Arabic Language Courses at
Noor Majan Institute (Muscat, Oman) & Sijal Institute (Amman, Jordan)  
June 11 – August 17, 2023

Students will depart from their hometown to Muscat International Airport to formally begin their Arabic courses with Noor Majan Arabic Institute for the first five weeks of the program. On July 13, students will fly into Queen Alia International Airport in Amman to spend the next five weeks with Sijal Institute. Over the total ten weeks spent in Oman and Jordan, student programming will consist of the following components:

1. Modern Standard Arabic
2. Language partners with extra exposure to Fusha or Omani / Jordanian dialects
3. Cultural enrichment activities
4. Educational travel excursions
5. Community-based experiential learning
6. Critical intercultural communication
7. Total program contact hours: 275 hours, not including weekend program excursions
8. Tutoring as needed
9. All students who have prior experience with the Arabic language will be required to take a placement test prior to departure for the program.

Students will have an immersive Arabic as One Language experience. Noor Majan and Sijal will each pair students with a local peer for the language partners component, for which pairs will meet in local public spaces of their choice to have conversations in Arabic. This component of the language curriculum will have a more colloquial tone, meant to give students exposure to local dialects and speaking habits. In addition to language instruction, students will participate in rich cultural activities and educational trips at each institute. All program-related transportation will be included (including to and from the airport).

The diverse enrichment activities offered at Noor Majan and Sijal are meant to give students a cultural perspective on life and society in the Arab world. Some of the cultural activities at Noor Majan will include presentations by local Omani NGOs, calligraphy workshops, and conversations with representatives from the Sidab Women’s group. Travel excursions will include trips to Nakhal, Dakhiliya, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, and the desert. Locally, students will visit the Grand Mosque, Mutrah Souq, The Opera House, and the National Museum. During their time with Sijal, students will participate in a “Welcome to Amman” city walk, cooking activities featuring Jordanian cuisine, and a local graffiti art tour. For an additional fee, students may join the optional overnight excursion to Wadi Rum, Petra, Aqaba, and Jerash (during the Eid break) led by a professional guide.

Accommodations 
Student housing will be provided for the duration of the program. In both Oman and Jordan, Noor Majan and Sijal will provide furnished apartments within walking distance of the institute. 

Noor Majan Institute (Oman) Itinerary Overview

• Each weekday (Sunday – Thursday) the program starts at 8:45 AM and lasts until 3 PM, including class time, a lunch break (lunches included in program cost), cultural activities (once/week), and language partners.
• Total Oman program contact hours: 145 hours, not including weekend program excursions.
• Students have free time after 3 PM, in the evenings, and during the weekends if there are no travel excursions.

Sijal Institute (Jordan) Itinerary Overview

• Each weekday (Sunday – Thursday) the program starts at 9 AM and lasts until 3:30 PM, including class time, a lunch break, cultural activities and lectures, and language partners.
• Total Jordan program contact hours: 130 hours, not including weekend program excursions.
• Students have free time after 3:30 PM, in the evenings, and during the weekends.
• Office hours are available from 3 PM – 5 PM.
• There is a four-day break for Eid al Adha (June 24 – 27). For an extra, all-inclusive fee of $700, students will have the option to go on a sightseeing/study tour of Wadi Rum, Petra, Aqaba, and Jerash.

The summer 2023 Turath Oman-Jordan program is eligible for federal and private funding. We encourage students to seek scholarship opportunities through their home institutions and are happy to provide any documentation necessary to fulfill their funding requirements.

The fee for the 10-Week Noor Majan & Sijal program is $7,510 USD, which covers all coursework, cultural activities, lunches during the program at Noor Majan only, and program excursions. Airfare, daily meals, travel insurance, health insurance, and personal expenses are not included in the program fee.

PLEASE NOTE: International health insurance is required for participation in the program. Travel insurance is recommended but not required.

Official transcripts will be provided at the end of the program. Alif is open to signing Memorandums of Understanding and School of Record agreements for the transfer of credit to your host institution. All you need to do is send an email to our Arabic Language Program Director, Kinda Hanano, connecting us to your advisor, administrator, or study abroad office during the registration process.

Eligibility

The Summer 2023 Turath Study Abroad Program is open to students of Arabic of all levels. Given the intensive and immersive nature of the program, applicants should expect to make a serious commitment to learning Arabic during their time with Alif, Noor Majan, and Sijal.

PLEASE NOTE: International health insurance is required for participation in the program. Travel insurance is recommended but not required. 

Application Instructions

For additional information about the summer 2023 Turath Oman-Jordan program, please contact info@alifinstitute.org.