Song is a powerful medium that conveys authentic messages and provides rich linguistic input in an emotionally engaging manner. In this course we will dig deep into songs for the cultural knowledge they contain. Songs are both the object of study and a starting point for broader discussion and writing. We will examine both language and culture through the prism of song.
Songs are compact, authentic, and filled with cultural and linguistic information. Rooted in the social, cultural, and political discourse of their language communities, they may be easily internalized, providing grammatical models for language production, and enabling students to develop their listening and speaking skills, as they improve their accent and intonation in Arabic and expand their vocabulary and cultural knowledge.