Elementary Dari
1 2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
Course Syllabus
Course Title: Elementary Dari Language
Course Dates: TBA
Holidays: TBA
Location: TBA
Classroom: TBA
Admin:
TBA
Instructors:
TBA
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This five-week intensive course covers the basic elements of the elementary Dari language.
Students are given seven hours of instruction and an hour for lunch. Students’ benefit from the
experiences of variety of instructor’s male and female. The course prepares students culturally
and linguistically to survive in the field. The curriculum is scenario-based and provides students
with enough language and culture awareness to engage in basic daily conversations by the end of
the program. Students are required to spend additional time outside of classroom to complete
homework as well as conduct other assignments requiring some research.
FIELD TRIP: Students will be visiting San Diego Islamic Center where they will observe
Friday prayer, interact with a scholar, and find out more about Islam. Students will also have
their questions answered. Students are required to write reflections on their trip experience to the
center and send it to [email protected].
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, students will be able to function at the Intermediate Level based on
ACTFL (appendix 1) proficiency guidelines. Briefly, they will be able to:
1. Use the learned survival phrases
2. Create with the language and function at sentence level
3. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the Afghan culture
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Dari Alphabet book (will be provided by LARC)
Dari Textbook (will be provided by LARC)
Dari Basic Language Survival Guide
Additional Resources:
Afghan culture lessons in English language www.pashtuculture.com
www.langnet.org (Username & Password to be provided by LARC)
CL-150 Transparent Language (Rapid Rote)
Students Tube http://www.studentstube.com/
o Key words: Dari lessons
o Dari/Afghan culture
o Lets learn Dari
o Dari dramas
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADES
For internal assessment purposes between instructors and students, percentages and letter
“grades” will be given for student performance on various aspects of the course. Following is
breakdown of grading criterion:
First Session
Attendance and Participation: 4 points (4%)
Quizzes (3): 5 points (16%)
Daily Homework: 5 points (10%)
Weekly Assignments (3): 6 points (6%)
Mid-Term: 12 points (14%)
Interview 1: 15 points (30%)
Second Session
Attendance and Participation: 4 points (8%)
Quizzes (3): 5 points (10%)
Daily Homework: 5 points (10%)
Weekly Assignments (3): 6 points (12%)
Final Exam: 12 points (25%)
Final Project: 3 points (5%)
Interview 2: 15 points (30%)
Total 100 points (100%)
A = 100% - 95%
A- = 94% - 90%
B+ = 89% - 87%
B = 86% - 84%
B- = 83% - 80%
C+ = 79% - 77%
C = 76% – 74%
C- = 73% - 70%
D = 69% - 60%
F = 59% or lower
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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COURSE POLICY
Except “Culture Class” all sessions will be conducted in Dari language. Students are
encouraged to refrain from using English in class.
Students are required to be present in class no later than 8:05am. There is a ten-minute
break every hour.
Students are required to be in class during all the lectures or any other class activity and
are strongly discouraged from coming in and out of the class when the class is session.
Attendance and participation are the main components of this class.
When in class, students are required to abide by SDSU’s rules and policies. They are
required to maintain a clean environment in the class.
Students are encouraged to refrain from chewing tobacco.
While the class is in session, students are required to be courteous to other students by
avoiding talking, whispering and interrupting the class. Students are also required to
abstain from using abusive language including the “F” and the “B” words. They are
discouraged from using gestures that are abusive in nature.
While the class is in session, students are required to abstain from texting, using their
laptops, iPods, iPads, cellular phones, etc. In case of an emergency call, students are
advised to kindly step out of the class and answer it. Constant texting and surfing the
Internet distracts the teacher and the students.
In addition to these stated policies, instructors and students will agree on classroom
behavior and participation guidelines on the outset of the course. Copies of the guidelines
will be posted in classes for a quick reference.
Students are required to complete their homework and assignments on a regular basis and
submit them to instructors by the due date. Instructors will provide students with timely
feedback. Feedback on most assignments will be posted to the course Moodle site.
Students need to log in regularly to the site for learning purposes.
Make-ups for missed homework and assignments will be allowed only for legitimate
reasons and if prior approval of the instructor has been sought.
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Program Schedule
Week 1
A. Theme: Greeting and Introduction
B. Learning Goals: By the end of this week, students will be able to:
a) Recognize, pronounce, and write Dari alphabet
b) Write and read basic words and phrases
c) Greet and introduce using simple Dari sentences
C. Grammar Focus:
a) Dari Alphabet (vowel and consonant)
b) To Be verbs
c) Personal Pronouns
d) Possessive Pronouns
o Ezafa
o Reflexive pronoun of “self”
D. Culture:
a) Afghanistan History
b) Family Structure
c) Afghanwali/Pashtunwali Code of Honor:
a. Jirga
b. Badal
d) Afghan Movie and discussion
E. Quiz
F. Weekly Assignment: TBA
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Week 2
A. Theme: Patrolling in a Village
B. Learning Goals: By the end of this week, students will be able to:
a) Gather information by asking and answering basic questions
b) Read and write short phrases
C. Grammar Focus:
a) WH Questions
b) Simple Present Tense – Action verbs
c) Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers 0-10
d) Nouns (singular and plural – haa & Aan)
e) Prepositions
f) The expression of NEED and WANT
g) Days of the Week
h) The expression of “how old?”
i) Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
D. Culture:
a) Religion in Afghanistan
b) Afghanwali/Pashtunwali Code of Honor:
a. Nanawatey & Tor (sanctuary and accusation)
b. Melmastia/Mahman Nawazee (hospitality)
c) Afghan Movie
E. Quiz
F. Weekly Assignment: TBA
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Week 3
A. Theme: At a Checkpoint
B. Learning Goals: By the end of this week, students will be able to:
a) Get engaged in short conversations by asking and answering basic
questions
b) Use numbers in their conversation
C. Grammar Focus:
a) Simple Present Tense – Action verbs (cont’d)
o Imperative forms
b) CAN and SHOULD/HAVE TO in Dari
c) Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers 11-1000
a) WH Question words
b) The expression of “What time?”
c) Adverbs of Time
d) To like
d) Demonstrative pronouns and adjectives: This, that, these, those
e) Nouns (singular and plural) (cont’d)
f) Prepositions (cont’d)
D. Culture:
a) Wedding in Afghanistan
b) Tribes of Afghanistan
c) Economy
d) Afghanwali/Pashtunwali Code of Honor:
a. Tor & Nang
e) Afghan Movie
E. Oral Interview 1
F. Mid-Term
G. Weekly Assignment: TBA
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Week 4
A. Theme: Meeting with the village elders and government officials
B. Learning Goals: By the end of this week, students will be able to:
a) Learn more vocabulary and get engaged into longer conversation
b) Use future timeframe in their conversation
c) Read and write phrases and short sentences
C. Grammar Focus:
g) Simple Present Tense – Action verbs (cont’d)
h) Nouns (singular and plural) (cont’d)
i) WH Question words (cont’d)
j) Prepositions (cont’d)
e) Adverbs of Time (cont’d)
a) Simple Past Tense – Action Verbs
b) Adjectives
c) Profession
D. Culture:
a) Black Market
b) Taliban
c) Afghanwali/Pashtunwali Code of Honor:
a. Zheba & Zemaka
d) Superstition
e) Field Trip to Islamic Center of San Diego
E. Quiz
F. Weekly Assignment: TBA
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Week 5
A. Theme: House Search
B. Learning Goals: By the end of this week students will be able to:
a) Get engaged in longer conversations using all major timeframes
b) Ask and respond to questions related to the context
c) Read and write short paragraphs
C. Grammar Focus:
a) Simple Future Tense – Action Verbs
a) Nouns
o Weather & Seasons
o Terrain
o Direction
o Kinship terms (singular & plural forms)
o Body parts
D. Nonverbal Communication & Communication through an Interpreter
a. Power Point Presentation
E. Culture:
a) Education
b) Crime and Justice
c) Kandahar 101
d) Non-verbal communication
e) Talking through an interpreter
F. Oral Interview 2
G. Final Exam
H. Final Project Presentation
I. Graduation and Celebration
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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A sample of the daily schedule
Elementary Dari Class
LARC/SDSU
Agenda
Classroom ###
Date: / /
Time Activity Instructor(s)
/Presenter(s)
Remarks
0800-0900 Vocabulary and conversational activities
0900-0910 Break
0910-1000 Conversational activities in small groups
1000-1010 Break
1010-1100 Dari Grammar and conversational
activities in small groups
1100-1110 Break
1110-1200 Listening and Reading Comprehension
1200-1300 Lunch Break
1300-1400 Afghan Culture and Discussion
1400-1410 Break
1410-1500 Lab Hour (Room 410):
Byki/Rapid Rote
Storyline (reading and listening
Comprehension)
1500-1510 Break
1510-1600 Review of the day in the form of
conversational activities in small
groups
Announcement: _________________________
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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San Diego State University
Language Acquisition Resource Center
Elementary Dari Program
Final Project
Student’s Name: __________________________
Overall cohesion
Earned
Score
Max.
Score
10
Correct description of the selected topic 10
Correct use of grammar 15
Use of proper vocabulary 15
Use of proper cultural related body language 10
Smooth speaking without signs of struggling 25
Duration of the presentation, the longer, the better (without
interruption)
Knowledge of the topic and handling audiences’ questions.
15
Total 100
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Weekly Progress Report Rubric
Teacher’s Name: ___________________ etaD : ____________ Week#__________
(Student Name)
(Student Name)
(Student Name)
(Student Name)
(Student Name)
Homework M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
Attentiveness M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
Class Participation M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
Classroom
behavior
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
M T W T F
General Remarks: Student will be evaluated based on the following scales:
Scales Attentiveness Class
Participation
Classroom behavior
1 - 3 Does not listen Does not
participates
Poor behavior (busy with other stuff during the
class times or disrespecting the teachers)
4 - 6 Sometimes listens Sometimes
participates
Good behavior
7 - 10 Always listens Always
participates
Always well behaved
Weekly Grade in %
Homework
Participation
Weekly Assignment
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Attendance Sheet
Dari Course
Date:
Afghan
Name First, Last
8am
-
9am
9am
-
10am
10am
-
11am
11am
-
12p
m
1:0
0 -
2
pm
2-3
pm
3-4
pm
Excused Absent
Instructor’s Initials
(Student
Name) (Student
Name)
(Student
Name) (Student
Name)
(Student
Name) (Student
Name)
(Student
Name) (Student
Name)
(Student
Name) (Student
Name)
(Student
Name) (Student
Name)
(Student
Name) (Student
Name)
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Dari Class
Student’s Material Checklist
S.# Items Received Time Line Remarks
Yes No
01 Syllabus 1st day of class
02 Parking Permit 1st day of class
03 Moodle Registration 1st day of class
04 Login & Password for
Byki/Rapid Rote
1st day of class
05 Alphabet Workbook 1st day of class
06 Dari Textbook 1st day of class
07 Binder 1st day of class
08 Survival guide w/ audio CD
(Copy)
1st
week of class
Elementary Dari
2012, Language Acquisition Resource Center/SDSU Research Foundation
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Dari Interview Criteria
Interview 1: Week 3
Level/Rating Score
Intermediate Low 15pts.
Novice High 12pts.
Novice Mid 10pts.
Novice Low 8pts.
Interview 2: Week 5
Level/Rating Score
Intermediate High/Advance Low 15pts.
Intermediate Mid 12pts.
Intermediate Low 10pts.
Novice High 8pt.
* Criteria for ACTFL Rating is attached as Appendix 1