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San Francisco Arabic Course Descriptions

Standard Arabic: Intensive | For Complete Beginners | First Year Study | Intermediate | Advanced |
Other: Arabic Dialects | Other Languages | Culture and History

Intensive Arabic

Summer Intensive Arabic: Beginner
This eight-week course covers all the material of our Arabic 1-6 courses. The material covered in this program is equivalent to a year of academic study at a typical university's Arabic program. Class meets 3 1/2 hours per day, Monday through Friday. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: None

Summer Intensive Arabic: Beginner (Part A)
The first four weeks of our Summer Intensive: Beginner class. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: None

Summer Intensive Arabic: Beginner (Part B)
The last four weeks of our Summer Intensive: Beginner class. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: Arabic 3 at PAR or one semester of Arabic study at another institution.

Summer Intensive Arabic: Intermediate
This eight-week course covers all the material of our intermediate (second year) Standard Arabic program. The material covered in this program is equivalent to a year of academic study at a typical university's Arabic program. Class meets 3 1/2 hours per day, Monday through Friday. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: Arabic 6 at PAR or one year of Arabic study at another institution.

Summer Intensive Arabic: Intermediate (Part A)
The first four weeks of our Summer Intensive: Beginner class. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: Arabic 6 at PAR or one year of Arabic study at another institution.

Summer Intensive Arabic: Intermediate (Part B)
The last four weeks of our Summer Intensive: Intermediate class. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: Intermediate Arabic 5 at PAR or three semesters of Arabic study at another institution.

Summer Intensive Hebrew: Beginner
This eight-week course covers all the material of our Hebrew 1-6 courses. The material covered in this program is equivalent to a year of academic study at a typical university's Arabic program. Class meets 3 1/2 hours per day, Monday through Friday. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: None

Summer Intensive Hebrew: Beginner (Part A)
The first four weeks of our Summer Intensive: Beginner class. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: None

Summer Intensive Hebrew: Beginner (Part B)
The last four weeks of our Summer Intensive: Beginner class. You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: Hebrew 3 at PAR or one semester of Arabic study at another institution.

Winter Intensive: Beginner
This four-week course covers all the material of our Arabic 1-3 courses and is equivalent to Summer Intensive: Beginner (Part A). You'll find details about this program here.
Prerequisites: None

For Complete Beginners

Arabic 1  (8 weeks)

This course is for Students will learn Texts: (not included in tuition)
Arabic 1: Fast Track
Our Arabic 1 class taught intensively (the full 8-week Arabic 1 curriculum being presented in 4 weeks with more frequent class meetings).
Prerequisites: None

Arabic 1: Express
Our full Arabic 1 curriculum covered in two weeks. (Class meets four times per week).
Prerequisites: None

Arabic for Travelers
Travelers to the Arab world who have some Arabic language skills will have a greatly enhanced experience, and gain a deeper understanding of the host culture. This class will prepare travelers to communicate their needs when traveling in the Arab world, and to connect with the community.
Prerequisites: None

First Year Arabic

Arabic 1B  (4 weeks)
Elementary reading and writing form the core of this four-week proficiency workshop. Graduates of Arabic 1 and students in Arabic 2 alike will develop the basic reading and writing skills necessary to advance through our first-year curriculum. All materials are provided; weekly homework assignments augment the drills and exercises done in class.
Prerequisites: Arabic 1

Arabic Reading / Writing Workshop  (4 weeks)
Reading and writing form the core of this four-week proficiency workshop. Students in Arabic 3 and above develop the skills necessary to move forward in our program. All materials are provided; weekly homework assignments augment the drills and exercises done in class.
Prerequisites: Arabic 3 or one semester of Arabic at another institution

Arabic 2  (8 weeks)

This course is for Students will learn Texts: (not included in tuition)
Arabic 3  (8 weeks)

This course is for Students will learn Texts: (not included in tuition)
Arabic 3 Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Arabic through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Arabic in a structured, social environment. Guided discussions bring MSA grammar and vocabulary to life, while impromptu drills reinforce verb conjugations and sentence structure. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Standard Arabic classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in Arabic 3, or equivalent experience.

Arabic 4  (8 weeks)

This course is for Students will learn Texts: (not included in tuition)
Arabic 4 Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Arabic through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Arabic in a structured, social environment. Guided discussions bring MSA grammar and vocabulary to life, while impromptu drills reinforce verb conjugations and sentence structure. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Standard Arabic classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in Arabic 4, or equivalent experience.

Arabic 5  (8 weeks)

This course is for Students will learn Texts: (not included in tuition)
Arabic 5 Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Arabic through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Arabic in a structured, social environment. Guided discussions bring MSA grammar and vocabulary to life, while impromptu drills reinforce verb conjugations and sentence structure. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Standard Arabic classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in Arabic 5, or equivalent experience.

Arabic 6  (8 weeks)

This course is for Students will learn Texts: (not included in tuition)
Arabic 6 Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Arabic through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Arabic in a structured, social environment. Guided discussions bring MSA grammar and vocabulary to life, while impromptu drills reinforce verb conjugations and sentence structure. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Standard Arabic classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in Arabic 5, or equivalent experience.

Pronunciation Workshop
This workshop presents aspects of Arabic phonology that can be troublesome for the Anglophone student. Students work with native speakers to perfect their pronunciation of Arabic and are given audio CDs and homework assignments to work on at home. Students at all levels of Arabic can benefit from this course.
Prerequisites: Arabic 1 or equivalent

Intermediate Arabic

Intermediate Arabic 1  (8 weeks)
This course is designed to develop speaking and listening skills while providing an extensive treatment of Arabic verbs.

Intermediate Arabic 2  (8 weeks)
A comprehensive review of first-year Arabic grammar.

Intermediate Arabic 3  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 1

Intermediate Arabic 4  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 2

Intermediate Arabic 5  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 3

Intermediate Arabic 6  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 4

Arabic Drama: Scene-writing Workshop  (8 weeks)
This class draws students away from the textbook and into a collaborative learning community. Students will write, edit and act out an original one-act play as a group project. Everything from writing to accent and diction is stressed in this four-week workshop which culminates in the video recording of the scene. All intermediate- and advanced-level Arabic students will benefit from this unique opportunity to internalize the material studied to date.

Intermediate Arabic Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Arabic through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Arabic in a structured, social environment. Guided discussions bring MSA grammar and vocabulary to life, while impromptu drills reinforce verb conjugations and sentence structure. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Standard Arabic classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in an intermediate-level Arabic class at PAR, or equivalent experience.

Intermediate Arabic Composition  (8 weeks)
This class challenges students to express themselves in writing on increasingly sophisticated topics. Through weekly writing assignments students' understanding of grammar and breadth of vocabulary are greatly enhanced. Proper Arabic style and increasingly-nuanced prose are emphasized in this course.
Prerequisites: Arabic 6 or equivalent

Advanced Arabic

Advanced Arabic 1  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 5

Advanced Arabic 2  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 6

Advanced Arabic 3  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 7

Advanced Arabic 4  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 8

Advanced Arabic 5  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 9

Advanced Arabic 6  (8 weeks)
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya with DVDs: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two, Second Edition (Part 2) Unit 10

Advanced Arabic Readings  (8 weeks)
Students completing Advanced Arabic 6 or the equivalent are welcome to join this group of high-level students studying advanced texts.

Dialects

Egyptian 1
Covers the basic phonetics, grammar, and vocabulary of every-day Egyptian dialect, as which is widely understood outside of Egypt thanks to the prevalence of Egyptian movies and music. Handouts are given each week in class, and the instructor leads spoken exercises and drills.
Prerequisites: Arabic 1 or equivalent

Egyptian 2
Continuation of Egyptian 1.
Prerequisites: Egyptian 1 or equivalent

Egyptian 3
Continuation of Egyptian 2.
Prerequisites: Egyptian 2 or equivalent

Egyptian 4
Continuation of Egyptian 3.
Prerequisites: Egyptian 3 or equivalent

Egyptian 5
Continuation of Egyptian 4.
Prerequisites: Egyptian 4 or equivalent

Egyptian 6
Continuation of Egyptian 5.
Prerequisites: Egyptian 5 or equivalent

Egyptian Conversation
This class engages students in lively discussions and verbal drills. Heritage speakers and intermediate-level students of the dialect will have the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary, discuss increasingly sophisticated topics and develop their confidence, fluency and ability to express themselves with nuanced speech. Taught entirely in Egyptian Arabic.
Prerequisites: Intermediate-level grasp of Egyptian Arabic

Levantine 1
Presents the spoken Arabic of Lebanon, understandable throughout the Levant, including Syria, the Palestinian territories, and parts of Jordan. Our highly practical text guides you through the journey of Rima, an American in Beirut, as she eats, shops at the market, takes a bus, and more. Class time is spent primarily on drills and conversation. Tuition includes textbook and audio CD.
Prerequisites: Arabic 1 or equivalent

Levantine 2
A continuation of Levantine 1, the textbook for this class consists of units 6-10, in which we follow Rima from Beirut to Palmyra and back, practicing dialogues centered around family and social events and learning more vocabulary for food, transportation, dates and times, and other practical day-to-day subjects. Tuition includes textbook and audio CD.
Prerequisites: Levantine 1 or equivalent

Levantine 3
Continuation of Levantine 2.
Prerequisites: Levantine 2 or equivalent

Levantine 4
Continuation of Levantine 3.
Prerequisites: Levantine 3 or equivalent

Levantine Conversation
This class engages students in lively discussions and verbal drills. Heritage speakers and intermediate-level students of the dialect will have the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary, discuss increasingly sophisticated topics and develop their confidence, fluency and ability to express themselves with nuanced speech. Taught entirely in Levantine Arabic.
Prerequisites: Intermediate-level grasp of Levantine Arabic

Tunisian 1
Presents Darja, the spoken Arabic of Tunisia. Our text follows the adventures of Rashida, an American newly arrived in Tunis, in her daily adventures eating, shopping, and going from place to place. Class time will focus on verbal drills and conversational exercises. Tuition includes textbook and audio CD.
Prerequisites: Arabic 1 or equivalent

Tunisian 2
A continuation of Tunisian 1, the textbook for this class consists of units 6-10. In these episodes we follow Rashida on vacation and learn more practical every-day vocabulary. Tuition includes textbook and audio CD.
Prerequisites: Tunisian 1 or equivalent

Moroccan 1
Teaches Darija, the spoken Arabic of Morocco, through in-class exercises and excellent accompanying materials. The text is structured around real every-day stories told by real people, Said and Fatima. Their voices, recorded in Morocco, are featured on the CD. Tuition includes textbook and audio CD.
Prerequisites: Arabic 1 or equivalent

Moroccan 2
An intensive continuation of Moroccan 1. In book 2, consisting of lessons 8-15, we hear more from Said and Fatima about their routines, their values, and special occasions. Tuition includes text and audio CD. Class meets twice per week to provide ample conversational practice.
Prerequisites: Moroccan 1 or equivalent

Gulf 1
An introduction to the dialect of Arabic spoken throughout the Gulf states-Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the U.A.E., Oman, and Yemen.
Prerequisites: Arabic 1 or equivalent

Iraqi 1
An introduction to the Iraqi dialect of Arabic, similar to that of the Gulf states but not always inter-intelligible.
Prerequisites: Arabic 1 or equivalent

Other Languages

Amharic 1a
This four-week class presents limited vocabulary and grammar and focuses on the writing system. Preceding Amharic 1 in our curriculum, it prepares students to make the most of Amharic 1 and proceed confidently through the material.
Prerequisites: None

Amharic 1
Our introductory Amharic course covers the basics of Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. Students learn the writing system, basic vocabulary and grammar. Dialog work and conversation practice feature prominently in the curriculum. Students must purchase textbook separately.
Prerequisites: None

Amharic 2
Continuation of Amharic 1.
Prerequisites: Amharic 1 or equivalent


Tigrinya 1
This introductory course covers the basics of Tigrinya, spoken in Ethiopia and Eritrea (where it has official status). Students learn the writing system, basic vocabulary and grammar. Dialog work and conversation practice feature prominently in the curriculum. Students must purchase textbook separately.
Prerequisites: None

Modern Greek 1  (8 weeks)

This course is for Students will learn Texts: (not included in tuition)
Greek Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Greek through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Greek in a structured, friendly environment. Guided discussions bring grammar and vocabulary to life. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Greek classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in an intermediate-level Greek class, or equivalent experience.

Hebrew for Travelers
Travelers to Israel who have some Hebrew language skills will have a greatly enhanced experience, and gain a deeper understanding of the host culture. This class will prepare travelers to communicate their needs when traveling in Israel, and to connect with the community.
Prerequisites: None

Hebrew 1  (8 weeks)
This course is the starting-off point for students interested in pursuing our Modern Hebrew and Biblical Hebrew curricula.
This course is for Students will learn Text: (not included in tuition)
Hebrew 2  (8 weeks)
This course is for Students will learn Text: (not included in tuition)
Hebrew 3  (8 weeks)
This course is for Students will learn Text: (not included in tuition)
Hebrew 4  (8 weeks)
This course is for Students will learn Text: (not included in tuition)
Hebrew 5  (8 weeks)
This course is for Students will learn Text: (not included in tuition)
Hebrew 6  (8 weeks)
This course is for Students will learn Text: (not included in tuition)
Intermediate Hebrew Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Hebrew through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Hebrew in a structured, friendly environment. Guided discussions bring grammar and vocabulary to life. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Hebrew classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in an intermediate-level Hebrew class, or equivalent experience.

Farsi 1  (8 weeks)
This course is for Students will learn
Farsi 1: Fast Track
Our Farsi 1 class taught intensively (the full 8-week Farsi 1 curriculum presented in four weeks, with two meetings per week).
Prerequisites: None

Farsi Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Farsi through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Farsi in a structured, social environment. Guided discussions bring Farsi grammar and vocabulary to life. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Farsi classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in an intermediate-level Farsi class at PAR, or equivalent experience.

Urdu 1  (8 weeks)

This course is for Students will learn Texts: (not included in tuition)
Urdu 1: Fast Track
Our Urdu 1 class taught intensively (the full 8-week Urdu 1 curriculum presented in four weeks, with two meetings per week).
Prerequisites: None

Urdu Conversation  (4 or 8 weeks)
This conversation class lets students break free from the written page and immerse themselves in Urdu through lively interaction. Reading, writing and English are not allowed; the goal is to gain confidence communicating entirely in Urdu in a structured, social environment. Guided discussions bring Urdu grammar and vocabulary to life. This is a perfect companion course to our regular Urdu classes.
Prerequisites: Previously or currently enrolled in an intermediate-level Urdu class at PAR, or equivalent experience.

Culture and History

Early Arab History (through 1248)
This course, taught in English, covers the history of the Arabs from the Nabateans through the Abbasids. Intended to present a historical and cultural overview to students of Arabic, this course is also open to individuals not engaged in language study.
Prerequisites: None

Modern Arab History (1897-present)
This course, taught in English, covers the history of the Arabs from the end of the Ottoman empire through the current day. Arab nationalism and pan-Arabism are covered in depth. Intended to present a historical and cultural overview to students of Arabic, this course is also open to individuals not engaged in language study.
Prerequisites: None

The Arab Spring: Current Events in the Arab World
This course, taught in English, covers contemporary events and issues in the Arab world. Students learn about the uprisings that began on December 18, 2010. The course covers the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, the civil war in Libya and uprisings in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen. Intended as an overview for students of Arabic, this course is also open to individuals not engaged in language study.
Prerequisites: None

Arabic Calligraphy: The Riq'a Hand
Nearly all students of Arabic can benefit from this hands-on workshop in which the "real world" of Arabic handwriting is explored and developed. Students learn the Riq'a style of handwriting, common in the Middle East. The goal here is to develop a legible, native hand.
Prerequisites: Ability to read and write the Arabic alphabet

Arabic Calligraphy 2: Beyond Riq'a
Having learned to identify various calligraphic styles, students are challenged to push beyond Riq'a to produce calligraphic works of artistic merit.
Prerequisites: Arabic Calligraphy 1 or permission of school director.

Notes
** Students who have studied Al Kitaab (Georgetown University Press) through the indicated chapter will feel comfortable in this course. However, Al Kitaab does not present material in the same order as the text we use. Therefore, students new to PAR are encouraged to purchase the text early and review the topics presented in previous courses before their first class meeting. Feel free to contact us if you need help determining which class to take.