BERGAMO
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
1) Official teaching goals (held by the lecturer in charge of the course)
The course aims at consolidating and broadening linguistic skills through the study of the complex sentence by means of a contrastive and translation-oriented method. Students will acquire the theoretical and practical tools to deal with the reading, analysis and comprehension of texts of medium difficulty, trying their hand at translating from Modern Standard Arabic into Italian. By means of selected texts, the course also aims at raising students' awareness, providing them with sociolinguistic and cultural knowledge, of certain subjects related to the sustainable development programme lines promoted by the United Nations.
2) Instrumental goals (Language Learning Activities - AAL)
By the end of the course, students will have further developed and improved their oral and written skills in the standard language, as well as in translation from Italian into Arabic. They will also be introduced to the Tunisian dialect by means of some basics for oral comprehension and expression. For this purpose, it is essential, although not formally compulsory, to attend the designated Language Learning Activities (AAL).
Course Prerequisites
Knowledge of the grammatical topics and vocabulary developed in the course of Arabic Language I - Linguistics and Translation.
Passing the exam of Arabic Language I - Linguistics and Translation is a prerequisite for taking the exam of Arabic Language II - Linguistics and Translation.
Teaching Methods
1) Official teaching (held by the lecturer in charge of the course)
The teaching methods of the official teaching include frontal lectures in Italian, empirical activities and group discussions in class, homework, use of the Moodle platform for e-learning.
2) Language Learning Activities (AAL)
The description of the teaching methods relating to the Language Learning Activities (AAL) can be found in the section "Language Centre of the University (CLA)" of the UniBg website, by selecting Arabic (https://www.unibg.it/studiare/frequentare/apprendimento-linguistico/arabo).
Interaction and active collaboration between teacher and pupil and between pupils are considered relevant factors in the learning process, both for the official teaching (Arabic Language II - Linguistics and Translation) and for the Language Learning Activities (AAL 2 Written Skills, AAL 2 Oral Skills and AAL 2 Tunisian dialect).
Assessment Methods
The examination consists of two parts.
1. Written test - Grammar and translation: its purpose is to assess the candidate's grammatical knowledge and translation skills. It consists of some exercises on morphology and syntax, a translation from Arabic into Italian and from Italian into Arabic, and the production of a short text in Arabic. The exercises and texts are based on the vocabulary of the lessons and readings assigned during the official teaching and the AAL 2 Written Skills.
2. Oral test - Language theory and practice: this is an interview to assess the candidate's theoretical and practical linguistic knowledge. Students must prove that they know and can present the grammatical topics developed in the official teaching, as well as they can read, translate and analyse partially vocalised Arabic texts (contents of the official teaching) and can speak correctly in standard Arabic and Tunisian dialect on topics taken from the adopted manuals (contents of AAL 2 Oral skills and AAL 2 Tunisian dialect).
The written test is preparatory to the oral test. The validity of the written test is 18 months from the date in which it is passed. The final mark is calculated by averaging the assessments of the written and oral test.
Assessments are given in thirtieths according to the following brackets:
Excellent (30 cum laude) - Fully acquired knowledge and skills, which are applied with precision, effectiveness and autonomy. No errors.
Very good (30-27) - Very sound knowledge and skills, which are applied correctly and with confidence. Minor and non-recurring errors.
Good (26-24) - Adequate knowledge and skills with some uncertainty or imprecision. Errors present but not serious or systematic.
Sufficient (23-18) - Acquired basic knowledge and skills, which are partially applied or with evident errors. Sufficient general understanding.
Insufficient (less than 18) - Insufficient knowledge and skills not adequately developed. Numerous errors impairing the success of the task.
Students are informed of their result in the written test by means of a notice published in the Moodle course of Arabic Language II - Linguistics and Translation and may accept or reject the mark and re-sit the written test. The final grade, including all the assessments, is published on Esse3 in the ‘record with publication’ mode, which allows the student to accept or reject the grade and then re-sit the oral test.
Contents
1) Official teaching contents (held by the lecturer in charge of the course)
The teaching provides for the development of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the following grammar topics:
1. verbs syntactically analogous to the verb "kàna"; 2. “inna” and similar particles; 3. incoative and proximity verbs; 4. Functions of the accusative: direct object, time / place adverbial accusative, concomitant state, cause, specification, exception, absolute accusative and dependent on the species negation); 5. circumstantial clauses; 6. morphology and syntax of relative pronouns; 7. morphology and syntax of the elative (comparative and superlative); 8. morphology and syntax of demonstrative pronouns; 9. verbal morphology: verbs with anomalous conjugation; 10. the passive / non-agentive diathesis (maǧhùl): conjugation and use; 11. numerals.
2) Instrumntal contents (Language Learning Activities - AAL)
The contents related to the Language Learning Activities (oral skills, written skills and Tunisian dialect) can be viewed in the section "Language Centre of the University (CLA)" of the UniBg website, by selecting Arabic (https://www.unibg.it/studiare/frequentare/apprendimento-linguistico/arabo).
Online Resources
More information
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the lessons of the official teaching and in the Language Learning Activities (AAL 2 Written Skills, AAL 2 Oral Skills, AAL 2 Tunisian Dialect), the contents of which are included in the examination tests. Within the Language Learning Activities, students will engage in readings, dictations, translations from Italian into Arabic, written expression exercises and short conversations in standard Arabic and Tunisian dialect. Under the guidance of native speaking teachers, students will work, during highly participative activities, on oral and written texts relating to aspects of everyday life and the cultural expressions of Arab countries. They can join also guided study groups (Arabic language tutoring) organised at the CLA (Centro Linguistico d'Ateneo).
The exam programme is identical for attending and non-attending students. For registration on the Moodle e-learning platforms - MANDATORY in order to sit the exams - it is necessary to ask the lecturers for the access key.