MIDDLE EASTERN, SOUTH ASIAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES

Courses

Intermediate Persian I

Prerequisites: MDES UN1710 and MDES UN1711 or the equivalent

This course involves reading, writing, translating, conversation and grammatical foundations for Persian Language. The materials are selected from two books: Āmuzesh-e Fārsi: Elementary Level and English-Persian Dictionary, plus verb system and charts (required). These books are assigned and have to be available to every student. There are also handouts, which will be provided throughout the course. This course serves as intermediate and aims to make students read and compose proper Persian language as well as the colloquial one.

Intermediate Persian II

Prerequisites: MDES UN1701 and MDES UN1702 or the equivalent

This course involves reading, writing, translating, conversation and grammatical foundations for Persian Language. The materials are selected from two books: Āmuzesh-e Fārsi: Intermediate Level, and English-Persian Dictionary, plus verb system and charts (required). These books are assigned and have to be available to every student. There are also handouts, which will be provided throughout the course. This course serves as a one-semester study of Intermediate II. By the end of the course students will develop the ability to read simple texts in Persian; to provide practice in writing simple compositions on various topics; and to develop appropriate levels of proficiency in spoken formal Persian as well as the colloquial one.

Palestinian and Israeli Politics and Societies

This course covers the history of Zionism in the wake of the Haskala in mid nineteenth century Europe and its development at the turn of the century through the current "peace process" between the state of Israel and the Palestinian national movement. The course examines the impact of Zionism on European Jews and on Asian and African Jews on the one hand, and on Palestinian Arabs on the other --in Israel, in the Occupied Territories, and in the Diaspora.

First Year Arabic, I

Prerequisites: Students that are not registering for MDES S1211 will be required to request professor permission to enroll.

An introduction to the language of classical and modern Arabic literature. Designed to develop the skills necessary for reading and speaking in this country or in the Middle East. Integrates the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing with an introduction to Arabic culture. Enrollment priority will be given to students that are taking MDES S1211 in Summer Session 2. If you are only taking MDES S1210 you need to contact tb46@columbia.edu for permission.

First Year Arabic, II

Mandatory placement exam for students who did not take S1210 at Columbia.

Prerequisites: MDES S1210, or the equivalent.

The continuation of S1210.

Second Year Arabic, I

Mandatory placement exam for visiting students.

Prerequisites: MDES UN1211-UN1212, or the equivalent.

A continuation of the study of the language of contemporary writing in Arabic. Designed to increase vocabulary and extend facility with grammatical forms. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities will develop beyond the range of a simple sentence to that of more complex, lengthier discourse. Students begin to feel confident conversing with native speakers.

Second Year Arabic, II.

Mandatory placement exam for students who did not take MDES S1214 at Columbia.

Prerequisites: Prerequisites: MDES UN1211-UN1212 and UN1214 or the equivalent.

A continuation of the study of the language of contemporary writing in Arabic. Designed to increase vocabulary and extend facility with grammatical forms. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities will develop beyond the range of a simple sentence to that of more complex, lengthier discourse. Students begin to feel confident conversing with native speakers

Third Year Arabic I

Mandatory placement exam for visiting students

Prerequisites: MDES UN1214-UN1215, or the equivalent

Improvement of writing and speaking skills through compositions, class discussions, and presentations in Arabic on topics such as areas and cultures of the Middle East; classical and modern Arabic literature; and current, authentic materials available from Middle Eastern sources. Review of grammatical and syntactic rules as needed

Third Year Arabic, II

Mandatory placement exam for students who did not take MDES S4210 at Columbia.

Prerequisites: MDES UN1214-UN1215, or the equivalent.

The continuation of S4210, above.