Our courses develop all fundamental language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), with additional emphasis on the cultural knowledge and competencies necessary to communicate effectively with native speakers from your very first semester. Offered across four years, our intensive, 4-skilled courses help you build the foundation to develop your Arabic for a variety of purposes and contexts – everything from informal conversation to formal presentations, from social media to sacred texts, spanning cultural enjoyment and future career opportunities.
Pursue related coursework in Arabic literature and culture in LLC and in other related departments across the university. At UMass and across the Five Colleges, opportunities abound for cultural engagement provided by conversation circles, author visits and more.
For more information about LLC Arabic and other Five College Arabic opportunities, please contact Professor Nahla Khalil.
About LLC Arabic
Arabic was first offered in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in 2011 to support student learning via a fully communicative framework for language acquisition. By the end of the first-year sequence, students typically reach novice-high proficiency across the four language domains as determined by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages. By the end of the second-year sequence, students typically achieve intermediate-mid to intermediate-high proficiency.
Students in our courses have gone to pursue successful careers in media, government, teaching, social services and more, both in the US and abroad.
As of Spring 2025, LLC Arabic / Five College Arabic courses at UMass will be offered under the “LLC” rubric.
Arabic courses
Below are the foundational Arabic courses offered at LLC. Please check SPIRE for the most up-to-date course listings by semester.
LLC 126: Elementary Four-Skilled Arabic I (6 credits; meets M-F)
This course introduces the basics of Modern Standard Arabic, also known as Classical Arabic. It begins with a coverage of the alphabet, vocabulary for everyday use, and essential communicative skills relating to real-life and task-oriented situations (queries about personal well-being, family, work, and telling the time). Students will concentrate on speaking and listening skills, as well as on learning the various forms of regular verbs, and on how to use an Arabic dictionary.
LLC 146: Elementary Four-Skilled Arabic II (6 credits; meets M-F)
This is a continuation of LLC Arabic 101 Four Skilled Arabic. Students will complete the study of the Elementary Arabic book sequence. Emphasis will be on the development of all language skills using a communicative-oriented, proficiency-based approach. By the end of the academic year, students will acquire vocabulary and usage for everyday interactions as well as skills that will allow them to communicate in a variety of situations. In addition to the traditional textbook exercises, students will write short essays and participate in role plays, discussions, and conversations throughout the semester.
LLC 226: Intermediate Four-Skilled Arabic I (6 credits; meets M-F)
Students in this course will continue perfecting their knowledge of Arabic focusing on the four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The emphasis will be on the development of all language skills using a communicative-oriented, proficiency-based approach. By the end of the academic year, students will acquire vocabulary and usage for everyday interactions as well as skills that will allow them to communicate in a variety of situations. Students should expect text assignments as well as work with video, audio and websites. Exercises include writing, social interactions, role plays, and the interplay of language and culture.
LLC 246: Intermediate Four-Skilled Arabic II (6 credits; meets M-F)
Students in this course will continue perfecting their knowledge of Arabic focusing on the four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Emphasis will be on the development of all language skills using a communicative-oriented, proficiency-based approach. By the end of the academic year, students will acquire vocabulary and usage for everyday interactions as well as skills that will allow them to communicate in a variety of situations. Students should expect text assignments as well as work with video, audio and websites. Exercises include writing, social interactions, role plays, and the interplay of language and culture.
LLC 326: Advanced Four-Skilled Arabic I (4 credits; meets MWF)
The goal of this course is to help students achieve an Upper-Intermediate/ Advanced level of proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic with an exposure to one Arabic colloquial variety using the four-skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) approach. Students will read within a normal range of speed, listen to, discuss and respond in writing to authentic texts by writers from across the Arab world. Text types address a range of political, social, religious, and literary themes and represent a range of genres, styles, and periods. All of these texts may include narration indifferent time frames, description, hypothesis, argumentation and supported opinions that will cover both linguistic and cultural knowledge. This continues the Al-Kitaab series, in addition to extra instructional materials. Prerequisite: LLC 246, or its equivalent. Students must be able to use Formal Spoken Arabic as the medium of communication in the classroom.
LLC 346: Advanced Four-Skilled Arabic II (4 credits; meets MWF)
The Spring semester of Third-Year Arabic II expands on previously acquired foundation in Third-Year Arabic I in speaking, listening, writing, and reading, with special attention focused on learner production of Modern Standard Arabic. Coursework will also include readings on a variety of social, historical and cultural topics related to the Arab world, practical and reflective written assignments, and discussions on essential cultural patterns
Arabic Literature and Culture
Gain a deeper understanding of Arabic cultural creativity and put your communicative language skills to work – whatever your level – by taking courses in Arabic and Middle Eastern literature and culture.
CompLit 351: Oil, Commodity, Capitalism in Modern Arabic Literature (4 credits)
CompLit 355: Modern African Literature (4 credits)
CompLit 361: Crossing Borders in Israel/Palestine (4 credits)
Five College Arabic Initiative
Can’t take a given semester of Arabic at UMass? LLC Arabic is the home of the Five College Arabic Initiative at UMass, so you can seamlessly keep up with your 4-skilled Arabic at another Five College campus for one or more semesters, while still receiving credit at UMass. The curriculum is synchronized across all participating Arabic programs, so you can jump right back into UMass Four-Skilled Arabic without missing a beat.
