International Summer Institutes

PROGRAM CLOSED FOR 2011

MSU Faculty Led Short-Term Study Abroad Institutes Global Education Center Montclair State University 22 Normal Avenue Upper Montclair, NJ 07043	Tel: 973 655-4185 Fax: 973 655-7654 simonw@mail.montclair.edu

 

Montclair in Amman Arabic Language and Civilization June 24 - August 16, 2011

Program Overview
The program is based at the University of Jordan, the oldest university in the country with 19 divisions offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. The university has about 38,000 students, including 3,000 international students from 62 countries, and is a worldwide leader in teaching the Arabic language. It is based in Amman, the capital of Jordan, a fascinating city of contrasts, with a unique blend of old and new, ideally situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. The people of Amman are multi-cultural, multi-denominational, well educated and extremely hospitable. Participants will get a sense of its rich heritage, surrounded by the remnants of ancient civilizations. Due to the city’s modern-day prosperity and temperate climate, almost half of Jordan’s population is concentrated in the Amman area. The residential suburbs consist of mainly tree-lined street and avenues flanked by elegant, almost uniformly white houses. The downtown area is older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling everything from jewelry to everyday household items. The program includes faculty-led, overnight excursions to the World Heritage site Petra, often described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world and to the Red Sea resort and historical area of Aqaba and the Mameluk Fort, originally a Crusader Castle rebuilt by the Mameluks in the sixteenth century.

Accommodations and Meals
Participants stay in furnished apartments near the university. Female students also have the option to stay on campus in university housing for female students.  Students may use university cafeterias or nearby restaurants, which are very inexpensive. Students residing in furnished apartments may prepare their own meals.

Faculty Director
Mazooz T. Sehwail, the director of the Arabic Program at Montclair State University, is a graduate of New York University.  He has been teaching Arabic Language and Culture at MSU and at Bergen Community College since January 2008.  He has taught and started Arabic programs at other institutions in the US and abroad since 1993.  Prof. Sehwail is also a translator/interpreter, and has traveled, lived and taught in the Middle East.

Academics: Participants take three courses for nine credits.

Introduction to Arab Culture (ARAB 201)   Required for all participants
This course introduces some of the main themes and concepts of Arab culture(s) in Arabic-speaking countries, and will highlight such topics as the history, geography, and demographics of the Arab World; the concept of ethnicity and Arab identity; the importance of religion, namely Islam; political structures in Arab societies; family structure; the role of the Arabic language; literature, cinema; music, etc. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Non-Western Cultural Perspectives. Cross listed with ARIN 201.

All students register for two Arabic language courses to be taught by University of Jordan faculty.
Beginning Arabic I (ARAB 101)
A basic introduction to the Arabic language with emphasis on speaking, reading, writing and listening through classroom drill and communicative activities.

Beginning Arabic II (ARAB 112)
For students who have completed Beginning Arabic I. Continuation of basic skills, intensive vocabulary practice through reading texts on culture and life of the Arabic-speaking world.

Intermediate Arabic I (ARAB 121)
Prerequisites: ARAB 112. This course is designed for students who have completed Arabic 101 and 112 at Montclair State University or students who have been placed at this level. Though the course continues to build on the listening comprehension skills developed in Beginning Arabic I and II, the focus is on reading and writing through the study of representative works and characteristic aspects of Arabic culture.

Intermediate Arabic II (ARAB 132)
Prerequisites: ARAB 121. For students who have completed Arabic 121 at Montclair State University or students who have been placed at this level. Advanced development of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing through the study of authentic texts, representative works and characteristic aspects of Arab life and culture. *All of the above courses meet the 1983 General Education Requirement (GER) - Foreign Language. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Languages.

Advanced Arabic I (ARAB 151)
Prerequisites: ARAB 132. This course is designed for students who have completed Intermediate Arabic I and II at Montclair State University or students who have been placed at this level through an MSU official placement test. The course incorporates substantially more vocabulary than the previous two intermediate levels. Through the study of representative authentic works that highlight different aspects of the Arab culture, the accompanying tasks and activities emphasize reading and writing. Activities aimed at improving speaking and listening skills are incorporated as well.

Advanced Arabic II (ARAB 152)
Prerequisites: ARAB 151. This course is designed for students who have completed Advanced Arabic I at Montclair State University or students who have been placed at this level through and MSU official placement test. The course is a continuation of Arabic I and is characterized by more emphasis on reading and writing skills, listening and speaking are still adequately integrated in a manner that accomplishes advanced language proficiency. Laboratory work available.

Pre-Enrollment form

Faculty Led Short-Term Study Abroad Institutes Forms

Program Costs:
Estimated $3,000 plus tuition and fees for nine credits. The program cost includes:

• Roundtrip airfare
• Housing
• All transfers in Jordan
• All group excursions, including entrance fees to museums and hotel

Application procedure and payment schedule:
All participants are required to have
1) a minimum GPA of 2.75;
2) an interview with one or both of the faculty leading that program;
3) a reference form completed by a faculty member other than the faculty
leading that program; and
4) the $100 non-refundable application fee.
Summer programs are open to non-MSU students and a limited number of high achieving high school seniors who demonstrate special interest. Non-MSU students, new transfer students and high school seniors will need to submit two references forms plus an official transcript from their home institution(s).

Applications and the application fee (non-refundable but applied to total program cost if accepted) may be submitted at any time up to February 15. Once accepted into the program, the payment schedule for program costs is as follows:

Payment Schedule:
Non-Refundable Application fee:        $   100
By February 15, 2011:                        $   900
By March 15, 2011:                            $To Be Confirmed
By April 15, 2011:                               $To Be Confirmed

Make checks payable to "Montclair State University"
A limited number of partial scholarships are available for MSU students with a 3.0 G.P.A. Contact the Global Education Center for further information.

Non-MSU Students:
Applicants should submit two reference forms and official transcript(s) from the home institution(s) plus the $100 non-MSU administrative fee and the $100 non-refundable deposit. Telephone interviews with the faculty will be accepted for out of state students. After completion of the program, non-MSU students will need to request an MSU transcript for submission to the home institution.

For Further Information:
Contact the Global Education Center at 973-655-4185 or email simonW@mail.montclair.edu.
For further information about the program contact the program director, Prof. Sehwail at 973-6554283 or sehwailM@mail.montclair.edu