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Modern Standard Arabic courses at ALIF

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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, Al-Kitaab I units 1-2 (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, Al-Kitaab I units 1-6 (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 units 7-14 (Six weeks, 120 hours)

MSA 250 (Introduction to the Arabic Newspaper): Exposes students to basic newspaper vocabulary and structure starting with analysis of headlines. Sequel course: Media Arabic, MSA 350. Prerequisite: MSA 200 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Three weeks, 45 hours)

MSA 300 (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 units 15-20, plus supplementary materials (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. (Three weeks, 45 hours)

MSA 400 (Upper 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 (Advanced 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. (Three weeks, 45 hours)

MSA 460A (Advanced 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. (Three weeks, 45 hours)

MSA 460B (Advanced Readings in Islamic Texts II): This three-week 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 400 or Language Coordinator's approval. (Three weeks, 45 hours)

MSA 500 (Advanced 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 (Upper 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)

Colloquial Moroccan Arabic course descriptions


The Arabic Language Institute in Fez, B.P. 2136, Fez 30000, Morocco
Tel: (212/35) 62 48 50      Fax: (212/35) 93 16 08
Email:  info
@alif-fes.com (to prevent spam, please copy and delete space after "info")

Last updated 04/02/08