Non-European Languages

As part of the academic program defined by the Master’s Degree Course in African and
Asian Studies (SAA), the study of a non-European language offered by the Department of Political and Social Sciences is considered essential for acquiring genuine regional
expertise.
Each student enrolled in the program is required to choose among Arabic, Chinese, or
Japanese. These three non-European languages are offered at an advanced level and are therefore intended for students who have already studied one of them during their
undergraduate studies, typically for at least 18 CFU (university credits).
However, students who have never studied one of these three non-European
languages, or who have only an elementary level of proficiency, are still eligible to enroll in the SAA program. In such cases, students are expected to make up for prior
knowledge by attending introductory language courses during the first semester, either
through a dedicated learning path or within the curriculum of the Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and International Relations, as indicated by the language instructors through a notice issued before classes begin.
Additionally, our Department offers access to the University Language Center (Centro
Linguistico di Ateneo), where students can engage in self-directed practice. Tutoring
services are also available, offering support and remedial sessions, particularly in
preparation for exams. Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese have linguistic structures that are very different from Italian,
which is an Indo-European language using the Latin alphabet. “Different” does not mean “difficult,” but successful learning does require guidance—especially at the beginning.
Therefore, we strongly emphasize the importance of attending all classes, including practical exercises. Students who anticipate difficulties with attendance are encouraged to contact their instructors in advance via email.

Arabic Language

In the Master's Degree in African and Asian Studies, students study Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). In the first year, the focus is on media Arabic, using authentic texts (such as newspapers and major Arabic news websites), with particular emphasis on the specialized language of international meetings and relations, as well as key sociopolitical events, through the analysis of headlines and short news items. In the second year, students work with materials (texts, audio, and video) that support an understanding of modern and contemporary society, with special attention to topics such as human rights, protests and demonstrations, social change, migration, minorities, and cultural diversity.
Classes taught by native-speaking instructors aim to develop students communication skills and include the study of spoken varieties of Arabic: Moroccan Arabic in the first year and Egyptian Arabic in the second year. This exposure helps students understand the diglossic nature of Arabic, as dialects are the varieties used in daily life and informal communication.
The two Arabic language modules (Arabic I and Arabic II) are designed to provide the
linguistic and cultural skills necessary for working in the Arab world and/or conducting
independent research using primary sources.

Japanese Language

The Japanese Language 1 (C.A.) and Japanese Language 2 (C.A.) courses continue
language development starting from a consolidated lower-intermediate level (CEFR B1.1, JLPT N4/N3) and aim to reach a full intermediate level (CEFR B1.2, JLPT N3/N2). The goal is to evenly and effectively develop all four language skills (reading, listening, speaking, and writing) with a focus on major topics related to Japanese society and history, providing access to study sources in the original language.
In addition to acquiring intermediate-level skills across all areas, the first module includes exercises in reading and comprehension of short current news texts. In the second module, students work with a native-speaking instructor on communication strategies needed to deliver a coherent presentation in Japanese, supported by visual slides.
By the end of the two modules, students will be able to:

● Understand clear factual information in standard Japanese on common topics related
to current events, daily life, social relationships, and study/work, recognizing both
general meaning and specific details;
● Produce reasonably fluent, simple descriptions of one or more topics within their field
of interest, organized in a clear sequence.