Arabic

Arabic 101, 102 and 201 enable students to fulfill their foreign language requirement in three semesters, while being introduced to a major world language and culture.

It has been said that the jewel of Arabic culture and the most perfected art form of the Arabs is their language. An accomplished Arab poet or orator can extract tears from a rock. A master tribal poet could send an enemy army fleeing in defeat even before the first arrow is shot!

People today have less ambitious reasons for learning a culturally rich language that is interwoven with major forces and events that are moving and shaping our world 

Arabic 101 is offered in the Fall Semester and Arabic 102 is offered in the following spring semester, and Arabic 201 is offered in the fall semester that follows. 

Arabic 101 introduces students to modern standard Arabic (MSA) and the diverse cultures of the Arab-speaking world. In addition to acquiring basic reading, writing and conversational skills, students will be introduced to Arabic grammar within a lively and communicative context.

Faculty

Ahmed Bangura, Associate Professor of French,

KA 378, x6372, banguraa@usfca.edu

Ahmed has published articles and translations in the area of African literature, contributed the article “Black, Orientalism …” in the New Dictionary of the History of Ideas, a book on Islam and West African Fiction, and also published a book in Arabic on narratives from the life of the Prophet Muhammad. He is completing a book on the values of Islam, and a version of the same book in Arabic.

Teaching Interests: Arabic language and culture; French language and francophone literature and culture; African Literature and Islamic studies.

Jason Vivrette, Adjunct Professor,

Gleeson 4th Floor, x5298, jcvivrette@usfca.edu

Resources

Cultural Centers: The Bay area has a thriving Arab community that runs a number of cultural centers and holds significant cultural events. Find below some links to events and centers.

1. Arab Film Festival: www.arabfilmfestival.org

2. Arab Cultural Center, San Francisco: www.arabculturalcenter.org

3. Arab American Cultural Center of the Silicon Valley: (www.facebook.com/arabamericanculturalcenter)

Arabic language Resources

1. Arabic 2000.com: http://www.arabic2000.com/

2. Arabic Language Resources: http://www.linguaguide.com/directory/Arabic.php

Media: Television

1. Al jazeera English: http://english.aljazeera.net/

2. Al jazeera Arabic: http://www.aljazeera.net/portal

MEDIA: Newspapers and Magazines

1. Arabic Newspapers and Magazines: http://www.arab2.com/newspapers.htm