Modern Standard Arabic Courses at ALIF
MSA 050 (Introductory Course): An entry-level course that employs student-centered methods to teach mastery of script, pronunciation and the nominal sentence. No prior background in Arabic required. Text: Alif Baa, 3rd edition, Al-Kitaab I 3rd edition unit 1 plus additional materials (Three weeks, 60 hours*)
MSA 100 (Beginning Level): An entry-level course which uses a student-centered approach to introduce basic grammatical structures & sound patterns of Arabic, with attention to mastery of script, pronunciation and listening comprehension. No prior background in Arabic required. Text: Alif Baa 3rd edition, Al-Kitaab I 3rd edition units 1-4 plus additional materials (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 200 (Lower Intermediate Level): Aims to expand vocabulary and to further develop the four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Lessons focus on reading comprehension and introducing more complex grammatical structures. Prerequisite: MSA 100 or Language Coordinator's approval. Text: Al-Kitaab I 3rd edition units 5-9 plus additional materials (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 250 (Introduction to the Arabic Newspaper): Exposes students to basic newspaper vocabulary and structure starting with analysis of headlines. Prerequisite: MSA 200 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 300 (Lower Intermediate Level): Further expands students’ vocabulary base to permit reading of increasingly authentic texts from newspapers, journals, and other sources such as Al-Kitaab Al-Assasi, while introducing controlled writing assignments. Focuses on listening comprehension and reading to facilitate interactive conversations on complex subjects. Prerequisite: MSA 200 or Language Coordinator's approval. Text: Al-Kitaab I 3rd edition units 10-13, plus preparatory materials for Al-Kitaab II (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 350 (Media Arabic): Seeks to build a media vocabulary sufficient for students to grasp the gist of a newspaper article or news broadcast with minimal intervention of the dictionary. Includes graded newspaper readings from Middle Eastern dailies & taped material from Moroccan television and radio. Prerequisite: MSA 300 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 400 (Intermediate Level): Prepares students for independent study in MSA focusing on stylistic devices, vocabulary refinement, and communicative skills. This course also makes use of additional texts from various sources in order to reinforce the student's ability to read and comprehend complex writings. Prerequisite: MSA 300 or Language Coordinator's approval. Text: Al-Kitaab II units 1-5, plus supplementary materials (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 450 (Readings in Contemporary Maghrebi Literature): Survey of modern Arabic literature by major North African authors focusing on the short story genre with discussion of the cultural underpinnings of this literature as well as schools of criticism dealing with the authors in question. Knowledge of French and Maghrebi dialect(s) is helpful but not obligatory. Prerequisite: MSA 400 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 460A (Readings in Islamic Texts I): An introduction to the Quran and the sciences related to it. Includes a survey of the history of the revelation (asbâb at-tanzîl), compilation (tadwîn) of the Quran, principles of correct recitation (tajwîd) and discussion of exegesis (tafsîr). Prerequisite: MSA 400 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 460B (Readings in Islamic Texts II): This course consists of a broad introduction to the study of hadîth, including historical background on the major compilations, and a broad overview of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) focusing on the 4 main schools (madhâhib) of Sunni law. Authentic Islamic manuscripts are used as central texts and emphasis is placed on stylistic aspects and essential terminology. Prerequisite: MSA 500 or 460A. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 500 (Upper Intermediate Level): Further develops students' skills learned in MSA 400. Ideal for scholars wishing to hone their ability to comprehend Arabic university lectures and to express themselves on technical subjects in speech and in writing. Prerequisite: MSA 400 or Language Coordinator's approval. Text: Al-Kitaab II units 6-10, plus supplementary materials (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 600 (Advanced Level): Focusing on stylistic aspects of different literary genres, this course uses a sampling of authentic texts drawn from both contemporary and classical sources, and involves substantial writing assignments. While Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya, Volume III is used as the central text, course materials may be adjusted according to student interests. Prerequisite: MSA 500 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 700 (Upper Advanced Level): A continuation of the skills learned in MSA 600. Text: Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya, Volume III and additional materials based on student interests. Prerequisite: MSA 600 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
*Please note: to have 120 hours of instruction we require 4 students or more per class. If there are only 3 students there will be a 25% reduction in hours, or 15 hours per week. If there are 1 or 2 students, there will be a 50% reduction, or 10 hours per week. A content class with only 1 student is normally cancelled, but may be offered with 7.5 hours per week.
Colloquial Moroccan Arabic course descriptions
MSA 100 (Beginning Level): An entry-level course which uses a student-centered approach to introduce basic grammatical structures & sound patterns of Arabic, with attention to mastery of script, pronunciation and listening comprehension. No prior background in Arabic required. Text: Alif Baa 3rd edition, Al-Kitaab I 3rd edition units 1-4 plus additional materials (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 200 (Lower Intermediate Level): Aims to expand vocabulary and to further develop the four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Lessons focus on reading comprehension and introducing more complex grammatical structures. Prerequisite: MSA 100 or Language Coordinator's approval. Text: Al-Kitaab I 3rd edition units 5-9 plus additional materials (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 250 (Introduction to the Arabic Newspaper): Exposes students to basic newspaper vocabulary and structure starting with analysis of headlines. Prerequisite: MSA 200 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 300 (Lower Intermediate Level): Further expands students’ vocabulary base to permit reading of increasingly authentic texts from newspapers, journals, and other sources such as Al-Kitaab Al-Assasi, while introducing controlled writing assignments. Focuses on listening comprehension and reading to facilitate interactive conversations on complex subjects. Prerequisite: MSA 200 or Language Coordinator's approval. Text: Al-Kitaab I 3rd edition units 10-13, plus preparatory materials for Al-Kitaab II (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 350 (Media Arabic): Seeks to build a media vocabulary sufficient for students to grasp the gist of a newspaper article or news broadcast with minimal intervention of the dictionary. Includes graded newspaper readings from Middle Eastern dailies & taped material from Moroccan television and radio. Prerequisite: MSA 300 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 400 (Intermediate Level): Prepares students for independent study in MSA focusing on stylistic devices, vocabulary refinement, and communicative skills. This course also makes use of additional texts from various sources in order to reinforce the student's ability to read and comprehend complex writings. Prerequisite: MSA 300 or Language Coordinator's approval. Text: Al-Kitaab II units 1-5, plus supplementary materials (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 450 (Readings in Contemporary Maghrebi Literature): Survey of modern Arabic literature by major North African authors focusing on the short story genre with discussion of the cultural underpinnings of this literature as well as schools of criticism dealing with the authors in question. Knowledge of French and Maghrebi dialect(s) is helpful but not obligatory. Prerequisite: MSA 400 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 460A (Readings in Islamic Texts I): An introduction to the Quran and the sciences related to it. Includes a survey of the history of the revelation (asbâb at-tanzîl), compilation (tadwîn) of the Quran, principles of correct recitation (tajwîd) and discussion of exegesis (tafsîr). Prerequisite: MSA 400 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 460B (Readings in Islamic Texts II): This course consists of a broad introduction to the study of hadîth, including historical background on the major compilations, and a broad overview of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) focusing on the 4 main schools (madhâhib) of Sunni law. Authentic Islamic manuscripts are used as central texts and emphasis is placed on stylistic aspects and essential terminology. Prerequisite: MSA 500 or 460A. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 500 (Upper Intermediate Level): Further develops students' skills learned in MSA 400. Ideal for scholars wishing to hone their ability to comprehend Arabic university lectures and to express themselves on technical subjects in speech and in writing. Prerequisite: MSA 400 or Language Coordinator's approval. Text: Al-Kitaab II units 6-10, plus supplementary materials (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 600 (Advanced Level): Focusing on stylistic aspects of different literary genres, this course uses a sampling of authentic texts drawn from both contemporary and classical sources, and involves substantial writing assignments. While Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya, Volume III is used as the central text, course materials may be adjusted according to student interests. Prerequisite: MSA 500 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
MSA 700 (Upper Advanced Level): A continuation of the skills learned in MSA 600. Text: Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya, Volume III and additional materials based on student interests. Prerequisite: MSA 600 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Six weeks, 120 hours*)
*Please note: to have 120 hours of instruction we require 4 students or more per class. If there are only 3 students there will be a 25% reduction in hours, or 15 hours per week. If there are 1 or 2 students, there will be a 50% reduction, or 10 hours per week. A content class with only 1 student is normally cancelled, but may be offered with 7.5 hours per week.
Colloquial Moroccan Arabic course descriptions