Speaking Arabic Always Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was one of only two students in my classes so I got much attention and from my instructors. Course material was engaging and challenging. I learned very much.

On-site administration of your program

Quality people, very professional, always eager to help

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The host family living arrangements were very comfortable and high quality. In addition to this, I attended the summer program as well, during which I shared a large apartment with other American students. Amazingly, CIEE allowed me and one other student to stay in our respective summer apartments FOR FREE for the whole month of August until orientation for the fall program because we didn't have the money to fly back to America in between programs. I was so happy.

Jordan has some delicious dishes. Mansaf is a commonly favored dish.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

For those who cared and tried to integrate themselves and make friends, it was very easy. I made friends simply by walking around campus. At least three times I met a new language partner just by being approached by a Jordanian University student who wanted to know if I spoke English.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I became somewhat sick several times toward the beginning of my six months there. However, toward the end of my stay I fell violently ill with non-stop vomiting because of a virus that was going around. My host mother insisted that I go to the hospital and so I went to the Arab Medical Center and received speedy treatment in a waiting room with curtained beds. The nurses then informed me that I should be entered into room in the actual hospital so they could monitor what my worrisome hemoglobin levels, and that the entrance fee to the hospital was 500 dinars (around $700). I didn't have that money so I called up a program coordinator named Ahmad and told him that I didn't know what to do. He told me that CIEE could pay for my entrance fee then as long as I paid them back before the end of the program. I was relieved because I was confident that my family's insurance would cover a portion of the expenses and that whatever leftover expenses would be covered by CIEE's third party insurance company that they signed us up for called iNext. Ahmad then arrived at the hospital and paid for my entrance into the hospital where I received quality care and recovered after two days.

In my personal experience, I never felt that I was in danger, and met many nice people. I did a lot of walking alone at night (often at two and even three in the morning) and not once was there a problem. However, the study experience in Amman is very different for girls, and it is recommended not to walk alone at night. There was at least one serious incident during the summer 2012 program in which an American female acquaintance of mine walked alone at night in a fairly deserted neighborhood and was stalked by a car, after which a guy got out of the car and struck her. Luckily it did not go further than that, but it was definitely a traumatic and dangerous situation. Other than that, we as a group had a safe experience, and people on the street are very often happy to help direct you where you need to go and even strike up small talk.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

CIEE at least gives a monthly taxi stipend to each student based proportionately to his or her distance from the school which helps A LOT

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Host Family

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• Americans

• no-English rule which made us always use Arabic
• assigned language partners
• very loveable staff

• no idea

The Academic or Linguist