THE ARABIC LANGUAGE The Arabic language is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world. Around 200,000,000 people speak it as their primary language in more than twenty two countries, from Morocco to Iraq, and as far south as Somalia and the Sudan. It is the language of Quran, the Holy book of Islam. The Arabic language originated in Saudi Arabia in pre-Islamic times, and spread rapidly across the Middle East. An adapted form of Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, is used in books, newspapers, on television and radio, in mosques, and in educated conversation. Written Arabic is distinctive in its script which is read from right to left, top to bottom: Arabic is written in the 28-character Arabic alphabet. In Arabic, a character may change depending on its placement in the word or sentence. Arabic letters are connected like script. Fine writing is called calligraphy and is held in high regard and appreciated as an art form in the Arabic culture.

The Arabic Language has been designated by the U.S. State Department as a critical language whose study is of strategic importance.

TTU began offering Arabic language courses in Fall 2002. In Fall 2003, under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. State Department's Strategic Languages Initiative administered through the International Educational Exchange, a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant was added to the Arabic instructional staff.

During the Fall 2003 semester course proposals will be submitted for an ARAB course prefix; first and second-year Arabic Language courses ARAB 1501, ARAB 1502, ARAB 2301, and ARAB 2302; an upper-level topics course ARAB 4300; and a formal minor in Arabic Language. Until these courses are approved, the are being taught under an umbrella CMLL prefix.

• Arab Language Courses can be used to satisfy TTU Foreign Language Requirements.
• These courses also can prepare you for exotic and exciting study-abroad opportunities.
     (see http://www.iaff.ttu.edu/Home/OIA/StudyAbroad/BBSABPrograms.asp)

INSTRUCTORS & FACULTY:

Ms. Ikram Toumi, Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant

Dr. Hafid Gafaiti, Qualia Professor of French, 268 Foreign Languages Building, 806-742-1561, hafid.gafaiti@ttu.edu

COURSES:

*Note: This course is listed as CMLL 1301 but will be changed to CMLL 1501 as soon as final approval is obtained. It is a 5 credit course.

†Note: For Fall 2003 only, students enrolled in this course must concurrently enroll in CMLL 1301, Section 006. Together these constitute a 6 hour course.

ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONDEGREE STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE LUBBOCK COMMUNITY: Persons possessing a bachelors degree or higher may take undergraduate language courses as a Nondegree Student. Admission is simple: Obtain an application at www.ttu.edu/gradschool, apply for admission as a Post Graduate (PRGD) Nondegree Student, pay the $50 application fee, and submit transcripts of all previous college level study. When admitted enroll in the appropriate language course. Once admitted you may register indefinitely in undergraduate TTU courses. For more information contact the CMLL Academic Program Advisor, Liz Hildebrand, liz.hildebrand@ttu.edu, 200 Foreign Languages Building, 806-742-4055.