Summer Arabic Language Immersion, 10 July-10 August 2017, USA

SABLA Program: Summer Arabic Language Immersion

The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center's Sabla Program is an intensive summer language program designed to benefit current university-level students and recent graduates. The program offers courses at four different levels: Advanced Beginning, Low Intermediate, High Intermediate and Advanced. The program emphasizes the instruction of Modern Standard Arabic or MSA (fusha).

The MSA program runs for four weeks offering highly intensive course work in Arabic. Classes run from Monday to Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Experienced instructors use a proficiency-based approach that emphasizes all five skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar. Arabic is the main language of instruction. Classes are held in technologically advanced classrooms.

The program offers formal instruction in a language that is enriched by immersion in an authentic cultural context. Cultural activities include weekly lectures on topics related to Arab history, society, and culture with a special focus on Oman.

The program is highly demanding. As such, students are expected to be totally committed to attending classes and doing homework on a daily basis. The typical daily workload in the Sabla program entails 4 hours of classroom instruction and a minimum of 2 to 3 hours of homework.

All applicants are required to have completed at least two semesters of Arabic at a college or university in the United States by the start of the program. This exam, together with the information to be provided in the application about the student's knowledge of Arabic and the required Arabic writing sample will determine the level of Arabic instruction appropriate for the applicant.

The program also includes:

• Integrated weekly cultural events, including music presentation and movie screenings.
• Attending lectures conducted in Arabic featuring guest speakers.
• Trips to acquaint students with the magnificent Middle Eastern heritage on display in museums and libraries across D.C.
• Visits to Middle Eastern restaurants.

Accommodation

Students must make their own arrangements at a hotel, hostel, or private home in D.C. Reservations should be made in advance before arriving to D.C. for class. SQCC does not provide housing. Students must arrange for their own housing.

If you need any assistance, please email Dr. Abeer Al-Mohsen: arabic@sqcc.org

Sample weekly programs

A typical weekly schedule would look like this:

SABLA Application

Deadline is June 15, 2017

For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.