year Arabic I
Essentials of the language for the beginner: aural comprehension, speaking, reading, writing and introduction to the cultures of the Arabic-speaking world. - LARA 107: First-Year Arabic II
Essentials of the language for the continuing student: aural comprehension, speaking, reading, writing and further exposure to the cultures of the Arabic-speaking world. - LARA 200: Second-Year Arabic I
- LARA 201: Second-Year Arabic II
Grammar review with extensive practice in conversation, reading and writing. There is a cultural component as well. - LARA 304: Third-Year Arabic I
- LARA 305: Third-Year Arabic II
Development of reading comprehension, communicative competence and cultural understanding. - LARA250: Arabic Language, Literature and Culture in Translation
Selected works in translation from different periods and genres which represent the interrelationship of language, literature and culture.
- * June 14-July 9 (LARA 105) and July 12- August 6 (LARA 107), 2010
- * learn a semester's worth of material in 4 weeks or a year's worth in 8 weeks
- * benefit from dedicated, experienced professors
- * earn 5 credits per course
Faculty
Mohammed Hirchi – Assistant Professor
Hosam Ahmad – Instructor