This course aims at equipping students with the language and vocabulary required to understand Arabic-language news and current affairs and, in the process, to appreciate many of the central issues in contemporary scholarship on current affairs and media in the Arab world. The emphasis of the course is on providing students with vocabulary and language skills that will enable them to understand Arabic-language current affairs and media in different contexts, question a number of dominant concepts, and explore and discuss current issues. A set of current and historical topics and their social and historical contexts will be analysed using some of the core language and vocabulary of media Arabic. The approach will be thematic rather than chronological, although a chronology of events within each topic will be explored to ensure that students understand the content of present dynamics. Throughout the course students will analyse Internet and TV news, as well as material drawn from the Arabic-language press. Students will also write and produce their own short media program. This will allow students to study not only the basic vocabulary of a given circumstance, but also how language is used in certain news genres and settings.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an ability to read and listen to the Modern Standard Arabic typically used in Arabic-language newspapers and Internet sites, and on Arabic-language radio and television;

2. Demonstrate high level ability to speak Arabic in the style and format typically found on Arabic-language radio and television;

3. Write and translate news and media texts to an advanced level; and

4. Comprehend conversations, dialogue, and delivered news on a range of political and social topics, to an advanced level.

5. Understand and distinguish without difficulty various applications of a range of circumstances beyond intermediate survival needs.

Assessed homework (20%) [Assesses all LO's]

Media-related in-class quizzes (10%) [Assesses all LO's]

Recorded oral presentation (30%) [Assesses LO's 1, 2, 4]

Written essays of 2,500 words (30%) [Assesses LO's 1, 3, 4]

Class participation (10%) [Assesses all LO's]

Two hours of lectures per week and one one-hour tutorial per week, plus approximately a further seven hours per week of class preparation, completion of assignments and private study over the 13-week semester. The aim is for a total workload of around 130 hours all up for successful completion of the course.

Completion of ARAB6502 Intermediate Arabic B or its equivalent is a prerequisite for this course.

This is a third year course done after the completion of ARAB2012 /6502 or its equivalent, or after demonstrating a similar level of proficiency based on a placement test carried by the Arabic Convenor or course lecturer.

The core texts, including current articles from Arabic magazines, newspapers and journals, will be made available to enrolled students via Wattle.

Access to computer for Wattle and Internet access