Arabic 1 (ARBC10005)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2019 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
You’re currently viewing the 2019 version of this subject

Overview

Availability
Semester 1
FeesLook up fees

This subject is for students with very little or no knowledge of Arabic. Students will be introduced to the sounds of the Arabic language and to the letters and symbols of its writing system, start building their vocabulary and gain an understanding of, and the ability to use constructively some basic structures of the language. Vocabulary and grammar will be learnt and activated through working with texts affording students insights into Arab culture, at this stage concentrating on basic sociocultural matters related to some aspects of everyday living and social conventions. In the process, students will be aided by state-of-the-art textbooks, authentic materials, both written and audio-visual, and the interactive online program developed by Asia Institute staff. Along the way, students will learn to study the language actively and interactively, become audiovisual learners and develop learning strategies to enable them to eventually become self-sufficient language learners capable of independently engaging in the perpetual process of learning a language.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should:



  • have learnt to read all letters of the Arabic alphabet and all Arabic vowel signs in printed materials and very clear handwriting, to pronounce the sounds of Arabic, and to write all Arabic letters and vowel signs;
  • have developed the ability to read, and to interact with, simple authentic Arabic texts (e.g. charts, diagrams, lists, advertisements, information leaflets, descriptions of people, places and events, weather forecasts, etc.);
  • have acquired some basic grammatical structures and the ability to use these effectively to extract meaning from Arabic texts, and to construct meaning and to engage in written and oral interaction;
  • have developed the ability to create simple written texts in Arabic (e.g. charts, lists, information leaflets, descriptions of people and events, personal letters, advertisements);
  • have learnt about the different varieties of the Arabic language and have been exposed to some of them in the process of developing listening comprehension skills;
  • have developed a spoken facility at a basic level in Modern Standard Arabic, have acquired to ability to initiate and sustain brief conversations on daily-life topics, to speak about oneself and one's family and friends;
  • have learnt about some social conventions and gained important sociocultural knowledge related to interpersonal relations in the Arab World (concentrating on family and friends);
  • have learnt to orientate themselves in the Arab World, to name and to locate on the map the countries of the Middle East and North Africa and their capitals.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

New students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Arabic Program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test. Placement Test information available here.

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

Students who have successfully completed ARBC10005 Arabic 1A are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

 

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Assessment

Additional details

  • Ten pieces of written assignments (throughout the semester) 15%
  • Ten best of eleven on line quizzes (one per week, weeks 2-12) 5%
  • Continuous oral assessment (throughout the semester) 15%
  • A mid-semester written test (during the middle of the semester) 20%
  • A 10-minute oral examination (during the examination period) 15%
  • A 2-hour written examination (during the examination period) 30%
  • Hurdle requirement: Class attendance is required for this subject; if you do not attend a minimum of 80% of classes without an approved exemption you will not be eligible for a pass in this subject.
  • Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. In-class assessment tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    Principal coordinatorChristina Mayer
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hoursA total of 48 hours: Two 2-hour language seminars per week.
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 4 March 2019 to 2 June 2019
    Last self-enrol date15 March 2019
    Census date31 March 2019
    Last date to withdraw without fail10 May 2019
    Assessment period ends28 June 2019

    Semester 1 contact information

    cmayer@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

Time commitment totals 170 hours.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    • Brustad, K., Al-Batal, M. & Al-Tonsi, A., Alif Baa. Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds, Washington, D. C.: Georgetown University Press. Third Edition.
    • Brustad, K., Al-Batal, M. & Al-Tonsi, A., Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya. A Textbook for Beginning Arabic. Part 1, Edition TBA, Washington, D. C.: Georgetown University Press.

    Recommended texts and other resources

    None.

  • Subject notes

    New students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Arabic Program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test. Placement Test information available here.

     

  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    Specialisation (formal)Arabic Studies
    MajorArabic Studies
    Breadth TrackArabic - Entry Point 1
  • Breadth options

    This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:

  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

    Additional information for this subject

    Language Placement Test required

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 9 April 2025