summer language + culture

Quick Info

By Term

• Summer 2013
• Summer 2014

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Program Overview

Whether your Arabic is basic or advanced, the CIEE Summer Language and Culture study abroad program in Rabat, Morocco is designed to help you develop your Arabic language skills and learn firsthand about contemporary Morocco.

Through language study, an innovative course that explores Morocco’s rich history and culture, and a variety of opportunities for cultural engagement, you will improve your Arabic while gaining greater insight into present-day Moroccan society.

Study abroad in Rabat and you will:

• Learn Arabic at your level, and learn the local dialect through the elective Colloquial Moroccan Arabic course
• Focus on Moroccan society and culture in an innovative elective course
• Live with a local family and immerse yourself in Moroccan culture
• Visit museums, festivals, the Medina, and Kasbah; and take field trips to the ancient ruins of Chellah and the Andalucian Gardens; explore another Moroccan city on a multi-day stay

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

Undertake intensive language study while examining Morocco’s complicated and fascinating culture and contemporary society. Explore Moroccan history, politics, development, economics, education, gender issues, and popular culture role in the Arab world as well as its ties to Europe.

Excursions

The study abroad program includes a series of required and optional cultural activities and field trips in and around Rabat, including concerts and festivals, as well as visits to the ancient ruins of Chellah, the Andalucian Gardens, local elementary schools, and government agencies. Group activities are also held in the Medina and Kasbah. As part of the language courses, you may visit local markets and attend music and theater performances, which provides practical language training opportunities. You will also enjoy a multi-day stay in another Moroccan city such as Fez or Marrakech.

Community Engagement

You may choose from a variety of volunteer activities with local NGOs, schools, and other organizations. In the past, CIEE participants have worked with blind students, mentally challenged youth, women’s groups, Berber groups, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank.

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 (6 wks)

Extended to: 04/15/2013

06/02/2013

07/13/2013

$6,450

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, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$5,148

Housing ***

$900

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 most meals

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee

$400

International Airfare *

$1,250

Local Transportation

$100

Books & Supplies

$50

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.

* 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
• 2 semesters of college-level French or Arabic or equivalent

Recommended Credit

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

Modern Standard Arabic has 60 contact hours with recommended credit of 4 semester/6 quarter hours. Contemporary Moroccan Culture and Society and Colloquial Moroccan Arabic have 45 contact hours with recommended credit of 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours.

Program Requirements

All study abroad students enroll in Modern Standard Arabic Language at the appropriate level. Students who want to focus entirely on Arabic language also take Colloquial Moroccan Arabic, while other students take Contemporary Moroccan Culture and Society.

About The City

Rabat, Morocco’s capital and second largest city, has a population of three million. Rabat hosts Morocco’s most prestigious universities, as well as many international institutions such as UNESCO and the World Bank. The city offers a combination of the modern and traditional, and provides a wide range of opportunities for students to experience its culture through art exhibits, music, and theater. Central Rabat has a modern infrastructure with large office buildings, palm tree-lined boulevards, cafés, restaurants, and shopping centers.

Meet The Staff

Madiha DeRosa

Madiha DeRosa is the Resident Director of the CIEE Rabat Study Center. She received her M.A. in International Education and Development from George Washington University and a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University. Bicultural and multilingual, Madiha has worked with both American and Moroccan university student and faculty groups. She brings a strong background in student services, teaching, and intercultural project coordination.

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A long-time symbol of tolerance, Morocco established a precedence of openness and cooperation to the Western world when it became the first country to recognize the United States in 1777. As a strategic gateway between Europe, Africa, and the Arab world, Morocco has a rich identity forged by a complicated history of cross-cultural interactions. The result is a multicultural and multilingual society full of contrasts and harmony. These differences and harmonies are highlighted throughout the program and lie at the heart of the student experience. Through cultural excursions to places such as the Sahara Desert, Atlas Mountains, and Atlantic and Mediterranean coast, students are also exposed to Morocco’s geographical diversity, experiencing firsthand how the locals make use of the landscape in their everyday lives.

Morocco is continually looking for ways to preserve its traditions while acclimatizing to the rapid growth and progress that the nation is experiencing. Students find themselves at the center of these dynamic forces as Morocco aspires to become a model and leader for the other countries in its region. Our program not only provides a multitude of opportunities for the exploration and the discovery of these issues but it also offers the perfect setting by which students can reflect upon the diversity that they encounter at every turn.

— Madiha DeRosa, Resident Director

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Housing & Meals

Students live with Moroccan families in modern or traditional homes in various neighborhoods throughout Rabat. Families are carefully selected by local CIEE staff. Most homes combine western and traditional Moroccan elements, and families are typically multilingual. Study abroad host families provide breakfast and dinner on weekdays and additional meals on the weekend.

Orientations

A mandatory two-day study abroad orientation conducted in Rabat at the beginning of the program will introduce you to the city, culture, and academic program, as well as provide practical information about living in Morocco. Ongoing orientation discussions and a re-entry workshop at the end of the semester are designed to help students with cross-cultural adjustment and adaptation.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring a wireless-enabled laptop. Some of the homestays offer Internet access. You will have access to the Internet at ESDG, as well as at Internet cafés throughout the city.

Academics

Established in 2008, the Language and Culture summer study abroad program gives students the opportunity to take Arabic language courses taught by Arabic language specialists and take the CIEE contermporary Moroccan society and culture course taught by local professors.

The program is designed to provide students intensive Arabic language training along with a multifaceted academic analysis of Moroccan culture and history. In addition to the courses offered, students can engage themselves locally through volunteer opportunities. Students wishing to focus a larger percentage of their studies on Arabic language may choose to take an elective language course in Colloquial Moroccan Arabic.

The program is suitable for students with a strong interest in Arabic language, as well as a variety of academic disciplines, including Moroccan studies, religion, business and economics, and literature.

Academic Culture

Teaching methods involve a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, and fieldwork. Guest lectures, field trips, and excursions are also an important component of the academic curriculum.

Nature of Classes

Participants take classes with other CIEE students only.

CIEE Community Language Commitment

As students gain proficiency in Arabic, resident staff encourage them to use their language skills in everyday settings. The more students participate, the more a community that contributes to Arabic language proficiency and understanding of Moroccan society develops.

Grading System

All courses utilize a continuous assessment model and may include quizzes, exams, individual and group presentations, research projects, and papers. Courses are designed to follow a standard U.S. grading scale from A–F.

Language of Instruction

Arabic
English

Faculty

The Arabic language courses are taught by faculty from the Qalam wa Lawh Arabic Language Center. The contemporary Moroccan culture and society course is coordinated by the CIEE academic director.

Course Description

Program Blog

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