AMIDEAST, the largest American provider of English language training in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has partnered with World Learning/SIT Graduate Institute—a U.S.-based global leader in teacher education—to launch a unique certificate program for teachers of English. Representing over 100 years’ experience in education, the two prestigious nonprofit organizations have joined forces to meet the growing demand in the Arab world for quality training in English language teaching and provide current and future teachers the first such American-accredited program available throughout the region.

Program Summary

Launched in 2011, the Arab Women’s Entrepreneurship Project (AWEP) is helping women to overcome barriers to their effective participation in the regional economy by providing access to training, mentoring, and other forms of support that enhance the chances that women participants in its programs will succeed as they start a new business or expand an existing one. By focusing on women from underserved backgrounds, the project seeks to help a greater number of the region’s women to realize their entrepreneurial goals and thereby enhance the region’s economic potential. Funding from Citi Foundation has enabled AWEP to offer training rounds in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and the U.A.E.

Program Summary

Camp Discovery provides an enriching, happy summer camp experience for mainly at-risk youth from refugee camps in Gaza and the West Bank. Piloted in 2007, it has been expanded in size and duration in the following summers, reaching more than 1,650 children ages 8-14 within its first four years. Camp activities focus on English language training in a fun-filled, learner-centered environment, which is carried over and applied in complementary modules focused on artistic expression and scientific discovery, along with community service and team-building activities, as well as leadership development opportunities. The summer camps are funded by the U.S.

AMIDEAST is the leading American provider of English language training (ELT) in the Middle East and North Africa. Our English language training centers are administered by seasoned professionals and courses are taught by professionally-trained native and near-native speakers of American English.

Students learn practical everyday English that they can use in real-life situations such as at work or school. AMIDEAST's small classes, customized instruction, and comprehensive learning resources help students improve their English language skills quickly and effectively. Central to AMIDEAST’s approach to language teaching and teacher training is the integration of critical thinking and technology skills inside and outside the classroom.

AMIDEAST organizes English classes for adults, teens and young learners.

Program Summary

Under a new partnership with Cisco Systems, Inc., AMIDEAST training centers in five countries — Lebanon, Oman, Morocco, Tunisia, and the West Bank — offer the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute’s cutting-edge entrepreneurship training curriculum to aspiring entrepreneurs. Supported by an open source, web, and media-enabled platform the training enables participants to network with fellow entrepreneurs locally, regionally and globally.

AMIDEAST trains English teachers and provides technical assistance and professional development resources to teachers engaged in primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions in the region.  Our teacher training programs focus on the development of student-centered teaching methods and strategies for emphasizing critical thinking skills in the learning process.

AMIDEAST works with local institutions and education ministries to provide English language based training in communications skills, as well as mathematics and science, to help prepare students for success at the next level.  Most of these students are seeking to attend higher education institutions in the region or in the United States.

Program experience in this area includes:

University Preparatory Program (UPP)

In partnership with the King Faisal Foundation, AMIDEAST designed the UPP, a one-year program strong in science and mathematics that is designed to prepare promising Saudi high school graduates to gain entry to Alfaisal University and top higher educational institutions worldwide. Located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the program was launched in September 2007.  AMIDEAST has been involved in curriculum development, teacher recruitment, and overall management of the program.

English Language Support Program, King Faisal School (KFS)

AMIDEAST was contracted by the King Faisal School (KFS), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to provide English language assessment, teacher training, and teacher recruitment services supporting the school’s transition to an International Baccalaureate World School. In addition, AMIDEAST developed and delivered an English language enrichment program for students struggling with the demands of the English-medium education at KFS.

AMIDEAST trainers work with private companies, educational institutions, governmental agencies, and nongovernmental organizations to identify special training needs and develop programs tailored to meet them. In many cases, training covers a multi-year period, helping to build capacity needed in today’s competitive global environment.  Individual representatives are encouraged to contact country offices in the countries where they operate for additional information.

Some of the sectors in which we are engaged in contributing to workforce development include:

English Language Training for Air Traffic Controllers and Airline Pilots

AMIDEAST has worked with Tunisia’s air traffic controllers and pilots for nearly two decades to raise their proficiency in aviation English to the international aviation industry’s standards.

English Skills for Egyptian Tourism

Working with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and its tourism industry. AMIDEAST is improving the English language proficiency and cross-cultural skills of 100,000 front-line tourism workers as Egypt seeks to grow its international tourism sector.

English for International Agencies

Working with the European Commission and United Nations agencies, AMIDEAST is assisting local professionals in international organizations to improve their language proficiency to operate more effectively. 

For more information please contact our English Language Training Director, Helena Simas at Hsimas@amideast.org