Fall 2026 – Grammar Intensive I: Foundations of Arabic Structure

Course Information

This is a 3-credit course that carries the academic commitment, workload, and tuition associated with university-level study. Please review the course details and tuition information carefully before registering. If completed with a passing grade, the credits may be eligible towards a future degree or certificate program.

Course Description

This foundational course builds and strengthens students’ grasp of essential Modern Standard Arabic grammar from basic word ordering through to the construction and analysis of more complex sentences. Designed for returning learners and heritage speakers, the course emphasizes accuracy and fluency through structured drills, guided analysis, and practical application. Students work systematically with core grammatical elements, such as nominal and verbal sentences, pronouns, agreement, tense, negation, and key particles, building a solid command of Arabic structure. Through regular practice and targeted feedback, students gain confidence reading, analyzing, and constructing early-intermediate Arabic texts with greater precision and control.

The course integrates this grammar study with reading fluency, metalinguistic awareness, and purposeful language use. Weekly assignments and reflective learning journals support steady skill development, while assessments emphasize mastery, correction of common errors, and clear application of rules in context. A personal project allows students to synthesize grammatical knowledge in both written and oral form, in a creative context of personal relevance to learners, reinforcing accuracy alongside emerging fluency. By the end of the course, students are prepared to engage more confidently with early-intermediate Arabic materials and to continue advancing toward higher levels of linguistic competence.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and accurately use core elements of Arabic grammar, including noun–adjective agreement, pronouns, nominal sentences, verb conjugation, and a variety of sentence structures.
• Construct and analyze simple and early-intermediate Arabic sentences in both nominal and verbal forms, demonstrating control of tense, negation, and essential grammatical particles.
• Apply grammatical rules—such as those governing idāfa, plurals, duals, kāna and sisters, the subjunctive, and the verbal noun—to produce clear and accurate written Arabic.
• Recognize and correct common syntactic and morphological errors in their own writing and in model Arabic texts.
• Demonstrate metalinguistic awareness by being able to identify and explain grammatical constructs in written materials, using both Arabic and English grammatical terminology. 
• Apply foundational grammar knowledge to improve reading fluency (silent and vocalized), comprehension, and confidence when engaging with early-intermediate Arabic texts.

Course Prerequisites

Course Materials

Students are responsible for purchasing all required textbooks before the start of class.
Ribāṭ textbooks are available at the Rabata Bookshop

Registration Information

Questions?
Contact registration@rabata.org

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions and participate actively in their learning.
Consistent attendance supports academic success and helps maintain a collaborative classroom environment.
If an absence is unavoidable, students are responsible for communicating with their instructor, reviewing
missed material, and completing any assigned work.

Technology Requirements

To ensure a successful online learning experience, all students must have regular access to a personal
computer and reliable high-speed internet. Courses at Ribāṭ University are delivered through Canvas and may include video lectures, interactive discussions, digital readings, and multimedia assignments.
Students are responsible for maintaining the technology needed to participate fully.

Minimum Technical Requirements

Technology Skills

Additional Notes and Technical Support

• Students are expected to check course announcements and email regularly.
• Technical support is available for login issues, course access, and basic troubleshooting.