Arabic

The Arabic courses offered by the Language Centre are based on a distinctive and innovative concept.

They focus primarily on developing communicative skills for spoken interaction, particularly those useful when traveling to an Arabic-speaking country. For this reason, the elementary A1 courses emphasise the dialect spoken in the countries of the Middle East. This variety of the language is relatively close to Modern Standard Arabic and is widely understood across many Arab countries.

Unlike most Arabic courses, the Language Centre does not place Modern Standard Arabic at the core of its instruction. There is a simple reason for this: it is not immediately necessary for spoken communication. What you will hear from acquaintances or from a waiter at a café is almost never the formal language. That is mainly used on television or at official events, contexts that are too complex and largely irrelevant for beginners.

However, there is no need for concern. You are not learning "incorrect" Arabic. You will later find it easy to acquire spoken Modern Standard Arabic as well, which also forms the basis of the courses focused on written communication.

The course structure consists of the following modules:

• Arabic A1 Part 1 – Spoken Language Course (usually offered in the winter semester)
  • Hours per week (SWS): 2
  • Total teaching hours: 30
  • CEFR level: A1
• Arabic A1 Part 1 – Reading and Comprehension (usually offered in the winter semester)
  • Hours per week (SWS): 2
  • Total teaching hours: 30
  • CEFR level: A1
• Arabic A1 Part 2 – Spoken Language Course (summer semester)
  • Hour per week (SWS): 2
  • Total teaching hours: 30
  • CEFR level: A1
• Arabic A1 Part 2 – Reading and Comprehension (summer semester)
  • Hours per week (SWS): 2
  • Total teaching hours: 30
  • CEFR level: A1

Online Learning Resources

• Directory of useful phrases in Lebanese Arabic (source language: English): wikitravel.org/en/Lebanese_Arabic_phrasebook
• Online Arabic course on Busuu (free, registration required): www.busuu.com/kostenlos-arabisch-lernen
• Short videos for studying Arabic on YouTube (source language: English): www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYAdiajvdDg (link leads to Lesson 1)
• Learn Arabic at the Language Institute (LSI) at Ruhr University Bochum:https://www.lsi-bochum.de/sprachen-kurse/arabisch/selbstlernkurs

Arabic Culture and Stays Abroad in Arab Countries

• German-Arab Society: www.d-a-g.de
• Directory of Arab embassies: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Auslandsvertretungen_der_Vereinigten_Arabischen_Emirate