Arlington Community Education

Originating in the 6th century, the Arabic language has become one of the most widely spoken and recognizable languages in the world today. Level 1 Taught by a native speaker, this beginning level class introduces the 28 Arabic letters and focuses on basic reading and writing skills through an interactive and practical instructional method. Some basic everyday vocabulary and conversations such as greetings and courtesy expressions are also part of the course. Class postponed: new dates: 4/13-6/8. Level 2 For those who have some basic knowledge of Arabic (are able to read and write simple words, as well as being familiar with some vocabulary). Use your Arabic skills to read short paragraphs while learning some grammatical structures. Conversational themes will include nationalities, family members, describing neighborhoods and residences, food and drink, clothing and colors, weather and more. Class postponed: new dates: 4/13-6/8. Level 3 Expand your Arabic proficiency. Taught by a native speaker, this course will put your conjugation and other grammar skills to use as we learn to write more elaborate paragraphs. We will continue to expand our vocabulary and skills.

Silence, moteur, action! Join other French language enthusiasts in a lively guided discussion—in French—analyzing The Lover by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Based on Marguerite Duras’ international best seller, L'amant, this film adaptation tells the tale of a young nameless woman living in Vietnam who falls in love with a man twice her age. Their illicit affair is set in a time where issues including race, colonialism, and wealth all come into play, interfering with the durability of their relationship. Winner of the 1992 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, this film is available to watch online. Please note: Students should have a conversational command of the French language. Idiomatic expressions will be reviewed during the class. Enroll in French Book Club to read L'amant in a group setting with the instructor. Take both classes about Marguerite Duras' story & save.

Buongiorno! Are you ready to learn Italian in a fun and interesting way? Through conversation about everyday life, we will learn vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar as we explore Italian culture and la dolce vita. Level 1 Gain a solid knowledge of the language of music and love. Students taking Level 1 will be introduced to basic grammar topics including pronunciation, personal pronouns, indefinite and definite articles, singular and plural forms of nouns and adjectives, gender, and number agreement. Students also will be able to describe everyday activities using the present tense of regular and irregular verbs. Level 2 In Level 2, work on improving spoken Italian, mastering reflexive verbs, past tense of regular and irregular verbs, and possessive adjectives. Level 3 is for those looking to further hone oral comprehension and expression of topics including travel, health, and time. We will also focus on imperfect tense, distinctive pronouns, simple future tense, and double object pronouns.

Considered one of the major varieties of Arabic, Levantine Arabic refers to the spoken variety of Arabic among the Eastern Mediterranean Coast which includes Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine. More informal than Modern Standard Arabic, this dialect is used in the home, among friends, and has become the chosen language for many television series. Thus it is the version of spoken Arabic that is understood by almost all Arabs. Beginner 1 This class will teach basic conversation skills including how to introduce yourself. For those who know the Arabic alphabets. Beginner 2 This second level beginner class will teach more complicated conversation skills and structures.

French Book Club Deepen your understanding and appreciation of the French language in this fun and interactive book club, where we will discuss our thoughts and questions about Marguerite Duras’ international best seller, L'amant. Set in prewar Indochina, where Duras grew up, this romantic tale centers around a young woman who falls in love with a Chinese man nearly twice her age. This autobiographical tale explores power dynamics and issues of colonialism through an unforgettable intimate romance between two unlikely characters. After the book club, join your instructor in a one night discussion of the film adaptation of the novel, Jean-Jacques Annaud’s 1992 movie, The Lover. Please note: Before the first class, please read up to page 20. The book is available on Amazon. April 6–June 1 | 2:30–4:00 pm French: Une Discussion de Film en français Silence, moteur, action! Join other French language enthusiasts in a lively guided discussion—in French—analyzing The Lover by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Based on Marguerite Duras’ international best seller, L'amant, this film adaptation tells the tale of a young nameless woman living in Vietnam who falls in love with a man twice her age. Their illicit affair is set in a time where issues including race, colonialism, and wealth all come into play, interfering with the durability of their relationship. Winner of the 1992 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, this film is available to watch online. Please note: Students should have a conversational command of the French language. Idiomatic expressions will be reviewed during the class. Wednesday, June 2 | 6:00–7:30 pm