Module manager: Abdul-Bashid Shaikh
Email: A.B.Shaikh@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is for people who have some basic knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic, either because you have taken the beginners module or because you have prior knowledge equivalent to A1 of the CEFR. This module is also suitable for you if you have A2 of the CEFR and wish to maintain your current level. If you already have CEFR B1 then this module is not for you. It is not possible to take this module if you are enrolled on a single or joint honours degree programme in Arabic. For information about the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) see https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/table-1-cefr-3.3-common-reference-levels-global-scale).
ARAB1015 Arabic for beginners
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module covers Modern Standard Arabic language that you can use to communicate about yourself and things familiar to you. Modern Standard Arabic is the official language of 22 countries across the Middle East and North Africa and has an estimated 335 million users. The module is at A2 level of the CEFR. If there is another A2 post-beginners module available, they can be taken in either order, one or two at a time. If this module runs in both semesters, you can take it in either semester 1 or semester 2 but not both. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
Through this module you will study the Modern Standard Arabic needed to communicate about yourself and things familiar to you such as your daily and weekly routine, your hobbies, your interests, your abilities, your personality, and describing a place, event or experience. You will learn relevant vocabulary, become more comfortable with the sounds of the language, and gain a good basic knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic grammar in the present, past and future tenses.
You will have opportunities to hear and use Modern Standard Arabic as a practical classroom language. Class activities are communicative/task-based and involve working in pairs or groups.
You are expected to self study between classes as well as preparing for the assessment. You are encouraged to make use of the resources in the Language Zone (https://students.leeds.ac.uk/languagezone), use digital resources, and engage in other opportunities to put language skills into practice outside the taught sessions.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Use spoken or written Modern Standard Arabic to communicate about yourself and things familiar to you with sufficient clarity to be understood by a proficient Modern Standard Arabic user
2. Use frequently used Modern Standard Arabic expressions and simple descriptions in the present, past and future tenses
3. Identify and persevere with opportunities by adopting appropriate learning strategies
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practicals | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Private study hours | 80 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Feedback in class on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Feedback on a piece of spoken or written work.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Choice of speaking/writing assessment | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Choice of assessment according to assessment brief but which may include video, video conversation, blog, poem, comic or letter. The assessment is marked on a pass-fail basis (see https://students.leeds.ac.uk/results/doc/explanation-marks).
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team