Resources and Opportunities
Students of Arabic are encouraged to spend a summer or semester abroad studying the language in its native environment. Bowdoin students have traveled to locales as diverse as Fez, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Amman, Beirut, Rabat and Cairo to immerse themselves in the study of this challenging language.
This summer I spent two months in the West Bank. During the second month I lived in Beit Sahour (right outside of Bethlehem) with a family while I participated in a cultural immersion program. The program was run by the Siraj Center, an alternative travel center, and included language classes in colloquial Arabic, cooking lessons, lectures on politics and culture, and a volunteer position at a center for the developmentally disabled, Al-Malath. During the weekends we traveled to different towns throughout the West Bank and I participated in some political demonstrations. It was an great month and a truly amazing way to experience the country.
I really enjoyed the diversity of Lebanon. Apart from immigrants from the Arabic speaking world, Lebanon has a whole range of South-East Asian and East African immigrants. In terms of Arab immigrants in Lebanon, there are tons of Syrians, Palestinians and Sudanese. The cool thing about being in Beirut is becoming accustomed to and hearing the nuances of different dialects in the middle of the street.
Daisy Alioto '13
Salam! I spent a wonderful semester in Rabat learning first hand the endless hospitality of the Moroccan people. Through SIT I had the opportunity to live with a host family, conduct independent research, and improve my Arabic skills.
Program excursions ranged from the dunes of Merzouga to the streets of Marrakesh. I came home with a strengthened curiosity for international perspectives and a love of sweet mint tea.
In the summer of 2011, I took part in a study abroad program in Fez, the cultural center of Morocco. Weekday classes and weekend excursions allowed me both to improve my Arabic with native speakers and experience a unique culture firsthand. We attended the grand opening of the Fez Sacred Music Festival in Bab Makina and Sufi performances, which were like nothing I had ever heard before. This was one of the more fulfilling experiences I have had; meeting both fellow students and Moroccan residents gave me a diverse sampling of individual perspectives, some of which would not be found outside the region I visited. All in all, I found that being immersed in a culture alien to oneself is not to be balked at, but embraced.
Just across the Atlantic and a couple hours from Spain is a country where society functions according to a different set of social norms. The Arabic instruction I received on my program in Rabat, Morocco helped me better engage with the events I saw and the people I met, and really learn through cross-cultural exchange. It inspired me to keep learning, and now I’m on an even faster track to becoming fluent as an Arabic student here at Bowdoin.
Arabic has been a staple of my education at Bowdoin. After two years of study, I decided to take it abroad for a life-changing year in Jerusalem. Little did I know the Arab Spring would erupt across the region during my stay, making my year abroad even more special and dispelling any doubt that Arabic would be of great use in the future.
Adam Rasgon ‘13
Studying abroad in Amman, Jordan was a truly unique experience. I immersed myself in a unique Middle Eastern culture with interesting traditions and delectable food. Moreover, Jordan, located in the Levant, is a central location to travel to other countries in the region. I was able to travel to Egypt, the Palestinian territories, and Israel. Most importantly, my language skills improved immensely, especially my ability to communicate in the spoken dialects.
Studying abroad in Rabat, Morocco was a terrific experience. I lived with a host family in the old medina of Rabat – a walled-off section of the city with eager vendors lining the streets, hungry wandering cats, tourists visiting from all over the world, surfers strolling back from the beach iun their wetsuits, and the hum of the call to prayer five times a day. I studied intermediate Arabic for three hours every morning, and took seminars on human rights issues in the afternoon at the Cross Cultural Learning Center. My time in Morocco opened my eyes to peaceful political protest and the emergence of the Arab Spring, obvious gender inequalities, and Islam. I made a host of Moroccan friends through the surf club that I joined, and through running at the local track in Fez.