Skip to content

The following information pertains to the last time this program was offered. If you would like to be notified via e-mail when new information about this program is available, subscribe to the Summer Session and Special Programs e-mail list.

Intensive Arabic program

June 5-August 1, 2008

Cornell University Department of Near Eastern Studies

The program

The Cornell Arabic program integrates spoken Arabic with Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) in a way that reflects the use of the language by native speakers. Arabs use a spoken dialect for ordinary conversation and MSA for reading, writing, and formal speech. The Cornell program introduces spoken Arabic and MSA simultaneously, using each variety as it is used in real life. The four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are developed with a focus on communication (i.e., understanding the language and communicating ideas in it) rather than on the study of grammar. An important objective of the program is familiarizing students with basic facts about the geography, history, and culture of the Arab world.

Classes will meet for 3 1/2 hours in the morning (8:30-12) before breaking for lunch. Teachers will be available to help students with homework and for informal conversation between noon and 2 p.m. Every week will be concluded with a lunch that the students and teachers eat together at a local Middle East restaurant, where the students will have a chance to practice their Arabic with native speakers outside of the classroom.

Arabic learning community

In this program, students and teachers will form an "Arabic learning community." The teachers will work as a team, sharing the tasks of teaching, providing supplementary materials, and planning activities that enhance classroom instruction. The number of students in each class is not expected to exceed five to eight, so the teacher/student ratio will be around two to four.

Courses

This two-course sequence provides a thorough grounding in the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Short stories, anecdotes, and dialogues reflecting real life experiences with an element of authenticity and humor are used to develop the listening and speaking skills. Reading and writing are developed through a "mini-course" in Arabic on Arab history, geography, and culture. The readings start with short phrases describing Arab countries, cities, and people, and end with page-long biographies of important Arab historical figures. Songs, Jeopardy-type games, crossword puzzles and other vocabulary-building activities that recycle the words of the listening, speaking, and reading materials are used to enhance the learning and retention of vocabulary and grammatical structures. There is no prerequisite for NES 1201. The prerequisite for NES 1202 is NES 1201 or one semester of Arabic.

This two-course sequence continues the development of the four language skills through the extensive use of carefully selected graded materials on a variety of topics. The materials have been selected with the goal of generating lively classroom discussions and mastering vocabulary and structures that are useful in real-life situations in an Arabic-speaking environment outside of the classroom. While more attention is given to developing native-like pronunciation and to grammatical accuracy than in NES 1201-1202, the main focus of the course is on encouraging fluency and facility in understanding the language and communicating ideas in it. In addition to building on the linguistic foundation started in NES 1201-1202, the course continues the practice of introducing students to Arab society, history, and culture through the use of folktales, songs, poems, newspaper articles, and short stories depicting different aspects of Arab life and culture. The prerequisite for NES 1203 is NES 1202 or one year of Arabic. The prerequisite for NES 2200 is NES 1203 or equivalent.

Director

Credits

Each of the four courses carries four credits and is equivalent to a semester of language study at Cornell. Students will have the option of signing up for one or both courses in each sequence.

Tuition and fees

The program charge is $3,700 for four credits payable at the time of registration.

Enrollment

To enroll in the program bring or send a completed Summer Sessions enrollment form to:

Summer Session Office
B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Telephone: 607.255.4987
Fax: 607.255.9697
E-mail: cusce@cornell.edu

Full tuition must be paid by the first day of class.

Refund Policy

To withdraw from this special program, you must notify the program director. Your refund amount will be determined by the date on which you notify the director.

Refund %Dates
100%June 5-11
75%June 12-13
50%June 16-20
25%June 23-24
0%June 25

Further information

For more information about the courses, call 607.255.2769 or e-mail Munther Younes at may2@cornell.edu