CAMES Summer Arabic Program

The CAMES summer program in the Arabic language offers intensive courses at six different levels: Introductory, High Introductory, Low Intermediate, Intermediate, High Intermediate and Advanced. The program emphasizes the instruction of Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha).

The program runs for six ½ weeks offering highly intensive course work in Arabic. Each day, students receive 5 hours of classroom instruction in MSA and 1 hour of classroom instruction in Colloquial Arabic. Classes run daily from Monday to Friday, offering 30 hours of classroom instruction each week. The total of 186 hours of MSA and Colloquial instruction is the equivalent of 9 credit hours at AUB, which may be transferred to other universities.

Instructors use the Georgetown Arabic language textbooks by Brustad, al-Batal, and al-Tonsi. Textbooks are complemented with supplementary materials to enrich the students’ knowledge in the Arabic language and culture.

The program is highly demanding, so students are expected to be totally committed and attend classroom and do homework on a daily basis. The typical daily workload in the CAMES summer Arabic program entails 6 hours of classroom instruction (MSA + Colloquial) and a minimum of 4-5 hours of home work.

The CAMES Summer Arabic Program gives admission priority to academics and students who are taking the course as part of their academic careers. All applicants are required to have completed at least one semester of college or university study or the equivalent before being accepted. Students who are accepted will sit for a placement exam on the first day of the program. This exam, together with the information to be provided in the application about the student's knowledge of Arabic and the Arabic writing sample required will determine the level of Arabic instruction appropriate for the applicant.

The main textbooks used in the program are:

Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds, 2nd ed. (Brustad, al-Batal, al-Tonsi)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic: Part One, 2nd ed.(Brustad, al-Batal, al-Tonsi)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: A Textbook for Arabic: Part Two (Brustad, al-Batal, al-Tonsi)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: A Textbook for Arabic: Part Three (Brustad, al-Batal, al-Tonsi)
A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (Hans Wehr, Beirut, Librairie du Liban and London, MacDonald & Evans Ltd.)

Courses

MEST 360 INTRODUCTORY ARABIC (Intensive) (9 cr. )
This course is designed to introduce students who have no previous knowledge of Arabic to the Arabic language. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to read and comprehend Arabic at the basic level. They are also expected to be able to speak about themselves, their families and their environment, and to compose several paragraphs concerning their daily life. During the course, students become familiar with Arab culture and many traditions related to family life and society in general. All basic grammar and sentence structures are introduced, as well as the common nominal and verbal derivation patterns. Lebanese colloquial Arabic is also integrated in the course. The course consists of 186 contact hours and will use Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds as well as part of Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: Part One.

MEST 361 HIGH INTRODUCTORY ARABIC (Intensive) (9 cr.)

This course is designed for students who have had the equivalent of one semester of Arabic instruction. It is also suitable for students who have already had some limited exposure to the Arabic language, for instance, those who have lived in an Arab country or an Arabic-speaking environment, as well as those who have had some tutoring in Arabic. Students who enter at this level are expected to already know the Arabic alphabet and to have limited knowledge of reading, writing and conversational skills. Students will be exposed to Lebanese colloquial Arabic, which will be integrated in the course. By the end of the course, students are expected to improve their reading and writing ability and to be able to carry out a simple conversation. The course consists of 186 contact hours and will use Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: Part One.

MEST 362: Low Intermediate Arabic (Intensive) (9 cr.)

This course is designed for students who have completed at least two semesters of Arabic in an academic setting and whose language proficiency requires that they go at a slower pace than the intermediate class or for students who have been away from the language for some time. Students should have knowledge of the basic grammatical and lexical features of Arabic. The objectives of this course, in general, is to solidify knowledge of the basic rules of Arabic grammar, to expand vocabulary in terms of complexity, and to increase the acquisition of words for active use in a wide variety of topics and settings. Also, students will be exposed to Lebanese colloquial Arabic, which will be integrated in the course. By the end of the course, students are expected to gain solid background of Arabic grammar, to be able to give a short oral presentation, and carry out a short writing project. The course consists of 186 contact hours and will use Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: Parts One and Two.

MEST 363: Intermediate Arabic (Intensive) (9 cr.)

This course is designed for students who have had the equivalent of two to three semesters of Arabic instruction. In this course, students are taught extensive vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar and pronunciation. The course aims to develop students' reading, writing, listening and comprehension skills by using authentic Arabic texts. All instruction and communication between instructors and students is done strictly in Arabic, which greatly advances the students' communication proficiency. Also, students will be exposed to Lebanese colloquial Arabic, which will be integrated in the course. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to give an oral presentation, as well as carry out a lengthy writing project. The course consists of 186 contact hours and will use Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: Part Two.

MEST 364: High Intermediate Arabic (Intensive) (9 cr.)

This course is designed for students who have already had the equivalent of four semesters of Arabic instruction. The objective of the course is to expand the students' vocabulary and introduce them to more advanced grammar and complex sentence structures. Emphasis is placed on communication skills in both the oral and written forms. Also, students will be exposed to Lebanese colloquial Arabic, which will be integrated in the course. By the end of the class, students are expected to be able to comprehend lengthy authentic listening material and to give long oral presentations with facility. They are also expected to be able to write extensive compositions and to read authentic Arabic texts for research purposes. The course consists of 186 contact hours and will use part of Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: Parts Two and Three, and will be supplemented by extra material as needed.

MEST 365: Advanced Arabic (Intensive) (9 cr.)

This course is designed for students who have already had the equivalent of five to six semesters of Arabic instruction. It aims to enable students to attain an advanced level of proficiency in all Arabic language skills. Students are required to do extensive readings on a variety of topics and genres, such as literature, language and the social sciences. Also, students will be exposed to Lebanese colloquial Arabic, which will be integrated in the course. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to engage in debates, give oral presentations, write short research papers and understand and interact in Arabic at the level of educated native speakers of the language. The course consists of 186 contact hours and will use Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: Part Three, and will be supplemented by extra material as needed.

Travel and Visas
Participants are advised to obtain the appropriate visas for Lebanon and neighboring countries they plan to visit from embassies in their country of residence. Visas issued at the Lebanese borders and the airport are only valid for one month, so participants should be sure to obtain a two-month visa from the Lebanese embassy in their country of residence. Participants who plan to visit neighboring countries must obtain a multiple entry visa to Lebanon. Please note that passport holders with an Israeli stamp on their passports will be denied entry into both Lebanon and Syria.

Accommodation
Students may stay in the student dorms on AUB campus or search for accommodation outside the university. Students must indicate their preference when filling out the application for the summer Arabic program. Participants who wish to stay in the AUB dorms should coordinate with CAMES to reserve their room and pay the dorm fees as part of their tuition. Participants who prefer to make alternative arrangements outside the university do not pay the accommodation fee. CAMES can provide some limited assistance in finding accommodation off campus. The university will organize free transportation to and from the airport for the students who choose to stay in the AUB dorms.

Cultural Activities and Trips
Lebanon offers a wide range of activities for visitors with its historical sites, its cultural events and its lively nightlife. The summer program includes several trips around Beirut and other areas of Lebanon to museums, archaeological sites and other sites of historical and cultural interest. Cultural activities include trips to art exhibitions and the theatre, while visits to markets, shops, cafes and restaurants will help familiarize participants with Lebanese local culture and dialect. Please note that the cost of field trips outside Beirut is not included in the tuition fees and that students should budget accordingly.

Sports Facilities
Participants may use the sports facilities at AUB including basketball courts, athletic grounds and the AUB beach. It is also possible to rent tennis courts, but the cost is not included in the Sports Activities fee.

Fees
The tuition fees for the summer Arabic program cover both internet access at the AUB computer labs and the cost of cultural trips within Beirut, but not field trips outside Beirut. Health Insurance is obligatory for all students. Students who already have an insurance plan that covers them in Lebanon should provide proof of this and sign a health insurance waiver. The total fees for the program in summer 2008 will range between $3,997 and $4,247, depending on whether the student chooses private, semi-private or shared accommodation. The breakdown of fees for summer 2008 is as follows:

Tuition for Modern Standard Arabic (obligatory): $3,440

Accommodation: $668 (private) / $512 (semi-private) / $418 (shared)
Health Insurance: $127

Sports Facilities Usage:$12

Extra expenses
Students should budget for any additional traveling they anticipate during their stay. They should also budget for the following, which are NOT included in the tuition fees: books, Arabic CDs of listening materials, meals and field trips outside Beirut.

Application
The application deadline is April 25, 2008.

Payment Requirements

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is also required upon acceptance and will be deducted from each applicant's tuition fees. The full fees are due by late May 2008, and the exact date will be confirmed soon. Payments can be made by check, cash, or bank transfer. Credit card payments are not accepted. Participants who wish to pay in the USA should mail a check to the AUB New York office, quoting "American University of Beirut / CAMES". Participants who wish to pay in Lebanon may do so at the Cashier's Office in College Hall, AUB. Participants who wish to pay by bank transfer should email CAMES for details on how to do so.