Offered By	ANU College of Asia and the Pacific and ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
Academic Contact	Dr Ali Aldahesh

Arabic is the mother language of over 250 million people in the Middle East (West Asia and North Africa), and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Arabic is also the language of the Qur'an with special importance to all Muslims in the world numbering over one billion people. Arabic is the language of an ancient civilisation, which contributed greatly to human knowledge. Its influence is strongly felt on such languages as Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Indonesian and Malay, among others. Many European languages still preserve hundreds of words from Arabic origin in various fields of knowledge. Arabic is also the living medium of a contemporary dynamic literature and culture. Its rich and magnificent poetry, classical and modern, is especially captivating.

In the Faculty of Asian Studies, students take an agreed sequence of eight language courses for the Arabic language major. These courses provide the language core for the programs focussed on Islamic Studies. Modern Standard Arabic is the language of teaching.

First year Arabic assumes no previous knowledge of the language. It covers the Arabic script and sound system, basic grammar rules, and the study of samples of modern Arabic literature and print media. The method of teaching is based on an audio-visual and audio-lingual approach, which is designed to develop the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in an integrated way through the use of dialogues in realistic situations, class interaction and oral and written drills. Grammar is explained in its functional aspect using basic structures of Arabic. Second or later year courses cover more advanced grammar, as well as the style and language of the Arabic media, contemporary Arabic fiction and Classical Arabic. In third year Arabic, students have the opportunity to read literature and works in Classical Arabic, including readings from the Qur'an. Students gain a sound knowledge of Arabic grammar and an appreciation of modern and classical, secular and religious texts. After successful completion of their third year of Arabic students may undertake further Arabic studies which include modern literary genres, classical poetry, religious and historical texts.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Asian Studies combined program must indicate to the relevant Faculty Office if they are taking this Major as part of the Arts or Asian Studies component of the combined degree.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2010 website applies to the 2010 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2009 website.