Jordan: Time of my Life! Past Review
By Paige C (Criminal Justice and Corrections., Marywood University) for
CIEE: Amman - Language and Culture
My experience was defiantly worthwhile. People stereotype Muslims and Middle Eastern countries because of 9/11, but from meeting the people and living in Jordan - it was nothing like the media portrays it. Jordanian's are very nice and welcoming - they love teaching Arabic and learning English! I traveled to other countries while I was studying abroad which was an amazing experience. Studying abroad impacted my academic interests because I want to learn more about the History of the Middle East and continue learning Arabic and maybe another dialect of the Middle East.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The Arabic classes were challenging because we learned a lot of grammar which is the hardest part about that language. I would have liked to have spoken more in the classroom, but overall it was a great experience because I would never get that type of education at schools in my hometown area. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was very organized, yet it was very strict. There was a lot of rules pertaining to class attendance and curfews. The program size was very big, and I met wonderful people throughout my study abroad program. Being in a Middle Eastern country as a female has it's disadvantages. I would try to talk to local people and most of them would get the wrong idea, so I could not use my Arabic out on the streets too often. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The food was great |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Wadi Rum Desert, Dana Nature Reserve, and PETRA!! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe, CIEE would text us if there were any protests or anything of that nature. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't buy gifts as soon as you get there, wait until you realize how to bargain and understand the money more. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate Arabic |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The best way to improve language skills is by talking to local people who are fluent in the language you are learning. Vocal communication is the key to a language proficiency, and studying on your own on top of that helps a lot. Most people spoke Arabic (the Jordanian Dialect) so I would use their "slang" when speaking, but in class I would use the Modern Standard format, so it was difficult at times. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Words of wisdom: Study Arabic everyday, speak the language as much as possible, and TRAVEL! |
