The first half of a two-semester sequence. Students practice all four language modalities: reading, listening, writing and speaking. The course incorporates a variety of activities that are based on a range of topics, text types and different socio-cultural situations. Authentic texts (poems, short stories, TV programs, films, songs and articles) are used to create the context for reviewing and expanding on grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Prerequisite: RES 100Y or equivalent.

From the absorbing tales of the One Thousand and One Nights and the haunting melancholy of pre-Islamic poetry to the inimitable beauty of the Quran, Medieval Arabic literature is fascinating and inexhaustible. Via English translations, this course introduces students to a rich diversity of Arabic literary texts written from the sixth century to the dawn of the modern period, stretching from the cosmopolitan cities of Muslim Spain to the empires of Central Asia and beyond.

(formerly Exercise Science)