Arabic

Introduction to Colloquial and Standard Arabic

This course takes an integrating approach in teaching Arabic, combining both Modern Standard Arabic (hereafter MSA) and colloquial (Palestinian) Arabic (hereafter PA) in order to reflect the use of the language by native speakers. The goal of this course is to introduce students with the basic foundations of both speaking a dialect and reading in MSA.

Students will be provided with the following skills:

1. Basic grammar and vocabulary of both MSA and PA. Focus will be on the shared aspects of these two varieties of Arabic, as well as the differences between them. The first lessons will be dedicated to learning the Arabic alphabet while introducing basic vocabulary and structures.
2. Understanding and actively participating in basic conversations
3. Reading and translating basic texts

The course would serve as a basis for further courses. Emphasis is on communication and on developing proficiency in the language by using it in meaningful contexts: greetings, education, home and family, work, politics and culture.

Students who would like to participate in Advanced Arabic must receive prior permission from the professor. Please contact the U.S. office at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  to make arrangements.

Advanced Arabic

Tel Aviv University’s School for Overseas Students offers a six week intensive literary Arabic course. Students who are not participating in the graduate program in Middle Eastern History may also enroll in this intensive course in the summer with permission of the department.

The course requires a prerequisite year of Arabic. Tel Aviv University’s intensive course deals with conjugations of Forms 1-10 of the incomplete verbs and noun (hollowed, doubled, etc.) and translation of simple texts in Classical Arabic.

The book used in the course is: Elementary Modern Standard Arabic, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York, Port Chester.

Note that students entering the course have completed Part 1 of this book.

Combined Intensive Language

Students may choose to combine the basic Arabic course with the Track 2 Hebrew language course for a total of 6 credits.