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.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
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.
Indicative Assessment
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]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
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.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
The core texts, including current articles from Arabic magazines, newspapers and journals, will be made available to enrolled students via Wattle.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $1218 | |
| 2014 | $2478 | |
| 2013 | $2478 | |
| 2012 | $2478 | |
| 2011 | $2424 | |
| 2010 | $2358 | |
| 2009 | $2286 | |
| 2008 | $2286 | |
| 2007 | $2286 | |
| 2006 | $2286 | |
| 2005 | $2286 | |
| 2004 | $1926 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $3402 |
| 2014 | $3762 |
| 2013 | $3756 |
| 2012 | $3756 |
| 2011 | $3756 |
| 2010 | $3750 |
| 2009 | $3618 |
| 2008 | $3618 |
| 2007 | $3618 |
| 2006 | $3618 |
| 2005 | $3618 |
| 2004 | $3618 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On campus | ||||||
| 8946 | 21 Jul 2014 | 08 Aug 2014 | 31 Aug 2014 | 30 Oct 2014 | In Person | N/A |
| Off Campus | ||||||
| 9207 | 21 Jul 2014 | 08 Aug 2014 | 31 Aug 2014 | 30 Oct 2014 | In Person | N/A |