A window into Jordan with SIT Study Abroad

The group enjoys a meal in Jordan.

We arrived in Jordan yesterday. After days of debating what to pack, wondering whether I too would need to follow Muslim dress codes, I get to answer these questions first-hand, directly from the Jordanians. This is my first time in the Middle East, first time in a Muslim country. Like our students, I had all the pre-departure questions and worries only to realize that there is nothing to worry about; the Jordanians would answer these and many other questions with a smile and enthusiasm. (By the way, I didn’t really need so many long sleeve shirts. Foreigners can dress as they normally would.)

The aim of our trip is to experience and understand the power of our programs on the ground. For one week, we are living as SIT Study Abroad students. We’re participating in Arabic lessons, attending excursions, visiting with homestay families and eating ful, humus, and khubz arabi (Arabic bread).

Practicing Arabic in class

After being here for one day, one thing has become evident: it is our local staff who make our programs what they are. SIT Study Abroad Jordan staff are professional, enthusiastic, and passionate. They are loyal, not only to their students and Jordanian culture but also to the SIT Study Abroad methodology. They believe wholeheartedly in the power of one-on-one cultural exchange. They believe in providing students with the highest quality, most authentic Jordanian experience possible. Whether it’s standard Arabic grammar, local Arabic dialect, cultural norms or daily Jordanian life, the staff are commitment to providing the students a true connection to Jordan, its people, its language and its culture.

Yasir and Dan

The staff here is extremely professional and qualified. Yasir Hamed, the Academic Director, has developed Arabic language courses throughout the US and the Middle East. Each of the language instructors has an average of 5 years experience teaching Arabic to non-native speakers. For a course entitled “Intensive Arabic language”, this is a critical asset. Most language instructors have at least their Master’s degree and one instructor even wrote the language book the students are using.

It’s impressive hearing how well the students actually speak Arabic. Not that I understand what they are saying, but I’m aware that they are able to carry on conversations and speak continuously for several minutes. After being here for three weeks and only a few semesters of Arabic from their home universities, it seems pretty impressive.

To see more images of my trip, visit this Flickr set.

Tags: Arabic, Jordan, language, Notes from the Field, SIT Study Abroad, SIT Study Abroad Jordan, Summer, World Learning