Colloquial Arabic: Emirati Dialect and Culture

(4 Credits)

This is an introductory course in Emirati dialect and culture designed for students who have completed Intermediate Arabic I. In contrast with the MSA sequence, which focuses on traditional literacy, this course adheres to the communicative method and focuses on fluency in conversation, accuracy in pronunciation, and the stimulation of intercultural competence. Through extensive and intensive listening, at-home recording, and in-class role play and interaction, the course creates an immersive environment to help students develop the production skills necessary to function among Emirati speakers in a variety of settings. Students will have the opportunity to interact with guest lecturers from a variety of fields, to work with language partners, and to visit a number of cultural sites in the UAE.