Languages (Fall 2009)

The Arabic language is spoken today by over 250 million people in the Middle East and North Africa, and is also used as a religious language by the world's Muslims, who total around one billion people. Arabic is also a venerated, liturgical language, used by many Muslims mainly in Asia (e.g., Pakistan, Malaysia, China) and Africa (e.g., Senegal). Using the latest web-based components as well as real world texts such as newspapers, poetry, and literature, this highly interactive online class provides basic conversational vocabulary and cultural facts about the Arab world. Using a textbook with DVD and web-based materials presented in Arabic Without Walls, you'll use an Arabic keyboard literacy program called Aktub, designed by Yaman Salahi and Sonia S'hiri, UC Berkeley. This program teaches you how to type in Arabic while consolidating your acquisition of the Arabic alphabet, the names of the Arabic letters and numbers. Students will have a daily plan that includes watching videos, pronunciation practice, listening to interviews, assignment recordings on Wimba and chat discussions.

Maha R. Alsaffar, M.A., is an online Arabic Without Wall language instructor with UC Berkeley. As a native speaker of Arabic, she has an unequivocal advantage in engaging students in the different aspects of Arabic culture. She has worked as a proofreader, editor and organizer for online Arabic instruction.