Reviewed by Omaima Ayoub, Furqaan Academy

Advanced media Arabic is a textbook to be used in advanced Arabic as a second language courses. Through its extensive use of authentic Arabic media materials, it will help learners to sharpen their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, with a focus on analytical and translation skills. By introducing recent authentic texts and audio files, this textbook not only eliminates the need for any auxiliary material but also enables advanced learners of Arabic to learn about the Arab world through the lens of the Arabic media. Thus, students are able to enhance their knowledge of Arabic language and culture in addition to their critical thinking and language learning skills.

This textbook is organized into ten modules: ‘Diplomacy’, ‘Elections’, ‘Violence and anarchy’, ‘War and military action’, ‘Economy’, ‘Law and order’, ‘Trade and industry’, ‘Natural disasters’, ‘War on terrorism’, and ‘Arabic TV extracts’. Each module includes reading texts, vocabulary lists, comprehension questions, examples of language in context, and discussion and debate prompts as well as writing, listening, and translation exercises. Within each module, students are provided with a variety of drills and exercises that are intended to develop confidence in practicing basic language skills thus promoting mastery of Arabic media language.

Divided into a number of smaller units, each module offers learners a glossary for each media text as well as a supplementary glossary at the end of the book. These glossaries should prove to be invaluable in expanding learners’ word repertoires. Moreover, learners’ vocabulary building skills can be polished through the multiple translation and writing exercises provided with each text. Similarly, students’ speaking skills can be enhanced by the discussion and debate prompts that allow an examination of current affairs. In this way, this textbook meets the current call for a closer look into the troubled area of the Middle East. Additionally, intensive 60-minute listening materials from prominent Arabic channels (e.g. BBC Arabic, Aljazeera) are made available for free to teachers and students on the website of Georgetown University Press. These up-to-date authentic materials are intended to familiarize students with Arabic talk shows and the latest news items.

Advanced media Arabic is a valuable textbook that provides advanced learners of Arabic as a second language with a wide array of authentic media Arabic texts and audio files that should not only educate learners about the Arab world media but also enhance their Arabic reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.