Language
Language is the principal means through which humans communicate and a major vehicle in the development of thought, culture, and aesthetic expression. Studying language makes one aware of other conceptual and cultural worlds and able to reach more effectively into those worlds and bridge cultures. NYU Abu Dhabi language courses are structured to increase competency at every level in speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills. Every language course introduces cultural material that highlights the connectedness of language, culture, and thought.
Many of our students are multilingual; English is a second, if not a third language. All graduate from NYUAD with a mastery of English. Our program emphasizes sophistication not just in writing, but in all aspects of communication. We recognize the close connection between culture and language: the cultural background of students influences their style of expression and class participation, and we work with them to thrive in the interactive approach to learning at NYUAD. The foundation course is Analysis and Expression, which develops critical thinking in tandem with written and verbal expression. Students seeking further support, whether to refine their writing skills, enhance their verbal fluency, or improve their articulation and accent, will find it at the Academic Resource Center, where instructors are trained in English as a second language. Periodic language assessments monitor the progress of students to assure they are on track to reach the goal of advanced proficiency in English.
Students are strongly encouraged to study a language other than English while at NYUAD. Language study opens a window into other cultures and ways of conceiving the world. Students who choose to acquire a new language or to pursue advance study of a language with which they are already familiar are better poised to realize their potential as 21st-century global citizens.
Language Courses
Arabic
- Advanced Arabic 1
ARABL-AD 301
Sections
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
MTWR 1:10-2:35
Omima El Araby - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
Builds on the skills acquired at the Intermediate level of Arabic study, with emphasis on writing compositions and conducting research.
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
- Advanced Arabic 2
ARABL-AD 302
Sections
- Spring 2013; 14 Weeks
A continuing study of Arabic at the Advanced level, with emphasis on writing compositions and conducting research.
- Colloquial Arabic
ARABL-AD 219
Complements the students knowledge of Standard Arabic to include proficiency in one of the major Arabic vernaculars, with emphasis on daily life tasks, conversational fluency, and cultural sensibility.
- Elementary Arabic 1
ARABL-AD 101
Sections
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
MTWR 2:35-3:50
Muhamed Osman Al-Khalil - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 8:30-9:45 - Spring 2013; 14 Weeks
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 9:55-11:10 - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 1:10-2:25 - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 2:35-3:50 - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 4:00-5:15
Builds basic skills in modern standard Arabic. A continuing study of Arabic at the Elementary level. Five weekly hours of instruction and drill, stressing the proficiency approach, plus work in the language laboratory.
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
- Elementary Arabic 2
ARABL-AD 102
Sections
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 8:30-9:45
Khulood Kittaneh - Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 1:10-2:25 - Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 2:35-3:50 - Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 4:00-5:15 - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 8:30-9:45 - Spring 2013; 14 Weeks
A continuing study of Arabic at the Elementary level. Five weekly hours of instruction and drill, stressing the proficiency approach, plus work
in the language laboratory. - Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
- Intermediate Arabic 1
ARABL-AD 201
Sections
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
MTWR 8:30-9:45
Omima El Araby - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 9:55-11:10 - Spring 2013; 14 Weeks
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 2:35-3:50
A continuing study of Arabic at the Intermediate level, with increased emphasis on writing and reading from modern sources in addition to aural/oral proficiency.
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
- Intermediate Arabic 2
ARABL-AD 202
Sections
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 9:55-11:10
Khulood Kittaneh - Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 11:20-12:35
Khulood Kittaneh - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UMTW 1:10-2:25 - Spring 2013; 14 Weeks
A continuing study of Arabic at the Intermediate level, with increased emphasis on writing and reading from modern sources in addition to aural/oral proficiency.
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
- Introduction to Islamic Texts (in Arabic)
This course introduces students to the main stylistic features of classical Arabic. Students get a flavor of an older yet essential register of Arabic through the most important texts of the Islamic tradition. These texts constitute the very core of Islam to this day: the Qur’an and the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). The syllabus also includes samples from the Tafsir tradition (Qur’anic hermeneutics), Sufi/mystical literature (poetry and prose), philosophical novels, and pious tales from the popular sphere (the Arabian Nights tradition). The Qur’an provides a sustained focus for the course, with particular attention being paid to how it has influenced all categories of Arabo-Islamic literature: linguistically, stylistically, thematically and doctrinally.
- Advanced Arabic 1
Chinese
- Advanced Chinese 1
CHINL-AD 301
Sections
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
To be arranged
Xiao Xiao Jiao
This course is designed to further develop proficiency in speaking and writing through readings on and discussions of socio-cultural topics relevant to today’s China. The main focus is the improvement of reading comprehension and writing skills. The objectives are: to further improve oral communicative competence by incorporating semi-formal or formal usages; to acquire vocabulary and patterns necessary for conducting semi-formal or formal discussions of socio-cultural topics; to increase reading speed of texts with more advanced syntax; to learn to make context-based guesses about the meaning of a new word, conduct sentence analysis and solve textual problems with the aid of dictionaries; to write and present more fully developed narratives or reasoned and structured arguments in length; to learn to employ basic rhetoric methods; to learn to appreciate stylistic usage of Chinese language.
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
- Advanced Chinese 2
Continuation of Advanced Chinese I. Designed to reinforce and further develop students knowledge of formal usage of Chinese language.
- Advanced Chinese I
This course is designed to further develop proficiency in speaking and writing through readings on and discussions of socio-cultural topics relevant to today’s China. The main focus is the improvement of reading comprehension and writing skills. The objectives are: to further improve oral communicative competence by incorporating semi-formal or formal usages; to acquire vocabulary and patterns necessary for conducting semi-formal or formal discussions of socio-cultural topics; to increase reading speed of texts with more advanced syntax; to learn to make context-based guesses about the meaning of a new word, conduct sentence analysis and solve textual problems with the aid of dictionaries; to write and present more fully developed narratives or reasoned and structured arguments in length; to learn to employ basic rhetoric methods; to learn to appreciate stylistic usage of Chinese language.
- Elementary Chinese 1
CHINL-AD 101
Sections
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
MTWR 9:55-11:10
Xiao Xiao Jiao
Opened to students with little or no training in Chinese, this course is designed to develop and reinforce language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing as it relates to everyday life situations. The objectives are: to master the Chinese phonetic system (pinyin an tones) with satisfactory pronunciation; to understand the construction of commonly used Chinese Characters (both simplified and traditional) and learn to write them correctly; to understand and use correctly basic Chinese grammar and sentence structures; to build up essential vocabulary; to read and write level-appropriate passages; to become acquainted with aspects of Chinese culture and society related to the course materials.
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
- Elementary Chinese 2
CHINL-AD 102
Sections
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
MTWR 9:55-11:10
Xiao Xiao Jiao - Spring 2013; 14 Weeks
A continuation of Elementary Chinese I. The course is designed to reinforce and further develop language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing as it relates to everyday life situations.
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
- Intermediate Chinese 1
CHINL-AD 201
Sections
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
MTWR 8:30-9:45
Xiao Xiao Jiao
This course is designed to consolidate overall listening and speaking proficiency, with the focus gradually moving toward semi-formal usage of Chinese language in topic-oriented discussions. The objectives are: to be able to obtain information from extended conversation; to both express and expound on, in relative length, feelings and opinions on common topics; to expand vocabulary and learn to decipher meaning of compound words; to develop reading comprehension of extended narrative, expository, and simple argumentative passages; to solve non-complex textual problems with the aid of dictionaries; to write in relative length personal narratives, informational narratives, comparison and discussion of viewpoints with level appropriate vocabulary and grammatical accuracy, as well as basic syntactical cohesion; to continue being acquainted with aspects of Chinese culture and society related to the course materials.
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
- Intermediate Chinese 2
CHINL-AD 202
Sections
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
MTWR 8:30-9:45
Xiao Xiao Jiao - Spring 2013; 14 Weeks
A continuation of Intermediate Chinese I, focusing on semi-formal usage of Chinese language when discussing more academic-flavored cultural or social topics.
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
- Advanced Chinese 1
English
- Analysis and Epression: Contemporary Debates about Islam
WRIT-AD 111X
Sections
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
MW 1:10-2:25
Andrew Patrick - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
MW 4:00-5:15
Andrew Patrick
This course provides comprehensive instruction in the language and critical thinking skills essential for success in a liberal arts curriculum. Students engage with a variety of texts, learn how to analyze and express complex ideas in both written and spoken form, and complete assignments that range from shorter reviews and editorials to longer persuasive essays. Each assignment is the result of a progression of structured exercises with an emphasis on drafting and revision strategies. Students work collaboratively, offering constructive critique through class discussion, peer-group workshops, and one-on-one writing conferences. Those who place into Analysis and Expression must complete the course before enrolling in a Writing Intensive Core Curriculum course. This readings and writings in this section of Analysis & Expression will focus on debates about Islam. The course will satisfy the newly-developing Arab and Islamic Studies requirement.
- Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
- Analysis and Expression
WRIT-AD 110
Sections
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
UW 11:20-12:35
Jim Savio - Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
MR 9:55-11:10
Kevin Riordan - Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
MR 2:35-3:50
Andrew Patrick - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
TR 9:55-11:10
Heidi Stalla - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UW 11:20-12:35
Jim Savio - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
UW 2:35-3:50
Jim Savio - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
TR 11:20-12:35
Kevin Riordan - Fall 2012; 14 Weeks
TR 1:10-2:25
Kevin Riordan
This course provides comprehensive instruction in the language and critical thinking skills essential for success in a liberal arts curriculum. Students engage with a variety of texts, learn how to analyze and express complex ideas in both written and spoken form, and complete assignments that range from shorter reviews and editorials to longer persuasive essays. Each assignment is the result of a progression of structured exercises with an emphasis on drafting and revision strategies. Students work collaboratively, offering constructive critique through class discussion, peer-group workshops, and one-on-one writing conferences. Those who place into Analysis and Expression must complete the course before enrolling in a Writing Intensive Core Curriculum course.
- Spring 2012; 14 Weeks
- Analysis and Epression: Contemporary Debates about Islam
