67028 - Arab 2 A

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is supposed to acquire stronger abilities in the intermediate level of Arabic language. He/She is therefore supposed to be able to approach the relevant literature and the problems related to it, by having recourse to the most updated bibliography. He/She will be able to articulate this knowledge effectively, in both oral and written forms, employing the appropriate terminology and contextualising it historically, with reference to relevant secondary sources.

Course contents

The course will be divided into two interconnected and preparatory sections: linguistics and history and literature.


Arabic Language.
This section of the course will continue the study begun in the first year. Students will complete translation and written text production tasks and practice speaking.


Arabic Literature
The third lesson of each week will focus on a specific literary genre of pre-modern Arabic literature through CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) activities. Students will engage in group activities to read, translate, produce texts, and present them orally in Arabic.


Lesson 1: General review: articles, inflections, noun clauses, adjuncts or constructs (al-idafa), and pronouns. Exercises and in-class readings from the textbook will be used to assess students' grammar and vocabulary.


Lesson 2: General Review: The verb: the perfect tense of the healthy verb (and negation), the imperfect tense of the healthy verb (and negation), active and passive participles. The verbal clause.


Lesson 3: Arabic lexicography: Introduction to the subject (Kufa and Basra schools, dictionary development, and the ordering of lemmas) followed by CLIL activities.


Lesson 4: Adjectives: adjective forms, comparative, and superlative. With exercises and in-class readings from the textbook.


Lesson 5: The verb kana. Ways to translate the verb avere. Kana syntax. Determination of tenses.


Lesson 6: The maqamat of the Mamluk era: munazara and mufakhara. Introduction to the subject followed by CLIL activities.


Lesson 7: The subjunctive mood and the subjunctive conditional.


Lesson 8: The conditional sentence.


Lesson 9: The Formation of Classical Historiography up to al-Tabari. Introduction to the subject followed by CLIL activities.


Lesson 10: Imperative. Imperative of kana. Vocative.


Lesson 11: Participles. Infinitives.


Lesson 12: Derived Forms of the Regular Triliteral Verb.


Lesson 13: Conjugation of Derived Forms: Active Voice: Perfect, Imperfect, Imperative, Participles, Infinitives.


Lesson 14: General Review for the written examination


Lesson 15: General Review for the oral examination

Readings/Bibliography

Attending and Non-Attending Students:


Arabic Language:

1. DARGHMOUNI, Kalima / parola. Lezioni di scrittura e grammatica araba con esercizi, vol. 1, Milano, Mondadori Education - Le Monnier Università, 2019 , vol. 1-2
   
2. Deheuvels L.-W., Grammatica araba. Manuale di arabo moderno con esercizi e cd audio per l'ascolto. Volumi 1 e 2. Edizione italiana a cura di Antonella Ghersetti. Zanichelli, Bologna, 2010. Unità dalla 12 alla 18
3. Manca A., Grammatica teorica-pratica di arabo letterario moderno. Roma, Associazione Nazionale di Amicizia e Cooperazione Italo-Araba, 1989. Pp.145-180
4. Veccia Vaglieri, vol. I-II edizione 2011 (capitoli selezionati)

 

Arabic literature:


Arabic texts with translations published on the educational website.
Handbook: Letteratura araba: Dall'epoca preislamica all'età postclassica. A cura di Francesca Maria Corrao, Monica Ruocco. Mondadori, 2024. (Capitolo 4, Capitolo 14)

Teaching methods

The following teaching methods will be used:


1) the "traditional" grammatical approach to academic Arabic language teaching, meaning that students will acquire a specific set of skills in written communication;


2) the mimetic-inductive approach proposed by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (learning/teaching/assessment). This approach, naturally tailored to the specific needs of Arabic language teaching and its specificities and adapted to the course's objectives, will allow students to actively engage in the production of short texts and dialogues.


3) the CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) method proposed by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which involves teaching specific content (in this case, selected topics from pre-modern Arabic literature) reworked in class using both the L1 and L2, allowing students to further develop their written and oral production skills in the L2.

Assessment methods

Introduction


A student who attends at least 75% of the classes is considered to have attended.


The final exam consists of two tests: a written test, using a dictionary, and an oral test. The two tests will be graded out of 30. The arithmetic mean of these two tests will determine the final grade.


Written Exam


The written exam will focus on assessing the Arabic language skills acquired during the course, according to the level established and required by the course. The main skills for the exam will be:


i) reception, ii) production, iii) translation, and iv) independent production


of written messages in Arabic. To this end, the written exam consists of exercises (fill-in-the-blanks, conjugation, comprehension, etc.) and the translation of a short text.


The written exam lasts 3 hours.


N.B. This written exam will be graded out of 30. The written exam is a prerequisite for the oral exam; therefore, students who fail the written exam will not be eligible to take the oral exam.


Oral Exam


The oral exam will focus on assessing the linguistic and theoretical knowledge learned during the course. The exam consists of two parts: i) analysis and commentary on some of the texts analyzed in class; ii) a concise and reasoned presentation of the literary topics covered in the course, based on the syllabus and the teaching materials provided in class. The oral exam will be evaluated based on criteria such as i) ability to comment on and analyze grammatical and historical texts; ii) content knowledge, synthesis, and analysis of themes and concepts related to the syllabus; and iii) use of technical language appropriate to the subject matter. Grades will be expressed according to this guideline:


EXCELLENT


(28-30)


Ability to provide comprehensive and reasoned commentary on texts, both linguistically and historically
Excellent ability to navigate the topics covered in class
Skill in specific language and good expression
FAIR


(24-27)


Mechanical knowledge of the subject matter
Good ability to summarise and analyse
Limited ability to express oneself and use specialist terminology
SUFFICIENT


(18-23)


Minimal knowledge of the exam material
Skill in summarise and analyse
Poor ability to use specialist terminology
POOR


Lack of knowledge of the exam material
Lack of ability to summarise and analyse
Lack of ability to use specialist terminology
There are 6 exam sessions:


June 18, 2027


July 9, 2027


September 25 2027


October 9, 2027


November 19, 2027


December 10, 2027

Teaching tools

During the course, the reference texts may be supplemented with other materials deemed necessary for learning purposes. These materials, provided by the instructor, may be in various formats (written, audio, etc.).


Students who, due to disabilities or specific learning disabilities (SLD), require compensatory or dispensatory tools must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti.

Office hours

See the website of Celeste Gianni