Why Study Arabic?
- Because the writing is so beautiful … and it is an alphabet, so it’s not nearly as hard to learn as you might think!
- Because the language itself is so beautiful and rich.
- Because it’s one of the few languages that has been in continuous use for over 1400 years. You can read texts from 1400 years ago with the skills you’ll learn in ARA 101!
- Because Arabic is the 5th most commonly spoken native language in the world. Arabic is the official language of over 20 countries and there are well over 300 million native speakers of the language. These speakers are largely concentrated in the Middle East, but there are minority groups of native speakers throughout the world. It is also an official language of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and the African Union.
- Because Arabic is the liturgical language of Islam, so in addition to the millions of native speakers, many more learn Arabic as a foreign language for religious purposes.
- Because there is a high demand for (and low supply of) Arabic‐speakers in the Western world. Those who study Arabic can find careers in a variety of fields: journalism, business and industry, education, finance and banking, translation and interpretation, consulting, foreign service and intelligence, and many others.
Arabic Language Courses
The recommended path for those who have no prior exposure to Arabic is to begin with ARA 101/102, progress to ARA 105/105, and then select from a variety of 300-level courses. The most advanced level of Arabic, ARA 403-404 requires the instructor’s permission in order for students to enroll.
-
ARA 101-102 | Elementary Arabic I & II | Fall, Spring
-
Students in this course are trained to speak, understand, read and write Modern Standard Arabic, the form of Arabic shared by all Arab countries. Classroom time is devoted to conversation (skits and discussions) and grammar exercises (including skim-reading tasks) stemming from audio-visual materials. Emphasis is placed on authentic materials that derive from the living cultural context. Both semesters must be completed in order for students to receive credit.
-
ARA 105-107 | Intermediate Arabic I & II | Fall, Spring
-
Building upon the skills gained in Elementary Arabic, students in this course will receive additional speaking and listening practice and attain greater reading and writing proficiency through the study of more elaborate grammar structures and the reading of more sophisticated texts. Discussions are held in the Arabic language to enhance the students' speaking ability. Prerequisite: ARA 102 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 301-302 | Advanced Arabic I & II | Fall, Spring
-
Development of speaking, listening, reading and writing at the upper-intermediate to advanced levels of proficiency. Course is taught primarily in Arabic. Prerequisite: ARA 107 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 303 | Media Arabic I | Fall, most years
-
Students will improve their skills in reading and listening to Arabic news media, including newspapers, magazines, websites, and radio and satellite TV broadcasts (including the BBC and al-Jazeera, among others). Attention will also be given to informal discussion of these subjects. Study will be arranged by subject matter. Prerequisite: ARA 107 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 305 | Levantine Colloquial Arabic | Spring, alternate years
-
This course offers an introduction to spoken Levantine dialect. Materials in the course are designed to promote functional usage of the language, stressing the vocabulary and grammar of conversation as used in daily life, and will explore the varieties of language used in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Prerequisite: ARA 107 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 307 | Egyptian Colloquial Arabic I | Fall, Spring alternate years
-
These courses provide an introduction to the spoken dialects of Egypt, particularly of Cairo. Students in these courses are assumed to have a functional, working knowledge of classical Arabic, and the course will focus on developing the ability to use conversational language in common, everyday situations. Prerequisite: ARA 107 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 308 (LA) | Theory and Practice of Arabic to English Translation Spring, alternate years
-
This course trains students in the practice of translating Arabic texts from a wide variety of genres into English. Attention will be given to both theoretical and practical problems of translation for research and professional ends. Prerequisite: ARA 107 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 309 (LA) | Advanced Arabic Reading: The Short Story | Spring, alternate years
-
This course will use the genre of the Arabic short story to help students expand their reading and, to a lesser extent, their speaking skills in Modern Standard Arabic. In addition, students will learn about the development of the Arabic short story through reading representative examples of the genre from a variety of periods and authors.. Prerequisite: ARA 107 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 313 | Arabic Skills for Every Day Living | Spring, most years
-
This course is based on thematic instruction featuring audio-visual materials of native speakers discussing their daily lives. Emphasis is on improving fluency in reading and speaking skills used in everyday contexts. Prerequisite: ARA 107 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 314 | Readings in Arabic Drama | Spring, alternate years
-
The course will focus on a selection of short plays in Modern Standard Arabic with a view to strengthening language skills as well as providing a sense of the cultural and political impact of the theater over the past century. Prerequisite: ARA 107 or the equivalent.
-
ARA 403-404 | Topics in Arabic Language and Culture | Fall, Spring
-
This course enables advanced students of written Arabic to explore various topics in depth, as selected by the instructor. Prerequisite: ARA 301 or the equivalent. Admission to the course is by permission only.
Contact
If you have any questions about the Arabic Language Program at Princeton, please write to either:
- Director of the Program, Dr. Nancy Coffin
- Associate Director, Dr. Greg Bell.
Language Table
Arabic Placement Test FAQ
Students seeking advanced placement in Arabic should follow the procedures for online language placement testing on Canvas https://princeton.instructure.com/enroll/YFBX8W.
-
Who should take the placement test?
-
If you have prior experience with written Arabic, you should take the test. If you grew up speaking Arabic, but cannot read or write it, you probably do not need to take the test and can simply enroll in ARA 101. Also, if you grew up learning to read the Qur’an for religious reasons, but cannot understand it, and cannot write Arabic, you probably need to start with ARA 101. Knowing how to write the alphabet is not sufficient to place out of ARA 101, because we do a great deal more than simply learn the alphabet in the first semester of class!
-
What do I have to do to take the test?
-
-
Make sure that you have internet access and that your computer can display and type in Arabic letters.
-
Students seeking advanced placement in Arabic should follow the procedures for online language placement testing on Canvas https://princeton.instructure.com/enroll/YFBX8W.
-
-
How long does the test take?
-
That depends on your level of proficiency. The more Arabic you know, the longer it will take you to finish the test. Most of our students finish in two hours or less.
-
Is there a fee for the placement test?
-
No.
-
How can I prepare for the placement test?
-
First of all, make sure that your computer is set up to type in Arabic. If you need instructions on how to do this, you can find them here for Windows 10 and here for the Mac. If you have never typed in Arabic before, you should practice a bit before the test, but there is plenty of time for you to “hunt-and-peck” during the test. You will not be asked to do extensive typing unless you are somewhat advanced in your knowledge. As for studying for the test, you might want to review the grammar and vocabulary sections of the al-Kitaab books, but really, this is a placement test. It is designed to see where you are, without having to study extensively before taking it.
-
Does Princeton’s Honor Code apply to the placement test?
-
Yes. You should finish the test independently, and you may NOT receive help from anyone during the test. You may NOT consult a dictionary or grammar reference book. Failure to follow these rules may result in inaccurate placement and is likely to cause you to have to be moved to a more appropriate class after the start of classes.
-
How do I get the results of the placement test?
-
You will be informed by email before the start of the fall semester, if you take the exam between June 15 and August 24.
-
Will the result of the test apply to university grade or credit record?
-
No, this test is simply used for placement purposes.