Semester Abroad Arabic Language

Study Abroad Semester in Rabat, Morocco!

Our location in the Medina of Rabat offers the perfect setting for the study of Arabic in the 21st century. The oldest neighborhood of the capital city of Morocco, the Medina is a friendly, comfortable and safe place to pursue your scholastic endeavors. It is also the ideal locale for immersion in the local culture. You are guaranteed to find your host family, the Medina, Rabat and Morocco as an incredibly hosting culture with a history of overlapping values from both the East and the West that will deliver for you.

The Moroccan Center for Arabic Studies engages in education year round. With four terms relative to the Seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter, each can last up to three months and curriculum includes Modern Standard Arabic, Colloquial Moroccan Arabic as well as calligraphy. There are various classes available based on the student’s experience with the language, from entry level, to beginner, intermediate and advanced. Through the intermediate level, the course follows the Al Kitab I & II (Georgetown Press) curriculum as a basis for the study of Modern Standard Arabic. Colloquial Arabic is also valued and is taught alongside yet separately from the Modern Standard Arabic due to its linguistic singularity.

The study abroad program is very comprehensive yet does not exclude the possibility of volunteering alongside because it is designed to be compatible with the curriculum of Western universities. We find that giving the students the opportunity to use Arabic on a daily basis greatly enhances their confidence both inside and outside the classroom and we encourage colleges and universities to take account of this positive aspect of their student’s experience.

Areas of study:

Arabic Calligraphy

 One of the most universally aesthetically appealing elements of the Arabic language is its calligraphy. The Arabic alphabet is one of the oldest in the world and to the Western student it can offer a whole new system of ancient letters and meaning. The study of calligraphy is important in Arabic as the language dictates certain letters and sounds that must be inferred from certain other letters.

Moroccan Arabic (Darija)

Darija is the local dialect of North – West Africa, from Morocco to Tunisia. Although not a literary language, it certainly has rich elements of romanticism, as it is derived from Classical Arabic, Berber, French, Spanish and, more recently, English in both vocabulary and pronunciation. It is the composition of Darija, which gives its appeal to the student of linguistics and offers a unique and insightful perspective into Moroccan culture.

Modern Standard Arabic

Modern Standard Arabic is the lingua franca of the Arab speaking world, from Morocco to Malaysia. This is the language of Arab politics, business, media and literature. Conceived from Classical Arabic as well as various dialects, Modern Standard Arabic is the key to a career in and an understanding of the Arab world. With our intensive approach and dedicated staff, every student walks away from each class with a deeper comprehension – this is not an option at MCAS!

Accommodation

We offer many options for accommodation in Rabat. It is MCAS policy to set up accommodation for all of our students, with local Moroccan families. However there are also options for students if they wish to have their own private accommodation in Rabat. We encourage staying with a family as this unveils more deeply Moroccan culture to the student as well as offering an arena of Arabic communication not otherwise found. We have a selection process for the families and you can be assured that your Moroccan ‘family’ will provide you with a hospitable, safe and educational environment.

If, however, you prefer private accommodation, that is single or double occupancy, then MCAS will help you secure a safe and local abode, yet we kindly ask our applicants to specify that option while filling out the application.

Cost:

4  Weeks - Tuition + accommodation ( homestay )  $ 3,100

8  Weeks - Tuition + accommodation ( homestay )  $ 4,250

12 Weeks - Tuition + accommodation ( homestay )  $ 5,350

NOTE: Once you apply, we will contact you to confirm how long you would like to stay.