This course is designed for students who have completed a first-level course in Arabic and wish to pursue the subject to degree level. It aims to develop thoroughly the four basic language skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, making extensive use of authentic Arabic materials. Each of the twenty chapters is based around a particular topic relating to the culture, history, politics, geography or society of the Arab Middle East, to give students an insight into important aspects of the region. This topic-based approach allows students to tackle vocabulary and structures in a coherent and concentrated manner. Each chapter contains materials for translation into and from Arabic, aural texts, précis passages, suggested oral discussion topics, and a variety of exercises including comprehension in English and Arabic. Accompanying cassettes and a teacher's handbook are available separately.