Diploma in Modern Languages (Arabic Studies)

This course is no longer taking applications. The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) is being phased out and only available to students who are enrolled in an undergraduate degree pre-2008. Students wishing to apply for a current Diploma in Languages will need to refer to the following website: Diploma in Languages.

Students currently enrolled in the DML gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne.

The DML consists of a three-year sequence of first, second and third-year language study adds one year to the duration of your degree course. Language subjects are taken alongside your degree subjects in an integrated sequence. The diploma will only be awarded on the completion of your degree course.

The Arabic Program offers an integrated way of studying Arabic language and aspects of Arab and Islamic culture. Beyond studying the language itself, students also have the opportunity to acquire a significant amount of knowledge about the nature of living, seeing, acting and interacting in the 'Arab way'. With the development of students' language proficiency, there will be a growing emphasis on reflection on, as well as critical awareness and discussion of issues related to Arabic literature and the realms of history, sociology and religion in the Arab World.

Arabic language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Arabic 1 through to Arabic 10. Entry points are determined by the student’s background in the language, placement testing, prerequisites, or at the discretion of the Arabic program. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order.

Students wishing to undertake an honours or postgraduate diploma program on completion of the DML (100 points) should note that they may be required to complete the equivalent of a BA language major. Students must follow structure and point requirements for the year they commenced, please refer to the relevant handbook available online at https://psc.unimelb.edu.au/. Students may be required to complete additional language subjects within their degree or through the Community Access Program (CAP) if the major exceeds 100 points. Diploma graduates with the equivalent of a BA language major must have completed a BA degree to be eligible to apply for the BA (Honours), otherwise they may apply to enter the postgraduate diploma.

At the completion of the Diploma, students should:

• have acquired a mastery of both oral/aural and writing/reading skills comparable to that of a student majoring in a language discipline;

• have gained a basic understanding of selected aspects of the culture (or cultures) and of the society (or societies) associated with the language.

The Diploma consists of a three-year sequence of study in Arabic language (totalling 100 points). The language subjects will be taken concurrently with a non-New Generation undergraduate degree in an integrated sequence and will normally add one year to the duration of a student's degree course.

It is each student's responsibility to ensure that s/he meets the requirements of the Diploma by enrolling in the correct number of subjects at the appropriate year level and within the rules outlined for the relevant language stream of the DML.

The sequence is as follows for the two common entry points for the Diploma:

* Arabic 1 entry point: for students who have very little or no knowledge of Arabic.
* Arabic 3 entry point: for students who have lower intermediate level of Arabic.
* Arabic 5 entry point: for students who have completed Year 12 VCE Arabic (Second Language) or have an equivalent level of Arabic language.

Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Arabic Program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required. Please refer the following link for further information: http://www.asiainstitute.unimelb.edu.au/help/undergraduate_students/placement

Students completing a Diploma in Arabic will usually undertake 25 points at level one, 37.5 points at level two and 37.5 points at level three totalling 100 points of language subjects taken in sequence usually over 3 years part-time. All subjects are compulsory.

ARABIC 1 ENTRY POINT (formerly Beginners stream)

Arabic 1 entry point - Level 1

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 1 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (25 points).

Note:
Arabic 1 and Arabic 2 were formerly called Arabic 1A and Arabic 1B respectively.

Arabic 1 entry point - Level 2

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 1 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (37.5 points).

Note:
Arabic 3 and Arabic 4 were formerly called Arabic 2A and Arabic 2B respectively.

Arabic 1 entry point - Level 3

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 1 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (37.5 points).

Note:
Arabic 5 and Arabic 6 were formerly called Arabic 3A and Arabic 3B respectively.

ARABIC 3 ENTRY POINT

Arabic 3 entry point - Level 1

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 3 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (25 points).

Arabic 3 entry point - Level 2

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 3 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (37.5 points).

Arabic 3 entry point - Level 3

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 3 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (37.5 points).

ARABIC 5 ENTRY POINT (formerly Post-VCE stream)

Arabic 5 entry point - Level 1

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 5 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (25 points).

Note:
Arabic 5 and Arabic 6 were formerly called Arabic 3A and Arabic 3B respectively.

Arabic 5 entry point - Level 2

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 5 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (37.5 points)

Note:
Arabic 7 and Arabic 8 were formally called Arabic 4A and Arabic 4B respectively.

Arabic 5 entry point - Level 3

Students undertaking the DML with an Arabic 5 entry point are required to complete the following subjects (37.5 points).

Note:
Arabic 9 and Arabic 10 were formerly called Arabic 5A and Arabic 5B respectively.

This course is no longer taking applications. The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) is currently being phased out and only available to students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree pre-2008. Students wishing to apply for a Diploma in Languages will need to refer to the following website: Diploma in Languages.

The Diploma will be available to students with no prior knowledge of a language as well as to those who have completed several years of study (for instance, as part of the VCE).

Your stream enrolment depends on your previous language experience and is determined by the relevant School. You may be required to sit a placement test to determine your level of language skill.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The DML provides a pathway to graduate study in language.

See course objectives

Arts students are encouraged to pursue their academic interests and professional aspirations by taking a variety of subjects in a range of different areas of study. All arts subjects provide students with transferable generic skills that prepare them for further study and the workplace.

As a result of attendance at scheduled classes, participation in planned activities and discussion groups, and timely completion of essays and assignments, arts graduates should acquire transferable generic skills in the following areas:

• research

  through competent use of the library, electronic databases, and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;

• critical thinking and analysis

  through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• thinking in theoretical terms

  through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences;

• thinking creatively

  through essay writing, creative writing, tutorial discussions and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence and by critical analysis;

• understanding of social, ethical and cultural context

  through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument;

• communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically

  through essay writing and tutorial and seminar discussion;

• written communication

  through essay preparation and assignment writing;

• public speaking

  through tutorial and seminar discussion and class presentations;

• attention to detail

  through essay and assignment preparation and writing, and examination revision;

• time management and planning

  through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and examination revision;

• teamwork

  through joint projects and group discussions.