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Rabat is one of Morocco’s “imperial cities,” and its modern capital. It is home to the leading educational institutions in the country and offers students opportunities to move from the shops and cafes of the “European” city to the winding alleys and exciting markets of the old “medina” in a few minutes’ walk. The AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Rabat offers a Summer Intensive Arabic Program that focuses on Modern Standard Arabic at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Students in the program live with Arabic-speaking Moroccan families and attend classes at AMIDEAST’s facilities in the bustling Agdal area of the city.
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 Rabat, Morocco, 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 two sessions.
All students enroll in Modern Standard Arabic and in Moroccan Arabic (Darija) at a level appropriate to their proficiency. MSA meets for 4 hours a day and Moroccan 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 1-5. 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 6-15 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 16-20 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 Moroccan 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 ofliterature, texts, and materials assembled by faculty from Morocco 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 Moroccans. 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 Moroccan Arabic with native speakers. Living with a Moroccan family or in a student residence hall with Moroccan students 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 Morocco. 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 Moroccans. 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 Moroccan Arabic with native speakers about non-academic topics. Living with a Moroccan family or in a student residence hall with Moroccan students provides daily opportunity for practice.
Students with a strong background in Modern Standard Arabic are introduced to vocabulary, expressions, and structures used frequently in Moroccan 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 Moroccans. 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 Moroccan Arabic with native speakers about a wide range of topics, both academic and non-academic. Living with a Moroccan family or in a student residence hall with Moroccan students provides daily opportunity for practice.
Primary Textbook for Moroccan Arabic:
- Moroccan Arabic Language and Culture by Abdellah Chekayri (Georgetown University Press, in press).
Ms. Naima Bary graduated from Mohammed V University – Agdal in Rabat with master’s degree in applied linguistics and foreign language teaching methodologies. Since then, she has been teaching English in several academic and foreign professional institutions. Her research interests include second language acquisition, education in multicultural societies and applied learning technologies. Ms. Bary is deeply involved in teacher training and has participated in a number of workshops in Egypt, Washington D.C, Miami and Texas and has represented Morocco at the First International Annual Leadership Conference in Ocala, Florida. In 2006, she was a Fulbright scholar at Florida Atlantic University. She was on the staff of the summer Arabic and North African Studies program at Al Akhawayn University in 2007 and 2008. Ms. Bary is a member of the American Association of University Supervisors and Coordinators and the African Language Teachers Association.
May 22
May 23
May 24
June 25
June 26 |
Students Arrive, Orientation Begins
Orientation
Classes Begin
Final Exams
Students Depart |
July 3
July 4
July 5
August 6
August 7 |
Students Arrive, Orientation Begins
Orientation
Classes Begin
Final Exams
Students Depart |
The AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in the Arab World partner in Rabat, Morocco is Mohammed V University – Agdal.
Founded in 1917 in Rabat, Mohammed V University-Agdal is Morocco's most prestigious public university. It has over 25,000 students in its various schools, and over 5,000 in its College of Letters and Humanities, where the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program is focused. Its faculty includes many of Morocco's pre-eminent scholars, while its students are among the most promising in the nation.
Mohammed V University-Agdal is an international academic leader, and is committed to the global exchange of ideas and people. In particular, it participates in a wide variety of bi-lateral and multi-lateral research initiatives, hosts visiting scholars from throughout the world, and works cooperatively with several international organizations, most notably the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The University is also home to a growing number of international students, most of them from other African countries.
AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program courses in Rabat are taught by a select group of Moroccan professors from the College of Letters and Humanities as well as others from other colleges of the University and from other institutions in Rabat and neighboring cities. All have both fluency in English and experience teaching in English. All of the participating faculty received post-graduate degrees from universities in North America and Europe or have spent extended periods at English-medium institutions as students, visiting faculty or visiting researchers.
More information about Mohammed V University – Agdal can be found on its website: http://www.um5a.ac.ma/SiteAnglais/index.php
Upon arrival in Rabat, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in a one and a half day orientation designed to introduce them to Moroccan culture and daily life and familiarize them with the logistics of the program. The orientation combines structured informational sessions with organized activities. Topics such as safety and health, family life in Morocco, 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 Rabat live with Moroccan families that have been carefully screened by AMIDEAST/Morocco 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. Most host family members speak Arabic as a first language and also speak at least some French; a minority speak Spanish or Amazigh (Berber) as well.
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 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 – usually to a beachside town either north or south of Rabat (in the past such trips have gone to Asilah to the north and El Jadida to the south). AMIDEAST staff are also happy to provide information and even assistance with arrangements for independent travel to places like Fez, Marrakesh, Tangier and even the desert in the south. There will be plenty of time and opportunity to explore your options once you arrive and Morocco and your session begins. For those staying for both sessions, AMIDEAST staff will provide information about independent travel options during the week-long break.
The program is managed by AMIDEAST/Morocco in conjunction with AMIDEAST headquarters in Washington, D.C. AMIDEAST works collaboratively with Mohammed V University-Agdal 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 1979, AMIDEAST has been providing quality educational services in Morocco. With offices in Rabat and Casablanca, AMIDEAST reaches thousands of students and professionals annually through English and Arabic language courses, academic advising, standardized testing, and cultural exchange programs. AMIDEAST/Morocco 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.
Doha Ait Ahmed serves as Program Manager for AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in Rabat. A Moroccan citizen, Doha grew up in Agadir in southern Morocco and has lived in Rabat for the past eight years. After graduating in 2000 from Ibnou Zouhr University in Agadir with a bachelor’s degree in English, she taught English and classical Arabic at two schools in Agadir before moving to Rabat to work with the U.S. Peace Corps. While working with the Peace Corps from 2001 until 2008, Doha was a Moroccan Arabic and Tashelhit (an Amazigh dialect) teacher, cross-cultural trainer and home stay coordinator. She also worked each summer with a youth development training center in Fez. Doha joined AMIDEAST in June 2008 as a group leader for American high school students from Seattle in Morocco for an intercultural experience. She began teaching Moroccan Arabic in the fall 2008 semester, facilitated cross-cultural training sessions and organized academic program excursions. In the summer of 2009 she taught both Moroccan Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic as part of the AMIDEAST Summer Intensive Arabic Program in Rabat. In the fall semester 2009 she became Program Manager.
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- 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 Morocco
- 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 2010
- May 3, 2010 – Application deadline
for the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the
Arab World on-line application.
AMIDEAST Summer Intensive Arabic Program in Morocco
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 776-9640
Fax: (202) 776-7040
Email: IntensiveArabic@amideast.org
Fees include pre-departure preparation, on-site orientation, tuition, housing, meals with an Arabic speaking Moroccan 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 |
Estimated Personal Expenses:
| One Session |
Local transportation |
$80 |
Personal expenses |
$200 |
Books |
$75 |
TOTAL |
$355 |
Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Tuition and Fees do NOT cover:
- International airfare
- Local personal transportation
- Communication and other personal expenses
- Some meals
- Optional excursions
Morocco is a gateway to Africa and the Arab world. A meeting point for civilizations and continents situated on the northwest tip of Africa, contemporary Morocco, with its nearly 35 million people, is a unique fusion of Middle Eastern, European, and African cultural influences. Here, visitors have the opportunity to experience life in a Muslim country while exploring the distinct society and traditions of the Maghreb. Whether enjoying a croissant and mint tea at a cafe, visiting Amazigh (Berber) villages or wandering through the medinas and their souqs, each experience in Morocco offers rich insight into its remarkable culture. With its striking topography, vibrant culture, and distinctive history, Morocco is an ideal destination for cross-cultural interchange and learning.
Morocco's physical landscape is as varied as its culture, ranging from sun-scorched deserts to temperate coastal plains, mountain peaks to sandy beaches. Visitors can even ski on the snowy slopes of the Atlas Mountains in winter. A mild, Mediterranean climate predominates in most parts of the country, with hot, sunny summers, and cool, moist winters.
Islam heavily influences daily life in Morocco. From the fasts of Ramadan to the five daily calls to prayer, it is a significant force in virtually all aspects of Moroccan life. It has been the dominant religion in the region for nearly fourteen hundred years and the official religion of the modern state since Morocco regained its independence in 1956. The population is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, adhering to the moderate Maliki school of Islamic law.
Moroccan Islam has attracted considerable attention from scholars for its openness to democratic reforms (support for multi-party democracy, human rights, women's rights, and acceptance of liberalism in government). American anthropology as a field has been strongly influenced by fieldwork carried out in Morocco by pre-eminent scholars such as Clifford Geertz, Lawrence Rosen, Paul Rabinow, Vincent Crapanzano, Daisy Dwyer, and others. The diversity of the hybrid cultural variants in the country is fascinating. Not only in religious practice but also in music, folklore, rituals, architecture, and ethnic interactions. The new emphasis on Amazigh (Berber) culture is another area of increasing interest in many fields as well.
Morocco is one of the most politically stable countries in the Arab world, and a long-time ally of the United States and Europe. It is accessible to visitors, with a thriving tourist industry and a generally friendly attitude towards foreigners. Governed as a constitutional monarchy, the current head of state is King Mohammed VI, who ascended the throne in 1999. His reign has been marked by political and social reform, economic liberalization, and an increasingly active role in international politics.
Rapid urbanization is changing the appearance and character of contemporary Morocco, with over half of the population now residing in cities. Casablanca, situated on the Atlantic coast, is the country's largest city and economic capital, with a population of nearly four million. Rabat, the nation's capital and its second-largest city, is located about sixty miles to the north. Other major urban areas include the popular tourist destinations of Fez, Marrakesh, Tangier, and Agadir.
AMIDEAST’s programs are based in Rabat, Morocco’s cosmopolitan capital. Situated at the confluence of the Bou Regreg River and Atlantic Ocean, Rabat is a relaxed, yet stately metropolitan community of 1.7 million people. Steeped in rich history, Rabat is one of Morocco’s four imperial cities. Its medina (old city) is easy to navigate and includes housing as well as shops and traditional craftsmen plying their trade, The modern city, dating to the early 20th century has wide, pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined boulevards and many green spaces, and houses the political and administrative offices of Morocco’s government as well as its parliament, supreme court and Royal Palace.. Settled in the third century BC, Rabat subsequently was ruled by the Romans, Berbers, Arabs, and lastly the French before Morocco’s independence in 1956.
In addition to government offices, Rabat is home to Morocco’s most prestigious academic institutions and numerous non-governmental and international organizations, including ISESCO,(the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Mohammed V University – Agdal was Morocco’s first modern university and is joined in Rabat by such prestigious institutions as the Hassan II Institute of Agronomy, National Administration School, and Applied Statistics Institute. A recent addition to Rabat’s research and cultural institutions is the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture.
Rabat’s waterfront is undergoing a total makeover with construction of a marina, apartment and commercial complexes, and a landscaped walkway along the riverside. A light rail system is under construction and soon will link Rabat with Salé, its rival twin city across the river, and extend through the modern city to Madinat al-Irfan (City of Knowledge, or university quarter). With tens of thousands of students and a vibrant cultural life, Rabat is an exciting place to live and study.
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