Salina Williams

The Arab World The commonly used term “Arab World” refers to Arabicspeaking countries stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north, to the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean in the southeast. It consists of 24 countries and territories with a population of some 325 million people. The Arab World stretches across more than 12.9 million square kilometers (5 million square miles) - an area larger than Europe, Canada, China, the United States, or Brazil. The Asian part of the Arab world is called the Mashriq (sharq in Arabic means east). The North African part of the Arab World to the west of Egypt and Sudan is known as the Maghreb (gharb meaning west). The term “Arab” often connotes the Middle East, but a significant part of the Arab World is found in North Africa, including the two largest countries in Africa, Sudan, and Algeria. The largest country in the Arab Middle East is Saudi Arabia. Welcome to Arabic At Wichita State University Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Why Study Arabic? Arabic is the 5th most commonly spoken native language in the world and the official language of over 20 countries, there are more than 300 million people speaking this language. It is also an official language of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and the African Union. Arabic-speaking nations are a fast growing market for trade: studying Arabic is becoming an important asset to join the ranks of international businessmen and women. Learning Arabic could help fulfill the needs of students who are seeking to join the competitive world market. There’s is a big demand for employees speaking Arabic as a foreign language. Those who decide to study Arabic can easily find jobs in fields like journalism, business, industry, education, finance, translation, consulting, foreign service, intelligence, and many more. The Arab world has a rich cultural heritage; also, it has its own unique art, music, literature, cuisine, and way of life. By learning Arabic you will get in touch with Arabic culture, and get informed about the lives and thoughts of people, from the Middle East and elsewhere, speaking Arabic. Remember, learning Arabic will allow you to explore a new language with a different alphabet and pronunciation. Get ready to experience a new world with a unique language. Arabic Language Program At WSU ARAB 111 - Elementary Arabic I (5 credits): Develops the four fundamental skills in language learning (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in an appropriate cultural context. Requires daily classroom and language laboratory work. This course is intended for students with little or no prior knowledge of Arabic language, and no prerequisite is needed. ARAB 112 - Elementary Arabic II (5 credits): Further develops the four fundamental skills in language learning (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in an appropriate cultural context. Requires daily classroom and language laboratory work. Prerequisite: one unit of high school Arabic, ARAB 111, or departmental consent. ARAB 210 - Intermediate Arabic (5 credits): Continues to develop the four fundamental language skills: understanding, speaking, reading, and writing; emphasizes conversation and cultural readings. Prerequisite: two units of high school Arabic, ARAB 112, or departmental consent. For related course, see also: Anthropology, Political Science, Women Studies, and Religion. Please consult online schedule for current offerings in Arabic Language For more information, please contact: Sirana Jamkartanian-