Arabic Language and Interdisciplinary Learning Program in Jordan — Online for Summer 2021

Students who are interested in beginning or deepening their study of Arabic, linking it with their interest in Middle Eastern Archaeology, and/or embedding their language study within a 5-week externship, should read on and consider applying for the program.

Opportunities for Summer 2021 include:

• Session I: 5 weeks of Arabic language learning (beginner through advanced), and a content course (in English) on the Archaeology of Jordan and the Middle East.
• Session II: a second 5 weeks of Arabic language learning and a content course on either Cooking around the Arab World, The History of Arabic Music, The Syrian Crisis, Contemporary Arabic Literature and Poetry, the Palestinian Revolution, or Colloquial Jordanian Arabic through the Media.
• Externship: 5 weeks working with a local organization in Jordan accompanied by continued Arabic language learning.

Students applying through Haverford College will participate in the program remotely.

You may find more information on the program below. Please contact Matt Jameson (mjameson [at] brynmawr.edu) with program questions, or Stephanie Zukerman (szukerma [at] haverford.edu) with application questions.
 

Application Checklist

Students wishing to apply to the program should follow the checklist below. The first link is the application through Sijal, which must be completed for acceptance into the program. The second link is intended for students who wish to receive funding for Sessions I & II through Global Bryn Mawr. The third and fourth links are to apply for funding for the externships. We advise that you write your personal statement in a separate word document because it might be useful for multiple applications (i.e., to Sijal and for Global Bryn Mawr funding).

• Apply to Sijal (deadline: May 20th, 2021)
• Apply for Global Bryn Mawr Funding (for Sessions I & II scholarships; deadline: April 23rd, 2021)
• Apply for Externship Funding (BMC Student) (deadline: April 25th, 2021)
• Apply for Externship Funding (Haverford Student) (deadline: April 25th, 2021)
   

About Sijal

Sijal is an institute of Arabic language and culture founded by scholars of Arab culture, history, and society. They offer intensive instruction at all levels for students seeking to learn Arabic in Jordan. The Institute also acts as a hub of intellectual and cultural events, bringing together scholars, artists, and specialists across a broad range of expertise and disciplines, for seminars, workshops and special programs. The Institute is housed in a historic villa and gardens lying in the heart of the Rainbow Street cultural district of Amman. From this inspiring setting, they host students of the Arabic language, post-graduates working on the Middle East, researchers, artists, and the local intellectual community in Jordan and Palestine. Surrounded by some of the oldest buildings in Amman, the students learn ‘Arabic in context’, benefiting from first-rate language instruction in line with the latest pedagogy, as well as cultural and historical literacy. Immersion is reinforced by the location in a pedestrian neighborhood packed with local galleries, restaurants, and cafés, and with residents of all ages and walks of life. Courses and special programs are enriched by a full calendar of events that take place at the Institute, providing students with the unique opportunity to interact with creative figures from the Arab world and beyond. 
 

About the Partnership

Since 2018 the Bi-Co Arabic Program and Global Bryn Mawr have been collaborating with Sijal Institute in Amman on the development of this program. Each year of the four-year pilot phase the model has evolved as the partnership has grown from a focus on language learning and cultural immersion to include a broader conception of Middle East Studies with a content course taught by Bryn Mawr faculty. 
 

Dates for Summer 2021

• SUMMER SESSION I: June 6-July 8, 2021
• SUMMER SESSION II: July 11-August 19, 2021
• EXTERNSHIP: July 11-August 19, 2021
   

Courses Offered Summer 2021

Arabic: All levels beginner through advanced. This is a required course you must take while at Sijal, which will be taught by Sijal faculty. (Sessions I and II)

Past, Present and Future: The Archaeology of Jordan and the Middle East: Home to awe-inspiring sites such as Petra, Jerash, and Pella, archaeology is an integral part of Jordan’s past, as well as its future. This course will introduce students to some of the major discoveries from Jordan, dating from the Paleolithic to the Ottoman periods, as well as to the modes of thought that underlie archaeological interpretation of this material. 

The course, more broadly, will focus on the role of archaeology within modern social justice issues around climate change, population movement, politics, identity, and cultural heritage management. We will consider how the Middle East has been studied - particularly with reference to colonial histories and their impact on traditions of inquiry - and assess where the archaeology of Jordan can challenge these narratives. By the conclusion of the course, students will have a deep understanding of both the built environment of the past, as well as how these spaces occupy contemporary landscapes and perspectives. The course will be taught in English by Matthew Jameson, an advanced Ph.D. candidate at Bryn Mawr College. (Session I)

Content Course: Cooking around the Arab World, The History of Arabic Music, The Syrian Crisis, Contemporary Arabic Literature and Poetry, the Palestinian Revolution, or Colloquial Jordanian Arabic through the Media, taught by Sijal Faculty. (Session II)

By successfully completing the first session of the program you will earn one academic credit that counts towards graduation. Participation in both Sessions with result in two academic credits that count towards graduation. Please note that the summer program will not take the place of the college language requirement. Rather, studying the language for a semester or two would allow you to test into a higher level of Arabic.
 

Externship

The externship is a five-week program where students will work with local organizations and continue their Arabic language learning with a private tutor provided by Sijal. Opportunities are available for students to partner with a range of organizations based in Jordan depending on student and organizational interest. In the past students have externed with the American Center for Oriental Research (ACOR) and Rainbow Street. Funding for the externship will include cost paid to the organization, private tutoring in Arabic, and a small stipend for the student.
 

Program Cost

• Session I (5-weeks): $1,800 (This covers the cost of online learning for Session I - Arabic and content course)
• Session II (5-weeks): $1,800 (This covers the cost of online learning for Session II - Arabic and content course)
• Sessions I and II (10-weeks): $3,420 (This covers the cost of online learning for Sessions I and II - Arabic and content course)
• Externship (5-weeks): $2,000 (This covers the cost paid to the organization and continued Arabic language lessons ($1,200) and a personal stipend to the student ($800))

View Daily Schedule at the bottom of this page.