Arabic Pre-requisite
This is a new subject and no prior study is required.
What is Arabic?
This is an ab initio course (i.e. one that requires no prior knowledge of Arabic) and is envisaged as the first year of a three-year GCSE course rather than as a one-year taster course. Because Arabic has a different script which must be mastered in the first instance, and because the ground to be covered in order to reach GCSE standard in three years is significant, this course is likely to be suitable only for pupils who have already enjoyed success with learning languages. However, pupils with the necessary ability and motivation will develop an understanding of the language in a variety of contexts as well as the ability to communicate effectively in Arabic and an awareness and understanding of countries and communities where Arabic is spoken.
What skills are involved?
As with the other language courses offered at Habs, this course equips boys with a number of key transferable skills such as: communication (oral and written); analytical and logical thinking; creativity; literacy; independent learning; cultural and geographical awareness; team work; presentation skills.
What sort of pupil does it suit and what will they get out of the course?
For the reasons outlined above, this course is likely to suit able linguists with a high degree of motivation and intellectual maturity. Even if you have some knowledge of Arabic, you should not assume that you will find it easy to make the required progress in this language if you have struggled with the languages you have already studied at Habs. The course will also appeal to culturally aware pupils and those who wish to gain an ‘exotic’ language skill which will certainly be of interest to future employers across a number of sectors.
January 2021 Page | 7
