Maghribi colloquial Arabic

larab1303  2020-2021  Louvain-la-Neuve

Maghribi colloquial Arabic
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change, in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).
6 credits
30.0 h
Q1 and Q2
Teacher(s)
Adrioueche Ahmed (coordinator);
Language
Arab
Prerequisites

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.
Main themes
This is an intermediate course (UE) in colloquial Arabic in its Maghribi variety. It aims at the understanding and grammatical analysis of texts and oral expressions in Moroccan Arabic, on a variety of topics (cultural, literary, political, religious, pertaining to daily life). The basic training focuses on urban Moroccan Arabic, and the other varieties will be dealt with in a comparative framework.
The course covers the following aspects of learning the Arabic language:
  • pronunciation drills aiming at authenticity;
  • passive knowledge of unvocalized Arabic script as generally used for writing colloquial Arabic;
  • passive knowledge of transcription systems used in scholarly literature for writing colloquial Arabic;
  • acquisition of a basic vocabulary, characteristic of modern daily life in its multiple aspects.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

By the end of the course, the student should be able:
  • to master the basic grammar of Maghribi colloquial Arabic
  • to use an enlarged basic vocabulary in Maghribi colloquial Arabic, with a focus on modern daily life
  • to find relatively complex Arabic words in a specialised Arabic-French (or Arabic-English) dictionary
  • to prepare and to use relatively complex oral messages pertaining to daily life, and to recognize the structure of such messages
  • to use the cognitive strategies needed to independently understand complex texts and expressions in Maghribi colloquial Arabic.
 
Content
This is an intermediate course in colloquial Arabic in its Maghribi variety.
It emphasizes the acquisition of immediately applicable substantial basic vocabulary, as well as the main mechanisms of the language, through the study of morphology and syntax.
This entire process should result in a proficiency level that compares to levels A2 (for the active aspects) and B1 (for passive aspects) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Note: The Arabic dialects have a range of characteristics that make their acquisition notoriously hard for French-speaking beginners. They have a set of consonants unknown to us, a distinct right-to-left script, and a complex grammar. Additionally, Arabic vocabulary shares few elements with French or other languages usually known to students. Thus, it is difficult to apply the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to the acquisition of Arabic dialects.
Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

This course includes classroom instruction sustained by the Moodle virtual teaching environment. It requires active involvement, with written exercises to be prepared for each class, as well as both written and oral exercises to be carried out in class.
Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

  1. Continuous assessment of quality of participation in class.
  2. Oral exam on the course materials at the end of the academic year.
Other information
While French is the language of instruction, Arabic will be used to a certain extent, particularly for conversation drills.
Online resources
> http://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/login/index.php
Bibliography
  • Textes imprimés, textes en photocopies, documents présentés sous forme numérique, support sonore.
  • Inscription obligatoire sur Moodle.
Faculty or entity
ILV


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Master [60] in Ancient Languages and Literatures : Oriental Studies

Minor in Arabic language and Islamic civilization

Bachelor in Ancient Languages and Literatures: Oriental Studies

Master [120] in Ancient Languages and Literatures: Oriental Studies