Academic Program
About the Program
The Zaytuna Summer Arabic Intensive is designed for any student wishing to learn Arabic or for those interested in pursuing a serious study of Islam. It was introduced in the summer of 2008 as an eight-week residential Arabic language program. Open to students of all faiths, the program offers introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses, and incorporates modern standards of academic excellence and pedagogical expertise within a nourishing intellectual and spiritual environment.
Students live and learn literally across the street from the historic University of California–Berkeley campus.
Designed as a rigorous, complete-immersion language experience, the program integrates the acquisition of reading, writing, and speaking skills at an accelerated pace. In eight weeks, students acquire the equivalent of one year of university-level Arabic and meet the objectives of a ten-unit summer intensive program such as those offered at various American universities.
Classical vs. Modern Standard Arabic
While Arabic is seen as a bridge to the traditional Islamic sciences, the program also approaches Arabic as a vibrant and living language. The Zaytuna Arabic Intensive does not stress a “classical vs. modern” dichotomy; instead, it focuses on the intersections and continuities between classical (fus’ha) Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic. Zaytuna instructors place a strong emphasis on acquiring a solid foundation in classical Arabic grammar, while simultaneously developing smooth conversational and reading skills, which are enhanced by the Arabic-only immersion policy.
Core Courses
LEVEL 1: ELEMENTARY ARABIC
Prerequisites:
None, except a rudimentary familiarity with the Arabic alphabet.
Objectives:
Level 1 Arabic equips students with a basic ability in Arabic reading, writing, and speaking skills while building a solid foundation in formal Arabic grammar (nahu) and morphology (sarf). From the first day, students make use of authentic written and audio Arabic materials. Students also participate in activities designed to foster confidence and comfort in Arabic-speaking settings.
Students are encouraged to progressively increase their use of Arabic—both in and outside of class—as they move through the program. In addition, students compose short essays and make brief oral presentations entirely in Arabic. Homework consists of six to eight hours outside of class reviewing the day’s lessons; completing assigned exercises; and preparing for lessons, quizzes, and examinations.
LEVEL 2: INTERMEDIATE ARABIC
Prerequisites:
Two or three semesters of university-level Arabic or its equivalent.
Objectives:
Level 2 enhances students’ understanding of the rules of Arabic grammar and morphology, expands their vocabulary, and increases their familiarity with Arabic expressions. Homework assignments utilize authentic written and audio materials and often include speaking exercises with fellow students.
Students are expected to use Arabic both inside and outside the classroom. By the end of the course, students will be fluent in conversation, be able to compose long essays, and make oral presentations of fifteen to twenty minutes entirely in Arabic. Homework consists of six to eight hours outside of class reviewing the day’s lessons; completing assigned exercises; and preparing for lessons, quizzes, and examinations.
LEVEL 3: ADVANCED ARABIC
Note: The availability of this course is subject to demand.
Prerequisites:
Three or four semesters of university-level Arabic or its equivalent.
Objectives:
Level 3 is designed to continue to increase students’ vocabulary and their understanding of advanced rules of Arabic grammar and morphology. Students will also engage in intensive reading and analysis of Arabic texts from different genres, and attain an in-depth familiarity of formal and informal styles of writing and correspondence. Reading assignments will include grammar materials, literary texts and poetry, primary-source essays, biographical literature, and portions from the Qur’an and Hadith.
Students are expected to comply with an Arabic-only policy inside the classroom. By the end of the course, students will be fluent in conversing in both classical and Modern Standard Arabic, compose long essays (500-1500 words), and make oral presentations of 30 minutes to 45 minutes entirely in Arabic.
Textbooks
The following texts are required and will be distributed at the mandatory Orientation Session on Sunday, June 21, 2009. The costs of books are included in tuition price.
LEVEL 1 TEXTS
Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds, by Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
Al-kitaab fii Ta'allum Al-'Arabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic, Part One (Book and DVDs), by Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
Arabic-English Dictionary: The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic.
LEVEL 2 TEXTS
Al-kitaab fii Ta'allum Al-'Arabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic, Part One (Book and DVDs), by Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
Al-kitaab Fii Ta'allum Al-‘Arabiyya: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two (Book and DVDs), by Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
Arabic-English Dictionary: The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic.
LEVEL 3 TEXTS
Al-kitaab Fii Ta'allum Al-‘Arabiyya: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Three (Book and DVDs), by Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
Arabic-English Dictionary: The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic.
Arabic-Only Pledge
Students admitted to the Zaytuna Summer Arabic Intensive will be required to sign a pledge that stipulates that Arabic will be the only language used in the classroom for instruction and conversation. Students are also strongly encouraged to incorporate Arabic in their daily lives outside of the classroom during this eight-week course.
University Credit
The Zaytuna College curriculum is on par with standardized Arabic courses at major American universities. Providing eight weeks of instruction (approximately 192 contact hours), the summer program is well over the 120–180 minimum contact hours required by most universities for a full academic year (or 10 units) of language instruction. Though Zaytuna College cannot guarantee an automatic transfer of university credit (this is ultimately at the discretion of an individual university or department), we do help students meet prerequisites by issuing an official letter to their universities or institutions describing course objectives and material covered in each course.
A Typical Day in the Zaytuna Summer Arabic Intensive
Classes are capped at twenty students per section. From Monday through Thursday, classes run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with ten-minute breaks at the fifty-minute mark (i.e., 9:50 and 10:50). There is an extended thirty-minute break from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. On Fridays, classes are from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Students are expected to spend an additional six to eight hours per day outside of class reviewing the day’s lessons, memorizing new vocabulary, completing assignments, and preparing for the next day's class. Because the Arabic Intensive is an immersion program, students are encouraged use Arabic as much possible while interacting with teachers and fellow students inside and outside of class.
Student Commitment
All students are expected to take the program seriously and display proper manners with the teachers, fellow students, and staff. Learning Arabic requires time and effort from both students and teachers; students are expected to work daily on their assignments and make memorization and review a central part of their everyday activities. Class attendance and punctuality are critical; students must come to class prepared with textbooks and homework completed. Students who come unprepared will quickly fall behind, and risk the possibility of having to drop out of the program.
Inappropriate behavior towards teachers, fellow students, or staff will not be tolerated. General lack of commitment or breach of the student conduct policy may result in removal from the program.
