The Immersion Experience

Although the classes described below are an important component of the summer institute, the immersion experience is a full-time commitment that extends beyond the classroom. The program includes shared meals and a group living environment, afternoon and evening activities, and excursions in and around Madison. Students are expected to communicate in their target language exclusively for the duration of the 8-week program, with the exception of Friday evening "breaks" and a limited number of other specific exceptions.

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General Course Information

All courses run for 8 weeks, and provide a minimum of 180 in-class contact hours. Upon completion of the program, students wishing to transfer language credits to their home institution may request a transcript from UW-Madison showing their grades and academic credits, which should then be submitted to the appropriate office at the student's home institution.

The following course descriptions and syllabi are taken from previous years, and are intended to give a general idea of the different levels. The specific course content will be modified based on the instructor's assessment of student ability and pre-program placement results.

Beginning Arabic

• 8 credits = First and Second Semester Arabic (African Lang. & Lit. 321 and 322)
• Text: Alif Baa and Al-Kitaab I
• Course Description: These are the beginning Modern Standard Arabic classes. They introduce students to the basic language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking with the incorporation of the Arab culture knowledge necessary for the understanding of the language. Some spoken/dialectical expressions are offered to provide the students with the everyday basics of communication in spoken Arabic. By the end of the course, students are expected to attain a level of proficiency to communicate in the language through acquiring vocabulary and learning the fundamental grammatical structures. They should be able to internalize the principles of sentence formation, recognize roots, and use the dictionary.
• Sample Syllabus

Intermediate Arabic

• 8 credits = Third and Fourth Semester Arabic (African Lang. & Lit. 323 and 324)
• Text: Al-Kitaab I (beginning with Chapter 12), Al-Kitaab II
• Course description: The goals of this course are for you to increase your vocabulary, to develop your abilities in oral and written expression, and to complete the study of the fundamental syntactical and morphological structures essential to an understanding of modern literary Arabic. It is assumed that the students successfully completing this course will be proficient in the principles governing the voweling of texts and have a working knowledge of fundamental terms and concepts taught to Arab secondary students in their study of Arabic morphology and syntax.
• Sample Syllabus

Advanced Arabic

• 6 credits = Readings in Advanced Arabic Texts (African Lang. & Lit. 445 and 446)
• Text: In accordance with the background of the students, instructors will use a variety of materials.
• Course Description: This course will focus on increasing proficiency in the four basic language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening), with primary emphasis on oral proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic. It is anticipated that students completing this course will achieve at least a degree of oral fluency equivalent to "intermediate high" on the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview.
• Sample Syllabus

Beginning Persian

• 8 credits = First and Second Semester Persian (Languages & Cultures of Asia 363 and 364)
• Text: Modern Persian Elementary Level by G. Windfuhr, supplementary materials.
• Course Description: ;This course serves as an introduction to the Persian language and culture. We will learn to communicate by speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Persian. This course will be taught using the Communicative Language Approach to foreign language instruction, which requires that we converse in Persian at all times. Although it is challenging to learn our target language without having words translated into English, visual aids, hand gestures, and body language will be used to guide students in their learning process. Not to mention, it will be fun!! Students should look forward to participating daily through role–playing, working in pairs, and by individually responding to questions presented.
• Sample Syllabus 1, Sample Syllabus 2

Intermediate Persian

• 8 credits = Third and Fourth Semester Persian (Languages & Cultures of Asia 463 and 464)
• Text: Course Reader and supplementary materials compiled by instructors.
• Course Description: This course will provide extensive reading from Persian literary texts, with practice in grammar and composition. The materials, which are mostly short stories or articles, are selected from several sources. The materials will be available to every student as handouts or attached files throughout the course.
• Sample Syllabus 1, Sample Syllabus 2

Advanced Persian

• 6 credits = Fifth and Sixth Semester Persian (Languages & Cultures of Asia 563 and 564)
• Text: Course Reader and supplementary materials compiled by instructors 
• Course Description: This class will consist of extensive reading of classical and modern Persian literary texts, with practice in grammar and composition at an advanced level. By the end of this course students will develop the ability to read advanced classical, modern and popular texts in Persian; to provide practice in writing advanced compositions on various topics; and to develop appropriate levels of proficiency in spoken Persian. The course materials, which are mostly short stories, folktales or articles, are selected from several sources. The materials will be available to every student either as handouts or as attached files throughout the course. This course will enable students to read, speak, and compose in literary as well as colloquial Persian.
• Sample Syllabus, Sample Syllabus 2

Beginning Turkish

• 8 credits = First and Second Semester Turkish (Languages & Cultures of Asia 339 and 340)
• Text: Yeni Hitit Turkish Language Set 1 - Beginner (New Edition)
• Course Description: This course is designed for learners who are interested in Turkish language and culture, and who have no previous knowledge of the language. The course will provide a foundation for the learning the basics of Turkish through grounding in the structure of sentences and current usage with the emphasis on oral communication. The course will focus equally on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. By the end of the course, students will learn how to carry on simple conversations in daily life situations, and to read and write simple paragraphs/texts. Materials will be tailored to students’ needs and interests. Short stories, poems, songs, newspapers & magazine extracts, and movies will be used for reading, writing, and listening exercises.
• Sample Syllabus

Intermediate Turkish

• 8 credits = Third and Fourth Semester Turkish (Languages & Cultures of Asia 439 and 440)
• Text: Yeni Hitit Turkish Language Set 2 - Intermediate (New Edition)
• Course Description: Students will achieve Turkish language proficiency at the intermediate level in listening, speaking, reading and writing, using communicative approaches.

Advanced Turkish

• 6 credits = Fifth and Sixth Semester Turkish (Languages & Cultures of Asia 539 and 540)
• Text: to be determined
• Course Description: In accordance with the background of the students, instructors will use a variety of materials.