Jordan: You'll Learn Arabic, That's For Sure! Past Review
By Alexa S (Middle Eastern Studies, Arabic, Tufts University) for
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury In Amman
Yes, it definitely was, because I came back confident in my language skills, in my Arabic, and in my studies.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Overall the academics do exactly what they professed to: immerse American students in a full-Arabic atmosphere. In the beginning, our classes served more to teach us vast amounts of vocabulary, but by the end of our semester we were comfortable enough to discuss really in-depth topics regarding politics, gender roles, Jordanian law, the Arab Spring and the Palestinian vote in the UN. The grading system was fair, and our professors adapted to us as much as we adapted to them. They kept up with our learning curve, always challenging us in new ways. The hardest differences--most MSA classes ended up with a lot of busywork, the Amiyya ir Colloquial classes involve a lot skits. The electives that I took, Gender Issues in the Arab World and Media Arabic, both varied in their homework but the class discussions usually proved to be the best part. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were communicative, but especially our semester, the Administration was not as supportive as I would have liked. There were a lot of culture shock issues for a lot of us, and also a few program-wide issues (the girls had to change their living situation) that we should have worked through, or at least talked about, as a group. I think they also needed to have a larger role in roving us with opportunities for language partners, or language exchanges, or helping us find extracurriculars. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Well, our situation was quite specific: home stays were not available, so all of us lived in dorms. All of us lived within walking distance of the University, in an area called Jubeiha. It was quite convenient, but it's also one of the sketchiest parts of Amman. It's not dangerous, but it definitely does have its moments of not feeling safe. We, as women, were living in a dorm that turned out to be a brothel. We were never in any immediate danger, and our program did move us out within a week and a half of us finding out. Needless to say, that perhaps speaks best to the area of town we were staying in. Besides for that, the housing gave us a great opportunity to bond as a group and learn Arabic from each other. |
| * Food: |
Food was great! Be careful about too much falafel if you're watching your weight. But overall eat everything, everywhere--except for certain Shawerma--and enjoy it! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our trips to Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Wadi Mujib and the Dead Sea, along with Wadi Ibn Hammad and Umm Qais were truly fantastic, and such dun bonding events. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Jordan is a safe place, truly. It can be hard to adjust to health wise--most of us had digestive issues at least a few times throughout the program, and our program was very good about taking us to the hospital, checking in with us, and making sure we were doing okay. And safety issues were dealt with individually but our administration always emphasized that they were there to help us should we need it. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100--including drinks (you have to buy bottled water in Jordan!), food, taxis, coffees and such, and the odd expenses for clothes or entertainment or groceries. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Well, food was extremely cheap and therefore not an issue. However, if you wish to do any international travel (which one ABSOLUTELY should do!) to Egypt, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, ect. it does cost money for planes and such. Day-to-day living expenses, though, were quite manageable and not expensive. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Arabic IV, or fourth-semester Arabic |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
My language skills improved immensely, but not through any direct involvement or programs of my program's. Really, keeping the Language Pledge was the best thing for my Arabic. Most people in Jordan do speak English, and will try to practice their English with you. But if you stay firm and just keeping speaking Arabic, you will be able to practice with locals! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes 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? | The best students for this program are those that really wish to learn Arabic. For if that's their primary motivation, everything else will seem part of the experience |
