Arabic Language and Literature

First-year Arabic is an introductory course in written and spoken Arabic, focusing on basic grammar and speaking. Aspects of Arab culture are introduced. Second-year Arabic builds on grammar and vocabulary knowledge and emphasizes speaking and writing, as well as listening comprehension and reading. Students are introduced to popular Arab culture. Third-year Arabic expands on grammar concepts and vocabulary knowledge with practical applications of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Social and political aspects of Arab culture are introduced.

A language-focused course that provides students with vocabulary and discourse structures common in today's Arabic media coverage. Weekly topics are culled from various news outlets (e.g., Al-Jazeera, AJ-Arabiyya, BBC Arabic, YouTube, AJ-Ahram, An-Nahar, AI-Dustour) which serve to familiarize students with a broad range of current sociopolitical, economic and cultural issues.

An advanced seminar on a particular author, period or genre. Topics may include Arab Short Stories, Classical Arabic Poetry, Travelogues in Arabic Literature, Arabic Pop Culture and Music, and Arabic Media. The subject changes annually. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

The geopolitical importance of the Arab world and the legacy of Orientalism reduce “the Arab” and the region to stereotypes and misrepresentations. In order to challenge these depictions, this course asks: “How does Arab cinema represent contemporary Arab society?” The course introduces the student to the vibrant and dynamic cultures of the Arab world through the medium of film. We will analyze, uphold, and challenge issues of social and cultural significance in the region. We will examine portrayals of “the Arab” and “the Middle East” in the American cinema, study the history of Arab cinema, and explore the techniques that Arab filmmakers employ to represent their social, political, and religious world.

The year 2011 marked the moment in which demonstrations and sit-ins against tyranny erupted simultaneously throughout the Arab World. Revolutionaries, mostly under the age of 30, demanded freedom of speech, an end to corruption, and the establishment of democratic states. These uprisings, called The Arab Spring, left a strong footprint on Arabic literature and media. This course introduces students to political, social and economic issues in the Arab World through different literary genres (such as novels and short stories, political satire, movies, music, poetry and social media) that reflect the aspirations, disappointments and concerns of the Arabs before, during and after the revolutions.

Study abroad at American University in Dubai (AUD) (Dubai, UAE); the American University of Beirut (AUB); the American University in Sharjah (AUS) (Sharjah, UAE); CET (Amman, Jordan); CIEE (Amman, Jordan); AALIM (Meknes, Morocco); AMIDEAST (Morocco, Jordan).

Arabic students at W&L have worked in a variety of internships in politics, diplomacy, education, journalism, business, marketing, law or intelligence

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS): intensive study abroad, funded by the U.S. government • Summer Arabic Language and Media (SALAM) Scholarship: intensive study abroad, funded by the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (Omani government) • NSEP Boren: Government funded for less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests • William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship Program at AUD: funds study abroad in Dubai at the AUD

All Arabic students are invited to participate in movie nights, calligraphy lessons, cooking lessons, dance lessons, spoken word night, occasional guest speakers and the annual WLUArabic Lunch. Students may also work with the Association for Middle East Interests (AMEI), a campus student group dedicated to informing the student body and Rockbridge-area community about the Middle East.