Study Abroad

Arabic Language and Culture Summer Course ( ALC )

Summary

Divan Student Travel, in cooperation with Petra University, Amman, Jordan, has organized an eight-week total immersion summer program to be held in Amman to teach Arabic Language and Culture A)LC) for non-Arabic-speaking international students. The program teaches Arabic as a second language as well as introduces students to the Arabic and Islamic culture.

The program aims at teaching international students to speak both classical and colloquial Arabic while exposing them, on a daily basis, to the Arab, Middle Eastern culture. This approach will allow the student to handle both official and everyday situation, an added valuable skill to their bank of knowledge.

The course is  accredited university course developed for college and university students from 18-30 years old and includes various cultural and community-oriented activities. These activities include social functions, participatin in mock peace conferences with local students, and interaction with Jordanian families through visitations and home stays. The immersion process also includes many excursions to historical landmarks.

Background

Petra University

Petra University is located in the western part of Amman and is one of the most welcoming universities in Jordan. It has four departments with a friendly campus. Petra University’s heritage is a cultural mosaic which Jordanians value, respect and enjoy sharing with others.

Petra University has made major advancements in a short amount of time and currently has an enrollment of 6,000 students, which includes international students from around 30 countries. The university has an excellent reputation in the international and regional academic communities, as well as among faculty, staff, students and their families. Its research programs encompass a range of areas and are affiliated with other major research institutions.

Petra University’s has extensive international involvement through participation in a variety of exchange programs, and has left a great impact in the region.

Divan Student Travel

Divan Student Travel is an international organization that recruits students for educational, cultural and training programs. It has offices in Amman, Jordan, and two offices in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt. And Saudi Arabia

Working in partnership with international non-profit organizations (NGO’s) and education providers, we are dedicated to assisting students to gain knowledge, education, and practical experience by offering educational and cultural exchange programs. This year in Jordan we offer a two-month Arabic Language and Culture Program that provides university accreditation to non-Arabic-speaking international students, who are able to complete the program during their summer vacation. Accreditation is provided through Amman’s prestigious Petra University in conjunction with Divan Student Travel.

Goals and Objectives

The Divan/Petra University program is designed to help students learn an important world language in Amman, a Middle Eastern city with deep roots in ancient history that currently bustles with modern urban life.

The goals of the program are:

• to teach students the rich Arabic language so that they have immediate usage of the language;
• to help bridge the gap between the two different cultures of East and West through the cultural component of the course;
• to assist young leaders with unique qualities to take initiative.

Program objectives are:

• to promote cultural understanding. We convene a coalition of young American and Jordanian students ages 18 – 30 who address issues regarding misconceptions between the two cultures. Participants are geographically and ideologically diverse, coming from various fields of study such as business administration, political science, and international relations. Jordanian families in Amman host American students, offering a significant opportunity to experience the culture of Jordan and the Middle East. If a host family is not available, students live in furnished apartments in well-chosen communities.
• to teach  Arabic language. Non-Arabic-speaking international students learn to speak classical Arabic as well as colloquial speech for the purpose of both official and day-to-day use. Teaching the language through immersion in the culture enhances speech clarity, confidence, listening skills, verbal expression, conversation  and grammar.

Participants are encouraged to speak and interact with Jordanians. Classes are limited to ten students each to provide more personalized attention . Students are expected to conduct some workshops and presentations as part of the activities organized by the university.

Weekly Educational Program

Modern standard Arabic 6 hours

Colloquial Arabic 5 hours

Calligraphy 1 hour

Arabic and Middle East culture 5 hours

Newspaper reading 1 hour

Writing skills 1 hour

TV, Video and Media 1 hour

• to provide insightful experiences and information. Organizes trips to several historical and cultural sites exposing students to both ancient and current Middle Eastern societies. Excursions include all important historical sites in Jordan.
• to establish a platform for future peace initiatives. Throughout the immersion experience, students acquire the knowledge and skills to enable them through understanding to facilitate future peace initiatives. At the end of the program, students form teams with young Jordanians; the teams articulate their vision and conclude with recommendations for further successful peace initiatives through cultural understanding.

Accommodations

Home stay with local Jordanian families. Two students could be accommodated with the same Host family through the program. Host families provide in-depth cultural experiences through interactive dialogue, authentic Jordanian food, visits to the local markets ( soq ) and everyday activities.

Furnished apartments. Students can share an apartment in which case they provide their own meals.

Activities, Sports and Entertainment include:

• Bowling, football, ping-pong, volleyball, basketball ,swimming,
  
• Museum trips, like King Hussein Museum, car collections, cinema, barbecue parties;
• Field trips, karaoke night, Party night and shopping

Excursions to Historical Landmarks

Participants are able to explore the culture of Jordan through organized visits to such places as Petra, the Dead Sea, the Baptism Site, Jerash and Um Qais. These activities provide a in-depth experiences through close interaction with local people and through the history represented by those places.

Program Schedule of Excursions

Timeline

Jordan – eight-week program - summer of 2010

Duration of the course is eight weeks, with classes held four hours/day, five days a week.

The Jordanian weekend is Friday and Saturday.