Levels & Courses

Depending on their level test scores, students will be placed in a sequence of courses from the following:

Level (Test Score)

Courses
Level I: Beginning Arabic (0-19) ARAB 110 (4 cr. )
ARAB 160 (4 cr.)
Level II: Lower Intermediate (20-39) ARAB 210 (4 cr.)
ARAB 260 (4 cr.)
Level III: Upper Intermediate (40-59) ARAB 310 (4 cr.)
ARAB 360 (4 cr.)
Level IV: Advanced ( 60-79) ARAB 410 (4 cr.)
ARAB 460 (4 cr.)
Level V: Arabic for Special Purposes (80-100) ARAB 510 (4 cr.)
ARAB 560 (4 cr.)
Conversational Arabic N/A

1. Each language course counts as 4 semester credits (it encompasses instruction & lab). Program participants will complete two courses for a total of 8 semester credits. FLAS students will earn a total of 9 credits.

2. Contact Hours per level: 20-25 hours per week: 4-5 hrs/day, 5 days/week. Week days are Sunday through Thursday. Friday & Saturday are the weekend in Jordan. The total is up to 128 contact hours. Contact hours for FLAS students are set at 140.

3. A minimum of 4 students is required for forming a class. If the mimimum is not met, the student(s) affected will be moved to the appropriate class in the nearest competency level. If the level is higher, students will get additional assistance to catch up with their classmates.

4. For explanation of the levels and test scores, please read Yarmouk University's placement examples below.

Language
Instruction Levels

Level I - Beginning Arabic

This level is designed for beginning students with no prior experience in the language.  Level one covers the writing system and phonology (pronunciation, including intonation and stress) of Modern Standard Arabic, before introducing the fundamentals of reading, writing, listening, and speaking.  Language skills are built gradually with repetition, through a focus on the most common words and fundamental structures of MSA.  The Beginning level enables students to read and write simple sentences and express themselves aurally in simple dialogues.

Requirements: Beginning students without Arabic experience (0 – 19 Yarmouk Language Center AFL placement test score)

Teaching materials (tentative):

                               
Level II - Lower Intermediate

The Lower Intermediate level is designed for students who have achieved proficiency in pronunciation and can read and write simple sentences in Modern Standard Arabic.  Level two works to develop and expand proficiency in the four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking; in addition to introducing fundamental topics in Arabic grammar.  All areas of the language are emphasized through the study of short authentic texts and audio-visual materials on a variety of subjects, including: basic Arab culture, social and historical topics, religious texts from the Quran and Hadith, and short stories. The Lower Intermediate level aims to enable students to comprehend short authentic written and audio texts, write brief compositions on basic topics, and engage in interactive discussions in areas of daily life.

        Requirements: 20 – 39 Yarmouk Language Center AFL placement test score
       
        Teaching Materials (tentative):

Level III - Upper Intermediate

This level works to strengthen proficiency in the four language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) and expand acquisition of vocabulary through longer, more detailed texts on specific topics: Islam and the Other, tradition stories and folk tales, pillars of Arab culture and society, etc.  The Upper Intermediate level also introduces students to interviews, articles, and broadcasts from Arabic news media.  In addition to a deeper grasp of the four language skills, level three seeks to lay a strong foundation in Arabic grammar through a survey of important grammatical topics in Modern Standard Arabic.

Requirements: 40 – 59 Yarmouk Language Center AFL placement test score
       
Teaching Materials (tentative):

Level IV- Advanced

The Advanced level is designed to add depth and complexity to a student’s grasp of Arabic in all four language areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.  Level four uses long authentic texts from literature (short stories, poetry, autobiographies, and essays) and news media (magazine articles, broadcast media, and electronic materials).  Students engage in detailed discussions and compose essays in response to the topics presented in the aural and written texts, acquiring a diverse vocabulary and employing a variety of transition words and idiomatic phrases.  The Advanced level reviews basic grammatical constructs and studies more detailed topics of Arabic grammar contextually, taking practical and functional examples from the written texts.

Requirements: 60 – 79 Yarmouk Language Center AFL placement test score
       
        Teaching Materials (tentative):

Level V - Arabic for Special Purposes

Level five of the AFL Program is designed to meet the specific needs of interested students, and studies the language as it is used in Islam, news media, business, political and diplomatic contexts, etc.  This level requires a strong foundation in Arabic (at least 3 years of experience or an appropriate), and achieves a depth of focus through extensive reading and listening of a variety of detailed source materials.

        Requirements: 80 – 100 Yarmouk Language Center AFL placement test score, for those interested in the Arabic in specific contexts.
       
Teaching Materials (vary topically; on Islamic texts, for example):

Conversational Arabic

The AFL Program also offers courses in the Jordanian spoken dialect.  Conversational Arabic courses may explore similarities and differences with the vocabulary and grammar of Modern Standard Arabic, and prepare students for spoken interaction in all areas of daily life.  Conversational Arabic classes can be offered at higher levels and can be tailored to meet a specific thematic focus.