Although some letters sound different and there are different words, most students who solely study Modern Standard (such as myself) were able to pick up the dialect and communicate more authentically with the locals in their form of Arabic. In Jordan, its dialect of Ammiyya is very similar to Modern Standard Arabic. Being on an Arabic program, the staff and students were familiar with Modern Standard Arabic but most of the students were unaware of the extreme differences between Arabic and Darija. This combination of languages creates a challenge to communicating since when most students study only one of the four languages that make up Darija. Moroccan dialect, called Darija, is a mix of Arabic, Amazigh (Berber Language), French, and Spanish.
Arabic learners who study abroad all learn the difference between the classroom-taught Modern Standard Arabic, and the dialects of each area they travel to. The differences between these two countries in terms of Arabic learning are very striking. What were some of the most eye-opening moments during your time spent immersing yourself in another culture and language?īefore both of my CLS Arabic Program experiences, I previously studied abroad in both Morocco and Jordan, which allowed me to make deeper connections when I returned to both countries during the CLS. This program is difficult but propels students to high levels of language acquisition through the classroom, host families, excursions, cultural activities, language partners, and living locally where the language is spoken.Ģ. The most important part of this program is the language pledge, which is a formal commitment to speak the target language almost exclusively throughout the summer. I am confident that my time in Amman will further my goal to Arabic proficiency.
My main goal for this program was language acquisition and I can definitively say that my time in Tangier significantly expanded my comfort and familiarity with Arabic. Last year, my fellowship advisor recommended that I reapply to the CLS Arabic 2017 Program and I am currently in Amman, Jordan, for my second CLS experience. My freshman and sophomore years I didn’t move past round one however, during my junior year I received the CLS Arabic 2016 Program and spent two months during the summer of 2016 in Tangier, Morocco. I applied for the CLS Arabic Program all four years during college. The CLS Arabic Program provided me the opportunity to study Arabic where it is most spoken overseas.
What inspired you to apply for the Critical Language Scholarship Program?Īs an International & Global Studies and Political Science double major focusing on the Middle East, Peace & Conflict Studies, and Interreligious Studies, I found it was imperative that I learned Arabic during my undergraduate years at my university as well as abroad.
To learn more about the prestigious scholarship program, we spoke with two-time CLS Program participant Benjamin Lutz, who studied Arabic in Tangier, Morocco in 2016 and is currently working towards Arabic proficiency in Amman, Jordan.ġ. undergraduate, master’s and PhD students to fully immerse themselves in critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Swahili, Korean, and more.
#Intensive language immersion programs full#
Department of State-sponsored program offers full funding opportunities for U.S. The goal of the CLS Program is to increase the number of Americans studying critical languages while creating lasting relationships with people living in other countries. The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive two-month scholarship for US students to study a specific language in a country where it is most spoken. Shereen Elgamal of Elon University, making a meal together for the Arabic Organization at Elon. Benjamin Lutz and his Arabic professor, Dr.
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