Class Description
Complete beginners or heritage speakers will learn the basics of reading and writing in Arabic, starting with the alphabet. After this course, students will be able to read and write short paragraphs in grammatically correct Modern Standard Arabic (fusḥa), describing themselves, their family, the weather, food, places, and simple actions in the past, present and future. Lessons will also include cultural information and guidance for continuing study of Arabic.
You do not need to have taken Part 1 to join this class!
Ms. Laurel Harig-Khan graduated from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago in 2019 and from Bard College in 2008. She also studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and at the American University of Beirut. She teaches Arabic and courses on the history, culture and politics of the Middle East and North Africa.
All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.
Materials List
Required
- Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar, Mastering Arabic Vol. 1. Hippocrene, 2021. ISBN: 9780781814225 (Copies are available at the Chicago Public Library. You can also buy it directly from the publisher or find used copies for sale at online stores like AbeBooks)
- Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar, Mastering Arabic 1: Activity Book. Bloomsbury, 2022. ISBN: 9781137372260 (Please Note: We are unable to stock this book, but you can buy it directly from the publisher or find used copies for sale at online stores like AbeBooks.)
A Tentative Syllabus
The course content will be adjusted according to the students’ pace and interest.
- Introduction and Alphabet
- Basic Vocabulary
- Making Basic Sentences
- Prepositions and Adjectives
- Verb Conjugations
- Past and Future Tenses
- Putting Everything Together
- Asking Questions
Cost and Registration
8 Sessions, $225 ($202 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($225), Community Supported ($215), and Sponsor ($235). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
This class is part two in an ongoing series, but you do not need to have taken Part 1 to join this class. Anyone enrolled in this part will receive a discount on future classes in the series!
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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