Courses

COURSES

Language courses are offered to promote linguistic balance within the Secretariat and improve the language capabilities of its staff, who work in a multicultural and multilingual environment. The purpose of these courses is to provide staff members with the opportunity to achieve proficiency in other official languages and develop greater respect for diversity.
Two types of Arabic language courses are offered in each thirteen-week term:

1- Regular:
Courses are organized for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels offered in nine levels 1-9. Classes meet 3 or 4 hours per week (1 hour each session). Levels 1, 2, and 3 meet four hours per week, 4-9 meet three hours. Conversation classes are open to students 4-9 (1or 2 hours per week).
End-of-term examinations are given in the thirteenth week of the term.

2- Special:
Courses in specific areas, such as listening, reading, pronunciation, Proficiency preparation, and cultural and linguistic diversity, are also offered. Courses normally meet for 1-hour periods before work, at lunch time, or after work. 2 hours courses meet in the evening or twice a week in the afternoon. Special language courses enable staff to focus on improving their abilities in specific skill areas. They enhance, expand and reinforce language skills participants have acquired so that staff members continue to maintain and develop their linguistic abilities in the official languages. Not all courses are offered each trimester.

Reading Arabic Newspapers
Participants read authentic material from Arabic newspapers, including current international and national issues. Participants discuss the main ideas of the texts and assess facts versus opinions with a view to understanding the writers intentions.
Duration. 2 hours per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Level 7 and above

Advanced Readings in Arabic
Participants familiarize themselves with well-known Arabic writers and different writing styles. The passages chosen help participants to develop their reading comprehension and their knowledge of the Arab culture.
Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Level 9 and above

Media-assisted Arabic Course I
Participants practise reading newspapers, articles, and excerpts from books and listening to different Arabic TV and Radio news and programs to build their vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions, on topics that are current in the news.
Duration. 2 hours per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Level 6 and above

Media-assisted Arabic Course II
Participants continue building the skills they started in MEDIA I.
Duration. 2 hours per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Level 9 and above

Arabic Refresher Course
Participants will review the structures of Arabic grammar, reinforce their knowledge of the Arabic language and culture, and discuss the most common errors.
Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Level 9 and above

Arabic Culture through the Cinema
Participants will improve their skills in recognizing and understanding cultural cues, recognizing and differentiating between "Fusha" (standard Arabic) and "Ammia" (spoken Arabic), recognizing Arabic idiomatic expressions, and differentiating between linguistic registers in different situations.
Duration. 2 hours per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Level 7 and above

Arabic Listening Comprehension
Participants watch and listen to video and audio programmes that include interviews, meetings, songs, etc. The aim is to develop skills in listening as well as vocabulary and to familiarize participants with the different approaches used by the broadcasting services of the different Arab countries. This class also helps participants learn specific strategies for retaining information.
Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Advanced knowledge

Arabic Culture through Proverbs
Participants will improve their linguistics skills and understanding of the Arabic language, standard and colloquial, and Arab culture. The course will help them understand Arabic idioms, and differentiating between linguistic registers in different situations.

Proverbs will be analyzed linguistically,stylistically, and historically, to investigate the patterns of life, culture, politics, ethics, society, religion, history, ..etc. of the Arabs. The origins of these proverbs and their different interpretations will be discussed, some Arabic proverbs which have parallels in western tradition will be included.
Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Level 9 and above

Arabic Through Reading UN Documents
This course is designed to read Arabic excerpts of the United Nations documents such as: Charter, daily briefings, statements, United Nations reports, including reports of the Secretary General etc.
By reading these documents that deal with peace and security, human rights, economic and social development, international law and the different affairs of the UN, participants develop their reading fluency, vocabulary and overall proficiency needed to perform their duties at the UN.
In addition, participants will have the opportunity to improve their oral and writing skills.
Duration. One two-hour classes per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisites. An advanced knowledge of Arabic, and the approval of the coordinator.

Professional Writing And Editing

This course is designed to help students of advanced levels to improve their writing and editing skills. Students are required to write short reports, official letters, comments and evaluations. They will also work on editing some authentic texts chosen sepcially to train them for editing. The course specifically assists staff members who work in UN radio and TV, verbatim and translation services.
Duration. One one-hour classes per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisites. An advanced knowledge of Arabic, and the approval of the coordinator.

Reading Comprehension
Students will read Arabic authentic material of different fields. The aim is to teach them techniques for reading speeches, interviews, meetings, short stories ..etc while focusing on the most important points and information. Some of the material covered will be of the same topics covered in the Listening Comprehension course to promote and enhance the use of the vocabulary and the different structures in the language. This also teaches them the different styles of presenting a topic through listening and reading.
In class, students will improve their reading skills and learn the different techniques of reading and sorting the needed information and analyse them. They will learn new reading strategies that they can use in discussion, rephrasing and paraphrasing as well.
Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks
Prerequisite. Level 9 and above

books Arabic Language Program
Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi
Georgetown University Press

books

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL:
MSA Books:
- Ahlan wa Sahlan
Ahlan wa Sahlan , Computer-Assisted Learning for Arabic
Mahdi Alosh
Ohio State University
- Al-Kitab Al-Assassi, Parts I & II
- Modern Arabic, Parts I & II
Samar Attar

Media:
- Al- Qaari ' AD- Dawli Arabic International Reader CD-Rom
Gerald Lampe & Samia Montasser
Johns Hopkins University , School of Advanced International
CD-Rom/Book Combo: ISBN 0-7872-6506-3
CD-Rom only: ISBN 0-7872-6505-5
Book only: ISBN 0-7872-5281-6
- Arabiyyat Wasaail Al-i9laam Vol. I & II
Nariman Al-Warraki & Abbas Al-Tonsi
American University, Cairo
w/audio tapes

Miscellaneous:
- A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Hans Wehr
- The Connectors in Modern Standard Arabic
Nariman Al-Warraki & Ahmed Taher Hassanein
American University, Cairo
- Al-kitaaba wa Al-usluub
American University, Cairo


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COURSES Language courses are offered to promote linguistic balance within the Secretariat and improve the language capabilities of its staff, who work in a multicultural and multilingual environment. The purpose of these courses is to provide staff members with the opportunity to achieve proficiency in other official languages and develop greater respect for diversity. Two types of Arabic language courses are offered in each thirteen-week term: 1- Regular: Courses are organized for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels offered in nine levels 1-9. Classes meet 3 or 4 hours per week (1 hour each session). Levels 1, 2, and 3 meet four hours per week, 4-9 meet three hours. Conversation classes are open to students 4-9 (1or 2 hours per week). End-of-term examinations are given in the thirteenth week of the term. 2- Special: Courses in specific areas, such as listening, reading, pronunciation, Proficiency preparation, and cultural and linguistic diversity, are also offered. Courses normally meet for 1-hour periods before work, at lunch time, or after work. 2 hours courses meet in the evening or twice a week in the afternoon. Special language courses enable staff to focus on improving their abilities in specific skill areas. They enhance, expand and reinforce language skills participants have acquired so that staff members continue to maintain and develop their linguistic abilities in the official languages. Not all courses are offered each trimester. Reading Arabic Newspapers Participants read authentic material from Arabic newspapers, including current international and national issues. Participants discuss the main ideas of the texts and assess facts versus opinions with a view to understanding the writers intentions. Duration. 2 hours per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Level 7 and above Advanced Readings in Arabic Participants familiarize themselves with well-known Arabic writers and different writing styles. The passages chosen help participants to develop their reading comprehension and their knowledge of the Arab culture. Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Level 9 and above Media-assisted Arabic Course I Participants practise reading newspapers, articles, and excerpts from books and listening to different Arabic TV and Radio news and programs to build their vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions, on topics that are current in the news. Duration. 2 hours per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Level 6 and above Media-assisted Arabic Course II Participants continue building the skills they started in MEDIA I. Duration. 2 hours per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Level 9 and above Arabic Refresher Course Participants will review the structures of Arabic grammar, reinforce their knowledge of the Arabic language and culture, and discuss the most common errors. Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Level 9 and above Arabic Culture through the Cinema Participants will improve their skills in recognizing and understanding cultural cues, recognizing and differentiating between "Fusha" (standard Arabic) and "Ammia" (spoken Arabic), recognizing Arabic idiomatic expressions, and differentiating between linguistic registers in different situations. Duration. 2 hours per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Level 7 and above Arabic Listening Comprehension Participants watch and listen to video and audio programmes that include interviews, meetings, songs, etc. The aim is to develop skills in listening as well as vocabulary and to familiarize participants with the different approaches used by the broadcasting services of the different Arab countries. This class also helps participants learn specific strategies for retaining information. Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Advanced knowledge Arabic Culture through Proverbs Participants will improve their linguistics skills and understanding of the Arabic language, standard and colloquial, and Arab culture. The course will help them understand Arabic idioms, and differentiating between linguistic registers in different situations. Proverbs will be analyzed linguistically,stylistically, and historically, to investigate the patterns of life, culture, politics, ethics, society, religion, history, ..etc. of the Arabs. The origins of these proverbs and their different interpretations will be discussed, some Arabic proverbs which have parallels in western tradition will be included. Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Level 9 and above Arabic Through Reading UN Documents This course is designed to read Arabic excerpts of the United Nations documents such as: Charter, daily briefings, statements, United Nations reports, including reports of the Secretary General etc. By reading these documents that deal with peace and security, human rights, economic and social development, international law and the different affairs of the UN, participants develop their reading fluency, vocabulary and overall proficiency needed to perform their duties at the UN. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to improve their oral and writing skills. Duration. One two-hour classes per week for 12 weeks *Prerequisites. An advanced knowledge of Arabic, and the approval of the coordinator. Professional Writing And Editing This course is designed to help students of advanced levels to improve their writing and editing skills. Students are required to write short reports, official letters, comments and evaluations. They will also work on editing some authentic texts chosen sepcially to train them for editing. The course specifically assists staff members who work in UN radio and TV, verbatim and translation services. Duration. One one-hour classes per week for 12 weeks Prerequisites. An advanced knowledge of Arabic, and the approval of the coordinator. Reading Comprehension* Students will read Arabic authentic material of different fields. The aim is to teach them techniques for reading speeches, interviews, meetings, short stories ..etc while focusing on the most important points and information. Some of the material covered will be of the same topics covered in the Listening Comprehension course to promote and enhance the use of the vocabulary and the different structures in the language. This also teaches them the different styles of presenting a topic through listening and reading. In class, students will improve their reading skills and learn the different techniques of reading and sorting the needed information and analyse them. They will learn new reading strategies that they can use in discussion, rephrasing and paraphrasing as well. Duration. 1 hour per week for 12 weeks Prerequisite. Level 9 and above Arabic Language Program Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, and Abbas Al-Tonsi Georgetown University Press ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: MSA Books: - Ahlan wa Sahlan Ahlan wa Sahlan , Computer-Assisted Learning for Arabic Mahdi Alosh Ohio State University - Al-Kitab Al-Assassi, Parts I & II - Modern Arabic, Parts I & II Samar Attar Media: - Al- Qaari ' AD- Dawli Arabic International Reader CD-Rom Gerald Lampe & Samia Montasser Johns Hopkins University , School of Advanced International CD-Rom/Book Combo: ISBN 0-7872-6506-3 CD-Rom only: ISBN 0-7872-6505-5 Book only: ISBN 0-7872-5281-6 - Arabiyyat Wasaail Al-i9laam Vol. I & II Nariman Al-Warraki & Abbas Al-Tonsi American University, Cairo w/audio tapes Miscellaneous: - A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Hans Wehr - The Connectors in Modern Standard Arabic Nariman Al-Warraki & Ahmed Taher Hassanein American University, Cairo - Al-kitaaba wa Al-usluub American University, Cairo
©United Nations, 2006. Acknowledgements