Seven students, four from Bryn Mawr College and three from Haverford College, attended a three-week study program for Bi-Co Arabic Language students at the Sijal Insitute in Amman, Jordan. The pilot program took place from July 27 to Aug. 18.
The students stayed in Amman and took Arabic Language classes four days out of the week (Sunday through Wednesday) and traveled around Jordan including trips to the Dead Sea, Jerash, Karak Castle, Mount Nebo, Petra, and the Wadi Rum on the weekends.
On these trips they explored both the history and culture of Jordan through its archaeological remains, visits to art galleries, and eating at restaurants serving authentic cuisine.
The program itself was designed as an Arabic language and cultural immersion experience, and throughout the three weeks there were also a number of workshops on topics such as Arabic calligraphy, issues around immigration, and traditional cooking.
The program proved attractive to students because it provided a bridge over the summer for their Arabic language skills, with the goal of coming into the Fall semester of Arabic at a higher level. It also allowed the opportunity to learn a dialect of Arabic and to experience the life and history of a region of the Middle East.
