Arizona in Jordan
The Arizona in Jordan program is cancelled for summer 2024.
The Arizona in Jordan program is an eight-week summer program based in the Jordanian capital of Amman, bustling with cafes, shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Amman offers the perfect milieu for experiencing an Arabic-language immersion. In addition to Arabic courses, students attend volunteering opportunities, cooking, and calligraphy classes.
In addition to the coursework, students participate in several academic excursions to sites such as the Nabatean ruins of Petra, the Bedouin desert valley of Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Ajloun, and Wadi Mujib.
Students arrive in Amman and begin a rigorous 2-day orientation to learn about the city, transportation, and cultural norms. At the end of the orientation students move into their summer homestay with a Jordanian family. Arabic classes begin at the end of the first week in country and run through the final week with a one-week midterm break.
Arabic classes are taught by local faculty trained in the pedagogy of teaching Arabic as a foreign language. Students will choose either 3rd or 4th year MSA or 1st year Levantine as their focus. All program participants are matched with language partners to offer additional speaking practice and enhance language acquisition. Afternoon activities in Amman promote language use in a real-life environment.
How to Apply
To apply, visit Study Abroad and Student Exchange. Please note this application is for the Center for Middle Eastern Studies program run in collaboration with the School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies. This application link is not for the UA Arabic Flagship program.
Application deadline: TBA
Cost: TBA
Eligibility
- 2.5 GPA minimum
- 2 years of Arabic language study prior to the program start date
- AZ in Jordan is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all universities in the US and abroad.
Student Testimonies
“The Arizona in Jordan program far exceeded any expectations I had for a study abroad program. Not only were the classes of equal quality of ones that the University of Arizona offered (if not better), but the experiences I had on the trip were far more valuable than I could have anticipated. The program made me approach going to Jordan not as a tourist or visitor, but as someone trying to immerse themselves in the culture and language of the country, which was a mindset that helped me gain a far better understanding of the Middle East than I had before going on the trip. The Ethnography class was amazing; all the readings were fascinating and relevant, and the final project of making an ethnography of a cafe was great for forcing me to examine not only situations closer, but also my own interpretations of those situations. My teacher for the Jordanian Arabic class was perhaps one of the best language teachers I have ever had, and I think I learned more Arabic in six weeks of class than I did in two years of U of A classes.”
“The program was fantastic and our professors were absolutely first class. A couple of things really surprised me though. The first thing that hit me was our level of autonomy there and I'll admit it was very intimidating at first. However, that autonomy was probably responsible for at least half of my learning, both culturally and linguistically, while I was in Jordan.”
“My experience with the University of Arizona in Jordan was nothing short of outstanding. Having never ventured outside of my home state before, I was apprehensive about many aspects of traveling abroad – where I would stay, how I would get around or communicate effectively. However, because of the work done by the UA program director and the CIEE instructors, I never felt at a disadvantage adapting culturally or linguistically.”
“This summer’s program was an awesome opportunity to learn Arabic, embrace the culture, and make lifelong friends. The classes were challenging, but they served to strengthen my language skills and increase my confidence in discussions and conversations.”
“Arizona in Jordan offered me a chance to see and share in an entirely new part of culture and humanity. The program simultaneously developed my Arabic proficiency in both formal and informal listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The cultural immersion, exploration, and interaction I experienced with Jordan and its people will remain with me as some of my fondest memories. It was the trip of a lifetime.”
More Information
Students can earn UA credit for all Arabic coursework. Arabic courses are 120 hours of classwork. Please note you can either do 3rd year MSA, 4th year MSA or 1st year Levantine. You will choose one level to focus on intensively and will not be able to change from a dialect focus to MSA. Course options include:
Modern Standard Arabic
- ARB 405/406 3rd Year Advanced MSA (Undergraduate Level)
- ARB 407/408 4th Year Advanced MSA (Undergraduate Level)
- ARB 505/506 3rd Year Advanced MSA (Graduate Level)
- ARB 507/508 4th Year Advanced MSA (Graduate Level)
Levantine Arabic:
- ARA 424A Levantine Arabic/ARB 424B Levantine Arabic
Please note due to COVID safety precautions, students will be staying in apartments and will have single occupany rooms.
- Course tuition
- Housing (price varies depending on selection)
- Accommodation during overnight excursions (double or triple)
- Partial board during excursions (2 meals per day) - this item will probably change and the price will be adjusted accordingly
- In-country travel associated with program activities
- Airport transfers in country.
- Airfare to and from Amman
- Passport and visa costs
- SIM card, mobile phone, and mobile plan for phone
- Course books and associated materials (i.e. dictionaries)
- Transportation costs to and from language classes
For questions about the program, please contact: Julie Ellison-Speight (jellison@arizona.edu or 520-621-8079).