|
Amman, capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is an ancient city facing distinct modern challenges, thus making it an exciting place to live and study. Built on seven hills, Amman has expanded in size and population from a quaint sleepy town at the close of World War II, to the bustling, multicultural metropolis it is today. At the heart of the city is the ancient Citadel containing ruins from many civilizations. It overlooks a well-preserved and restored Roman Amphitheater, today used for concerts and cultural events. Further afield in Jordan there are Roman ruins in Jerash and the spectacular Nabatean city of Petra in the south.
Jordan is deeply enmeshed in the international relations of the region, sharing land borders with Iraq, Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia. It is one of only two Arab countries to have open borders with Israel, thus it remains a key player in Arab-Israeli affairs. Over the past several decades it has absorbed refugees from Palestine, Kuwaitis who left Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion in 1990 and most recently, Iraqi refugees. These new inhabitants have transformed Amman and brought new life to its local culture.
Under King Abdullah II and his father King Hussein, Jordan has made great strides in education, health care and economic reform while creating a distinctively Jordanian democratic structure. Nonetheless, Jordan faces many challenges that students can study and observe first hand – the effects of regional conflicts, social change, lack of natural resources, environmental concerns, and delivering on the promise of economic development to its citizens.
The program offers two 5-week sessions, allowing a student to move through two levels in one summer. The curriculum is based on AMIDEAST’s Arabic Language and Culture Curriculum, which is functional and communicative in its approach. The teachers are carefully selected native speakers with excellent language teaching experience and skills.
The Summer Intensive Arabic Program in Amman, Jordan offers Modern Standard Arabic instruction in two 5-week sessions.
Classes meet 5 hours per day; 5 days per week. Each session therefore includes 125 hours of instruction in Modern Standard Arabic.
Students are given placement tests on arrival and placed in the level appropriate for their Arabic language proficiency. The following levels are offered:
Beginning Modern Standard Arabic I (Arabic 101; 5 credits)
Beginning Modern Standard Arabic II (Arabic 102; 5 credits)
Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I (Arabic 201; 5 credits)
Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic II (Arabic 202; 5 credits)
Advanced Modern Standard Arabic I (Arabic 301; 5 credits)
Advanced Modern Standard Arabic II (Arabic 302; 5 credits)
For students whose proficiency is beyond the advanced level, a tutorial program will be arranged to address their specific interests (Media Arabic; Arabic literature; Classical Arabic texts, etc.)
Students may enroll in one or both sessions.
All students enroll in Modern Standard Arabic and in Jordanian Arabic at a level appropriate to their proficiency. MSA meets for 4 hours a day and Jordanian Arabic for 1 hour a day.
This course introduces the Arabic alphabet and sound system forms. Students will be given ample opportunity to practice and produce both the alphabet and the sound system; they will start developing their vocabulary via specific structures presented in the textbook. Students will learn simple grammatical structures and gradually listen to authentic and instructional materials that come with the textbook. Most of the exercises and the activities are task-based and student-centered. The course will cover the material in Alif Baa and Al-Kitaab, Part One, Chapters 1-7. By the end of this course, students will be able to
- Distinguish and pronounce all Arabic sounds;
- write accurately from dictation;
- initiate social interactions, ask for basic information, and be aware of basic cultural aspects of social interaction in the Arab world;
- talk about themselves, their education, and their family with native speakers of Arabic;
- comprehend simple written texts on familiar topics;
- comprehend simple audio/video texts on familiar topics;
- compose simple paragraphs about themselves; and
- be familiar with some of the differences between formal and spoken Arabic.
This course consolidates material learned in Arabic 101, and introduces students to more advanced and more challenging linguistic and cultural material from Al-Kitaab, Part One, Chapters 8-18 as well as locally produced authentic materials. By the end of this course, students will be able to
- Activate the learned vocabulary through interactive activities;
- understand basic grammatical structures in Arabic;
- produce a lengthy descriptive and narrative discourse in speaking;
- express their opinions and show their preferences using structured language;
- follow and understand short written and spoken texts in the news in the TV;
- read mid-size texts, using skimming techniques appropriate for their level; and
- learn more aspects of Arabic culture.
Primary textbooks for Arabic 101 and Arabic 102:
- Alif Baa Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds by Kristin Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas Al-Tonsi
- Al-Kitaab fi Ta’allum Al Arabiya with DVDs A Textbook for Beginning Arabic: Part One, second edition by Kristin Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
- Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic edited by J.M. Cowan
- Locally produced materials, selected by program faculty.
This course is designed to reinforce all the linguistic skills at both the reception and production levels. Students will also get a wide exposure to many aspects of Arabic culture through integrated outings designed for them to practice Arabic language in genuine contexts. The material covered in this course is from Al-Kitaab Part One, Chapters 19-20 and Al-Kitaab, Part Two, Chapters 1-3. By the end of this course, students will be able to
- Use basic conversational tasks successfully in different social situations;
- understand and use basic grammatical rules;
- read mid-size texts;
- extract the main ideas of non-technical texts;
- extract the main points in video materials and be able to discuss important ideas;
- develop conversational skills using a variety of language functions (e.g., description, comparison, cause and effect, arguing for/against, etc.);
- engage in a variety of daily conversations;
- Give short presentations on topics of interest;
- understand basic grammatical rules and structures in Modern Standard Arabic;
- converse in Arabic using a variety of language functions appropriate for their level; and
- acquire knowledge about major aspects of Arab and Islamic culture.
Primary textbooks for Arabic 201:
- Al-Kitaab fi Ta’allum Al Arabiya with DVDs Part One, second edition by Kristin Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
- Al-Kitaab fi Ta’allum Al Arabiya with DVDs Part Two, second edition by Kristin Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
- Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic edited by J.M. Cowan
- Locally produced materials, selected by program faculty.
This course is a continuation of Arabic 201. Course objectives are seen in terms of students performing linguistic tasks successfully, gaining self-confidence, and expanding their risk-taking in real-life communicative situations. This course covers the material in Al-Kitaab, Part Two, Chapters 4-10. By the end of this course, students will be able to
- Guess the meaning of new words from contexts;
- use skimming and scanning techniques;
- write short paragraphs correctly;
- read authentic material from Arabic advertisements, short narratives, descriptions of people and places, simple contemporary poetry, topics on Arab culture, etc;
- write both informal and formal letters;
- write medium length compositions on familiar topics, including descriptions, short narratives, etc;
- master and distinguish Arabic sentence structures;
- understand and construct simple paragraphs and simple texts;
- enrich his/her vocabulary;
- understand some Arabic spoken situations.
- read and understand short paragraphs and short texts;
- write correct sentences and correct paragraphs and short texts; and
- begin to acquire up more developed ideas about Arab and Islamic Culture.
Primary textbooks for Arabic 202:
- Al-Kitaab fi Ta’allum Al Arabiya with DVDs Part Two, second edition by Kristin Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
- Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic edited by J.M. Cowan
- Audio-visual materials, texts selected by faculty from Arabic newspapers and magazines, etc.
This course is designed to move learners from a stage where they have achieved the basic grammatical skills, to being able to use language in a wider cultural context. At this stage, learners will be widely exposed to the main issues related to the Arab world and Jordanian culture. This course adopts a skill-based approach in which learners gain mastery of the language through the use of authentic materials taken from various sources. Teaching techniques are student-centered, with the instructor as the facilitator, and the goal of teaching to make students independent users of Arabic. Encounters with Arab professionals and visits to relevant institutions will be integrated in the syllabus. Evaluation will be based on both achievement of syllabus materials and success in out of the classroom tasks. This course covers the material in Al-Kitaab, Part Three, Chapters 1-5. By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand more complex grammatical structures;
- listen to daily news, lectures, take notes, and make comments;
- describe elaborately things that are close to them;
- compare issues and show their preferences;
- express their own viewpoints and defend them; and
- linguistically behave appropriately in various situations
This course provides additional practice at the advanced level to help students attain a higher level of skill development (e.g., listening, speaking, reading and writing) and linguistic accuracy. This course covers the material in Al-Kitaab, Part Three, Chapters 6-10. By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Expand more essential vocabulary that helps them to cope with topics of professional interest;
- obtain information, to understand the ideas presented in a text, to discover the author’s point of view and to seek evidence for their point of view;
- enrich their grammatical knowledge and apply it as one of the analytical tools in comprehending reading texts;
- produce lengthy descriptive and argumentative discourse in speaking;
- summarize texts and express their point of views in writing and speaking; and
- interact with native speakers and engage in discussions of contemporary issues.
Primary textbooks for Arabic 301 and Arabic 302:
- Al-Kitaab fi Ta’allum Al Arabiya with DVDs Part Three, second edition by Kristin Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal and Abbas Al-Tonsi.
- Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic edited by J.M. Cowan
- Audio-visual materials, texts selected by faculty from Arabic newspapers and magazines, etc.
In this course, students use authentic material from literature, academic research and the press to develop their abilities to extract essential information and identity linguistic nuances. Students are expected to produce reaction papers where they express their own assessment of the content, the form of the text and the position and the arguments of the author. Students also are expected to be able to identify figures of style and produce texts demonstrating near native competence.
- Teaching materials will consist of literature, texts, and materials assembled by faculty from Jordan and other parts of the Arab world.
Students are introduced to words, expressions, and structures used frequently in everyday life. Students practice them in class before they are given assignments to carry out with native speakers in real situations. Evaluation combines performance in class and successful interaction with Jordanians. By the end of the course, students are able to ask essential questions and understand the responses, express basic facts and opinions in simple sentences, and engage in basic conversations in Jordanian Arabic with native speakers. Living with a Jordanian family provides daily opportunity for practice.
Students who have already studied Modern Standard Arabic are introduced to words, expressions, and structures used frequently in everyday life in Jordan. Students practice them in class before they are given assignments to carry out with native speakers in real situations. Evaluation combines performance in class and successful interaction with Jordanians. By the end of the course, students are able to ask essential questions and understand the responses, express facts and opinions in simple as well as complex sentences, and engage in conversations in Jordanian Arabic with native speakers about non-academic topics. Living with a Jordanian family provides daily opportunity for practice.
Students with a strong background in Modern Standard Arabic are introduced to vocabulary, expressions, and structures used frequently in Jordanian everyday life. Students practice them in class before they are given assignments to carry out with native speakers in real situations. Evaluation combines performance in class and successful interaction with Jordanians. By the end of the course, students are able to ask questions and understand the responses, express facts and opinions in complex sentences, and engage in conversations in Jordanian Arabic with native speakers about a wide range of topics, both academic and non-academic. Living with a Jordanian family provides daily opportunity for practice.
May 21
May 22
May 23
June 24
June 25 |
Students Arrive, Orientation Begins
Orientation
Classes Begin
Final Exams
Students Depart |
July 2
July 3
July 4
August 5
August 6 |
|
Students Arrive, Orientation Begins
Orientation
Classes Begin
Final Exams
Students Depart |
The Qasid Institute for Classical and Modern Standard Arabic is the partner for AMIDEAST’s Education Abroad Program in Amman.
The Qasid Institute has developed a reputation as one of the leading programs in the Middle East for Arabic language learning. Its comprehensive curriculum begins with the proper pronunciation of Arabic letters and continues through to a high degree of proficiency.
The word qasid is used to describe a path that is direct and smooth. This is the way the Qasid Institute believes the Arabic language should be taught. The term qasid is also used to describe an individual who strives forward with a direct, specific intention, and clearly defines the kind of student that Qasid attracts to its programs.
As the Qasid Institute’s reputation has grown, its programs have made it the program of choice in Amman for embassies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and U.S. colleges and universities seeking excellence in Arabic language instruction. In 2008 it hosted the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Summer Intensive Institute in Jordan; it will do so again in 2009. Though its programs are designed mainly for university-level students and busy professionals, Qasid students range in age from 15 to 65. They include embassy and consular officers, Fulbright researchers, full-time mothers, medical doctors, Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship recipients, and Ivy League graduates.
More information about Qasid Institute can be found on its website: http://www.qasid.com.
Upon arrival in Amman, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in a one and a half day orientation designed to introduce them to Jordanian culture and daily life and familiarize them with the logistics of the program. Students move in with their host families immediately. The orientation combines structured informational sessions with organized activities. Topics such as safety and health, family life in Jordan, cultural adjustment, program regulations, participant responsibilities and other essential information are all discussed during orientation. An essential part of the Orientation is language placement.
Students in the AMIDEAST Summer Intensive Arabic Program in Amman live with Jordanian families that have been carefully screened by AMIDEAST/Jordan from a database of qualified applicants. Students usually are placed with families who have previous experience hosting American students through AMIDEAST. Few, if any, families speak English.
AMIDEAST matches students with host families using a variety of criteria. While all placement preferences may not be met in every case, AMIDEAST will strive to make the best match to ensure a rewarding and pleasant living experience. In the event of a problem, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program staff members will be available either to mediate or to arrange a new host family placement. Students living with host families will be provided with all meals by their host families but may find that some days it is not possible to return to the family for lunch because of class schedules.
AMIDEAST organizes one day trip each session to a different part of the country –either to Jerash and Ajloun or to Madaba and the Dead Sea. AMIDEAST staff are also happy to provide information and even assistance with arrangements for independent travel to other parts of Jordan. There will be plenty of time and opportunity to explore your options once you arrive in Jordan and your session begins. For those staying for both sessions, AMIDEAST staff will provide information about independent travel options during the week-long break between sessions for those enrolling in both sessions.
The program is managed by AMIDEAST/Jordan in conjunction with AMIDEAST headquarters in Washington, D.C. AMIDEAST works collaboratively with the Qasid Institute to oversee the academic curriculum and implementation of the program. It also manages all logistical elements of the program, including the on-site orientation, host family placement and supervision, arrangements for optional travel excursions, and the planning of special events and extra-curricular activities. Finally, AMIDEAST provides comprehensive support to both participants and administrators in the event of any problems or unusual circumstances.
America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST) was founded in 1951. It has field offices in 23 cities in 145 countries in the region, giving it a well-developed infrastructure, capacity, and institutional record of successful exchange programs rooted in more than five decades of in-region experience administering scholarships and exchanges on behalf of U.S. and Arab governments, private companies, and individuals.
Since 1958, AMIDEAST has been providing quality educational services in Jordan. Its office in Amman’s Sweifieh district will be the program’s headquarters, with classes meeting there. Located in a bustling commercial area, the office includes classrooms, a small library and a wireless network that students can access. It is also within easy reach of public transportation, malls and shopping centers, restaurants, gym facilities, and bookstores
AMIDEAST/Jordan reaches thousands of students and professionals annually through English and Arabic language courses, academic advising, standardized testing, and cultural exchange programs. AMIDEAST/Jordan has designed and administered numerous programs for youth, undergraduates, and educators, and has arranged homestays, transportation, excursions, community service, language training, professional meetings, and lectures for groups of American students.
Hala Qubein is AMIDEAST’s Education Abroad Program Manager in Jordan. A Jordanian, born and raised in Amman, she lived in the US for 4 years and received her bachelor’s degree from High Point University in North Carolina. She has travelled extensively throughout Europe and the US and has been involved in several inter-cultural projects throughout her life. Having studied abroad, and gone through the challenges and triumphs of adjusting to a new culture and speaking a different language, she is able to help students adjust to new surroundings and overcome the challenges of being away from familiar surroundings. Hala has been working in Jordan for the past ten years and is well acquainted with the professional, social and cultural aspects of Amman. She is involved in different cultural and volunteer organizations, and has worked with people from different cultures and backgrounds for many years. She has also worked with young adults for over ten years in both a professional and volunteer capacity. Hala joined AMIDEAST at the start of the program in the summer of 2009. In that role she coordinates all aspects of the program, including orientation, housing, excursions, scheduling, student activities and much more. A resident of Amman, Hala loves music, travelling, meeting new people and chocolate!
- Are enrolled at an accredited college or university and have completed one year of post-secondary study
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale); however, applications will be considered holistically
- Are physically and emotionally prepared to spend 1-3 months in Jordan
- Are willing to adapt to a new, potentially challenging environment
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted and considered on a rolling basis until the program is filled. We urge you to complete your application as soon as possible, as well as contact an AMIDEAST staff member prior to submission.
- December 1, 2009 – Applications accepted for summer 2009
- May 3, 2010 – Application deadline for summer session 1
- June 1, 2010 – Application deadline for summer session 2
for the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the
Arab World on-line application.
For more information contact:
AMIDEAST Summer Intensive Arabic Program in Jordan
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 776-9640
Fax: (202) 776-7040
Email: IntensiveArabic@amideast.org
The comprehensive fee for each session is US$4,950. Fees include pre-departure preparation, on-site orientation, tuition, housing, meals with an Arabic speaking Jordanian host family, and medical insurance, including medical evacuation and repatriation, and political and security evacuation coverage.
One Session |
Tuition & fees |
$4,250 |
Room & board |
$700 |
TOTAL |
$4,950 |
One Session |
Local transportation |
$80 |
Personal expenses |
$200 |
Books |
$75 |
TOTAL |
$355 |
Tuition and fees are subject to change.
- International airfare
- Local personal transportation
- Communication and other personal expenses
- Some meals
- Optional excursions
|
