Arabic Language Jump To: Jump To: Program Offerings Minor Offering type Minor The Department of Near Eastern Studies offers a wide variety of undergraduate classes focused on the languages, histories and cultures of the Near East. It provides opportunities for those who plan to major in other disciplines to simultaneously obtain proficiency in Arabic and to deepen their knowledge of the history, politics, literature, religion and culture of the premodern and modern Near East. Goals for Student Learning The main goal of the Arabic minor is to acquire deep proficiency in one of the languages of the Near East. First, a student must complete at least four courses (i.e., two years) of Arabic at the intermediate level and above. After completing these courses, students will have the ability to read, write, listen to and speak in Arabic; further, they will be introduced through language study to the literature, film and culture of the region. Additional coursework in Near Eastern studies, whether it be further language study or content coursework, is required in order to deepen the student's knowledge of the region whose language they study. Admission to the Program The Minor in Arabic Language is open to undergraduates in all departments. Students interested in earning a minor are encouraged to apply no earlier than the spring of their sophomore year and no later than the spring of their junior year. Final application materials confirming the completion of the minor requirements should be filed with the Department of Near Eastern Studies office by the deadline of one week before Dean's Date in the final semester of senior year, at the latest. Program of Study A student majoring in a department other than Near Eastern studies may earn a Minor in Arabic Language by completing five courses, including at least four courses in Arabic taken at the intermediate level (i.e., second-year, course numbers 105-107) or above; as well as a fifth Near Eastern studies course (either an additional language class or a content class listed or cross-listed in Near Eastern studies). Only in exceptional cases approved by the NES director of undergraduate studies will a class not listed in NES be counted toward the fifth course requirement. Courses taken on a pass/D/fail basis will not be counted toward the minor. Senior Departmental Examination At the end of their language study at Princeton, a student minoring in Arabic language must work to submit a polished translation from a work in Arabic in order to complete the requirements of the minor. This translation could be from a work of literature (e.g., an excerpt of a prose work, a poem, a short story), an essay, a film, a song or another piece approved by NES language faculty. Translations must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies before Dean's Date in the student's final semester. This submission should also include a list of the student’s departmental and language courses and any other courses or experience that might be relevant to the minor, such as study abroad or internships related to the Near East. Study Abroad Courses taken abroad in summer language programs or over the course of a semester or year at other institutions may count toward minor requirements. For more information on Study Abroad programs, please contact the language teachers of the relevant languages in the Department of Near Eastern Studies. Preapproval for any non-Princeton program coursework must be obtained from the NES director of undergraduate studies. Additional Information For additional information and application instructions, please contact the NES undergraduate administrator. Faculty Chair M. Sükrü Hanioglu (interim) Director of Undergraduate Studies Michael A. Reynolds Director of Graduate Studies Lara Harb Professor Michael A. Cook Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi Jonathan M. Gribetz M. Sükrü Hanioglu Bernard A. Haykel Hossein Modarressi Marina Rustow Muhammad Q. Zaman Associate Professor Lara Harb Eve Krakowski Michael A. Reynolds Daniel J. Sheffield Associated Faculty Julia Elyachar, Anthropology Molly Greene, History Amaney A. Jamal, Politics Lital Levy, Comparative Literature Shaun E. Marmon, Religion Elizabeth R. Nugent, Politics Sabine Schmidtke, Near Eastern Studies Jack B. Tannous, History Senior Lecturer Gregory J. Bell Nancy A. Coffin Lecturer Alaa Al Aswany Nilüfer Hatemi Zina Knop Amineh Mahallati Mounia Mnouer Faris Zwirahn Visiting Lecturer with Rank of Professor Sabine Schmidtke For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website. Courses ARA 101 - Elementary Arabic I Fall Students in this course will develop their skills in speaking, hearing, reading, and writing Modern Standard Arabic, the form of the Arabic language shared by all Arab countries. The course covers phonics, the alphabet and numerals, as well as noun-adjective agreement and how to form sentences using past and present tense verbs. Also covered: greetings and courtesy phrases in spoken Arabic. Five classes, one hour of drill. Staff ARA 102 - Elementary Arabic II Spring Continuation of 101. Students will expand their language skills through conversational and grammatical exercises based on the audio-visual approach. Students will be able to speak and write simply and accurately about topics such as daily activities, studies, family members, and hopes and plans for the future. Five classes, one hour of drill. Staff ARA 105 - Intermediate Arabic I Fall Building upon the skills gained in 101 and 102, this course offers further practice in speaking and listening and increases proficiency in reading and writing. Topics to be covered include use of dual and feminine plural forms; conditional sentences; use of superlatives and comparatives; and the study of case markings in formal written Arabic. Five classes, one hour of drill. Staff ARA 107 - Intermediate Arabic II Continuation of 105. Students will expand their reading, writing, speaking, and oral comprehension skills through oral and written exercises involving more sophisticated texts derived from authentic newspaper and journal sources. Five classes, one hour of drill. Staff ARA 111 - Colloquial Arabic I Not offered this year An introduction to a specific spoken dialect of the Arabic language. This course currently focuses on the Arabic dialects used in the Levant, especially Palestinian and Lebanese dialects. The material of the course is designed to promote functional usage of the language stressing vocabulary and grammar in conversation of everyday life. Four classes. N. Coffin ARA 113 - Colloquial Arabic II Not offered this year A continuation of ARA 111. Focusing on Arabic dialects used in the Levant, especially Palestinian and Lebanese dialects, the material of the course further develops functional usage of the language stressing vocabulary and grammar in conversation of everyday life. N. Coffin ARA 301 - Advanced Arabic I Fall Reading and accurate translation of numerous selections from modern Arabic works as well as reading for general understanding of simple prose, mostly from newspapers and magazines. Review of morphology, introduction to the systematic study of syntax. Speaking about the readings and about other assigned topics. English to Arabic translation. Emphasis on building vocabulary. Two 90-minute classes, two periods of drill. Staff ARA 302 - Advanced Arabic II Not offered this year Continuation of 301. Class reading of more sophisticated discursive prose and short stories. Class discussion in Arabic of assigned texts not translated in class. Emphasis on the systematic study of syntax. Increased emphasis on speaking about a variety of topics. Arabic composition. Two 90-minute classes, two periods of drill. Staff ARA 401 - Advanced Arabic Skills Workshop LA This course develops to a more advanced and natural level the linguistic skills of listening, speaking, and reading through the reading and class discussion of lengthy texts, primarily literary ones. Term papers written in Arabic provide the opportunity to improve composition, and aural comprehension is honed through the use of tapes of Arabic broadcasts, and through viewing films from various parts of the Arab world. Prerequisite: 301 or instructor's permission. Two 90-minute classes. Staff ARA 403 - Topics in Arabic Language and Culture LA This course is designed as an advanced, fourth-year course in Arabic language and culture which may be repeated up to two times, provided the topic is different each time. The course is intended to appeal to students who prefer to study in an Arabic immersion environment, and all aspects of the course will be conducted in Arabic. Staff ARA 404 - Topics in Arabic Language and Culture LA Introduces the conventions of major genres of history, belles-lettres and religious thought of the Abbasid era (750-1258 CE). Primary emphasis on reading comprehension and developing confidence in approaching classical sources. Conducted in Arabic, apart from translation exercises, and will also develop skills in writing, through projects, and speaking, through discussions and presentations. Course is divided into one or two-week units, focusing on excerpts from major texts. Students to complete major reading/writing project on a text of choosing. Staff
