summer arabic language

Quick Info

By Term

• Summer 2013
• Summer 2014

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Program Overview

If you’re interested in beginning your study of Arabic, or taking your advanced language skills to the next level, come discover Jordan this summer.

Through a rigorous course of instruction, you’ll develop skills in both Modern Standard and spoken Arabic while student clubs, and a variety of cultural activities, offer you insight into Jordanian society and the culture.

Study abroad in Amman and you will:

• Begin or improve your Arabic through intensive language training in Modern Standard Arabic and Colloquial Jordanian Arabic
• Develop core vocabulary and colloquial conversation skills through language and culture clubs
• Work with Peer Language Tutors to enhance language skills and learn about campus life
• Explore Jordan through excursions to places such as desert castles and Biblical sites

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

Building on the instruction provided in your Modern Standard Arabic course you’ll learn Colloquial Jordanian Arabic, the language of spoken communication in the country. Essential for everyday use, you’ll use your Colloquial Jordanian Arabic skills in domestic, intimate, and informal settings in the home, workplace, and among friends and acquaintances.

Excursions

Enjoy a number of excursions to Jordan’s archaeological, historical, and natural wonders. The study abroad program will include a day trip to one of Jordan’s well know historical sites such as the Byzantine era churches in Madaba, and a day-long community service activity in a rural part of the country. The program also includes one overnight trip to Petra. CIEE resident staff will also keep you up to date on local cultural events, including films, concerts, and conferences.

Immersion

Study abroad in Amman offers a number of programs and activities to help integrate you into the local and university communities. Explore traditional songs and music with a Language and Culture Club, try your hand at cooking or calligraphy, or meet with Peer Language Tutors for conversation and assistance with your Arabic.

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Summer 2013 (7 wks)

Extended to: 04/15/2013

06/06/2013

07/25/2013

$7,300

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, a local transportation stipend, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$5,798

Housing ***

$1,100

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes one meal per day for homestay students; no meals are included for students staying in the apartment option

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$700

International Airfare **

$1,600

Books & Supplies

$100

Visa Fees

$100

Personal expenses

$600

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* Amount for meals for apartment students. Students living in homestays are responsible for two meals per day, estimated at $500

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Summer 2014

04/01/2014

to be announced

to be announced

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 2.75
• 0–6 semesters of college-level Arabic or equivalent

Recommended Credit

Total recommended credit for the summer program is 7 semester/10.5 quarter hours.

Contact hours are 85 for the Modern Standard Arabic course and 42 for the Colloquial Jordanian Arabic course.

Program Requirements

All students are required to take Modern Standard Arabic and Jordanian Colloquial Arabic. Students with no background in Arabic are automatically enrolled in Beginning I. All other students are assigned based on the results of a placement exam taken upon arrival. The CIEE Language Coordinator makes the final determination of which level is most appropriate in consultation with the instructors and the student.

About The City

Amman has a history that reaches back at least 5,000 years. Despite the ancient ruins that dominate the downtown skyline, much of the city only dates back to the 1970s. Draped over several hills, Amman is a study in contrasts. A traditional downtown souk (marketplace) is a taxi ride away from massive, American-style shopping malls. It is a very accessible, cosmopolitan city with numerous museums, art galleries, theaters, and cinemas. With its reputation for security and hospitality, Amman is home to inhabitants from all over the Middle East. The city provides a safe and stable environment for students to learn about the region.

Meet The Staff

Najeh Abu Orabi

Dr. Najeh Abu-Orabi, a native of Jordan, has been challenging American students to master the Arabic language for over a decade. In addition to leading the Arabic Langauge program, Dr. Abu Orabi manages the Arabic language curriculum for CIEE in Jordan. He has a Ph.D. in Arabic Language Curricula and Education Methods and an M.A. in Arabic Language. Dr. Abu-Orabi has also taught Arabic at the University of Virginia and is a certified ACTFL OPI tester. For the Arabic Language program, Dr, AbuOrabi works with a special team of instructors all with advanced degrees in Arabic language and literature and extensive experience teaching Arabic as a foreign language to international students and are trained in ACTFL standards.

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Elena Corbett

Resident Director

Dr. Elena Corbett joined CIEE in August 2012 as the new CIEE Amman Resident Director. She holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago. She has taught a range of courses in Middle East History, Islamic Civilization, and Arabic, most recently at Penn State University Erie and the U.S. Naval Academy, where she was also the Academic Programs Coordinator for the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies.

Elena has designed and administered several study abroad opportunities for American students in Jordan, including the inaugural year of the Critical Language Scholarship program in 2006. A specialist in the history of the modern Middle East with a background in Islamic archaeology, Elena’s research focuses on 19th-20th century intellectual history, and notions of communal identity in Jordan as based on engagement with archaeology and cultural heritage.

She has published her work in Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, Middle Eastern Studies, and is completing a book manuscript. Elena has spent many years living and working in Jordan, where the chance to participate on an archaeological dig brought her on her first study abroad experience as an undergraduate student.

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Where You'll Study

Founded in 1962, the University of Jordan is the oldest public four-year institution of higher education in Jordan. The University has 13 academic faculties, 65 academic departments, and a diverse student body of nearly 35,000, including 1,800 international students. The CIEE Study Center is located opposite the main gate of the University and offers students a wide range of support, library, and advising services. Participants in the Summer Arabic Language study abroad program also have access to the CIEE on-campus office in the University of Jordan’s Language Center. CIEE students have access to all major campus facilities, including the library and computer labs.

Housing & Meals

Most participants live with other CIEE study abroad students in local apartments. Students need to budget for all meals as they are not included in the program fee. However, lunch is provided for students during orientation and CIEE sponsored excursions. There are also inexpensive sandwich and coffee shops on campus. Students receive a stipend to be used for transportation to and from campus. CIEE housing in Jordan requires students to make adjustments to the host culture, including curfews, limits on guests, and decorum. Apartments have limits on visitors and quiet hours for safety purposes and deference to local norms.

Orientations

The study abroad program begins with a mandatory two day orientation program that will introduce you to the academic program, fundamentals of intercultural communication, and practical information about living in Jordan. Orientation also includes a health and safety component. Ongoing support is provided on an individual and group basis throughout the program.

Internet

You will have full access to the computer and Internet facilities at the University of Jordan, which includes several wireless areas. Internet cafés are also a convenient and inexpensive option. Please note that the Internet is not as fast or readily accessible as in the U.S. You will not have access to the Internet in your apartment.

Culture

Cultural Activities and Field Trips

The academic program is supplemented with excursions to Jordan’s archaeological, historical, and natural wonders. The study abroad program will include a day trip to one of Jordan’s well know historical sites, such as the Byzantine era churches in Madaba and a day-long community service activity in a rural part of the country. The program will also include one overnight trip to Petra. CIEE resident staff will keep you up to date on local cultural events, including films, concerts, and conferences.

Independent Travel

You are encouraged to travel independently throughout Jordan on weekends. Any travel outside of Jordan is only permitted after you complete the CIEE Amman Independent Travel form, sign a CIEE independent travel waiver, and review potential security or safety concerns with resident staff. You are also expected to inform your home institution and emergency contacts about your plans for independent travel outside of Jordan.

Peer Language Tutors

CIEE recruits University of Jordan students from the faculty of Foreign Languages to serve as Peer Language Tutors. You'll be matched according to language ability and interests when possible. You'll be briefed on expectations and are expected to commit up to three hours a week to meet with your Peer Language Tutor on campus for conversation and assistance with your Arabic. This program facilitates interaction with local peers and offers you insights into campus life.

Language and Culture Clubs

Three afternoons per week, you'll be encouraged to attend a different club session arranged by CIEE resident staff. These clubs will allow you to work on specific skills or explore cultural or artistic aspects of the language in a non-graded, non-credit setting. Clubs may include songs and music, drilling verb-sessions, calligraphy, and cultural sessions introducing students to needlework, Jordanian cooking, the art of Henna or conversation on selected topics with local students.

Academics

The CIEE Arabic Language summer study abroad program is designed for intensive language acquisition. The Arabic language skills of participants will greatly improve through their required courses, interaction with Peer Language Tutors, and participation in CIEE language and culture clubs.

Academic Culture

This is a rigorous program for focused students seeking the opportunity to begin learning Arabic or to continue their studies. The number of daily contact hours is high, and attendance is required. Instructors are natives of Jordan and reflect local cultural norms in their classroom demeanor and pedagogy. Students must expect a more formal classroom environment and take initiative in understanding instructors’ expectations. Language classes are held five days a week for four hours daily. Instructors have office hours for students with questions and in need of extra help.

Nature of Classes

Participants take classes with other CIEE students only.

CIEE Community Language Commitment

As students gain proficiency in Arabic, CIEE resident staff encourage them to use their language skills in everyday settings. This fosters a learning community that contributes to both Arabic language proficiency and understanding of Jordanian society.

Grading System

Grades (A–F with pluses and minuses, on a 100 point scale) are assigned based on mid-term and final exams and, depending on the course, additional assignments such as a research paper or a class presentation. Attendance and class participation are also incorporated into the final grade for the program courses. Attendance is mandatory for all classes and unexcused absences incur an academic penalty.

Language of Instruction

Arabic
English

Faculty

All courses are taught under the direction of Dr. Najeh Abu-Orabi and by University of Jordan appointed instructors selected by CIEE.

Course Description

Program Blog

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