SQCC SALAM 2011: Summer Arabic Language And Media
Study Arabic in Oman, the jewel of the Middle East. Our Arabic language pro-grams are internationally-recognized for their superior quality, and our approach is to enable young people to better understand Oman through Arabic language and culture. We bring together emerging young leaders to engage in joint learn-ing and inquiry, cultural exchange, and deeper understanding of common inter-ests and shared aspirations. Classes are intensive and small.
Level: Intermediate (two years of university Arabic or the equivalent)
Instruction: Modern Standard Arabic, media literacy, passive comprehension and active use of ―educated speech‖ (lughat-al-muthaqqafeen) as used on Al Jazeera
Textbook: Al Kitaab fii Taalum Al –Arabiya II (and authentic media material)
Program dates: June 10—July 21, 2011 (six weeks)
Instructors: Native Omani Arabic speakers, with formal AFL training and experience teaching foreign university students and other international audiences
Accommodations: Students live with local homestay families, providing a window into Omani life and culture
Cultural activities: Lectures and films, museum visits, interactions with peer facilitators, participation in homestay family leisure activities
Class size: Two classes, six students each
Excursions: Weekend trips to interior villages and wadis
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 29. Program space is limited to 12.
http://ncusar.org/programs/2011-ALIM.pdf
Showing posts with label Oman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oman. Show all posts
Monday, May 23, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sana'a Institute for the Arabic Language
Sana'a Institute for the Arabic Language
Sana’a Institute for the Arabic Language offers a well-structured Arabic language program in Standard Arabic and Yemeni Colloquial dialect, as well as courses in Yemeni culture.
The Institute makes a serious effort to employ dynamic teachers who are specialized in the various facets of the Arabic language. All students enrolled at our Institute will study the basic components essential to mastering any language: reading, writing and speaking.
Many students also choose to have a particular focus in their studies, such as Arabic poetry, classical Islamic texts, Yemeni history and culture, political issues, and Arabic calligraphy. Our well-trained teaching staff will work with each student to make sure his or her needs are met by the Institute.
The standard Arabic program consists of eight levels of language instruction from low beginner to high advanced. The full-year curriculum consists of eight intervals. Each interval is considered a term. The estimated time for students to master each level of language instruction is 80 classroom hours in group classes or 40 classroom hours in one-to-one classes.
Our Arabic language summer program is an intensive program which consists of 4 hours a day of study, 5 days a week. During the summer term, our Institute also offers free classes in the Qur'an in the evening, as well as lectures on Yemen and Arab culture during the weekends.
SIAL offers full-term and half-term summer programs. Each 6-week full term course is designed to cover the equivalent of one university semester of Arabic. There is a one-week break in between each full term. Students can also enroll in any of our 3-week half term courses. There are no scheduled breaks in between half terms.
Students can either choose to stay in the student houses or opt for a different housing option. For the total cost, add the visa fee and rent, both optional, to the tuition.
Summer 2010 Course Dates and Prices:
| Course Number | Length | Total Hours | Begins | Ends | Tuition |
| S10-31 | 3 weeks | 60 | 5 Jun | 23 Jun | $450 |
| S10-32 | 3 weeks | 60 | 26 Jun | 14 Jul | $450 |
| S10-33 | 3 weeks | 60 | 17 Jul | 4 Aug | $450 |
| S10-34 | 3 weeks | 60 | 7 Aug | 25 Aug | $450 |
| S10-35 | 3 weeks | 60 | 28 Aug | 15 Sept * | $450 |
| S10-61 | 6 weeks | 120 | 26 June | 4 Aug | $840 |
| S10-62 | 6 weeks | 120 | 17 Jul | 25 Aug | $840 |
| S10-63 | 6 weeks | 120 | 7 Aug | 15 Sept * | $840 |
| S10-91 | 9 weeks | 180 | 26 Jun | 25 Aug | $1215 |
| S10-92 | 9 weeks | 180 | 17 Jul | 15 Sept * | $1215 |
| S10-12 | 12 weeks | 240 | 26 Jun | 15 Sept * | $1560 |
Monday, September 20, 2010
An IU Student Goes to Oman - Part II
There are plenty of difficult aspects to being an American in the Middle East, but I have never felt uncomfortable. Oman is a very peaceful country, there is no violent crime to be heard of and people generally seem to get along. The biggest change is coping with the cultural difference. As a foreigner, you lack perspective about what behavior is appropriate and when. One example of this would be showing proper deference to elders. While American style camaraderie might be acceptable to a younger generation of Omanis, it comes off as condescending to older Omanis. Given that Omanis are invariably polite, even a slightly adverse reaction from someone can feel like a rebuke. Talking with Omani women is another activity that requires tact. It is acceptable in settings that are considered ‘professional’ (e.g. in the classroom between students and teachers), but in other situations, less so. For example, Omani women generally do not interact with (non-related) men on the street.
Oman is a country that has seen rapid transformation, most of which has taken place in recent memory. Many facets of life are still being negotiated and this has presented considerable challenge at times. Many older Omanis can remember the days before cars, roads, telephones, air-conditioning and televisions. In almost all the smaller towns and villages, you can see mud-brick houses where Omanis used to live. Almost all of these have been abandoned in favor of larger, more modern residences. Yet despite the empty and time-worn appearance of these old houses, many of them were occupied as recently as 20 or 25 years ago.
Overall, Omanis are enthusiastic about modern life. They have seen dramatic improvements in the quality of their healthcare system, schools and economy in a relatively short amount of time. The harsh environment has become more livable and comfortable thanks to modern appliances and technology. Supporting over three million residents probably would not be possible without water desalinization and a system of dams and reservoirs that capture the run-off of what little rain Oman gets.
Omanis have much greater exposure to the outside world than previously, thanks to satellite television and internet. The kids in family I live with follow WWE wrestling, as do a large number of young Omanis I have met. Facebook is also gaining popularity with young Omanis, especially young men. Social networking allows them to meet people outside the normal circle of extended family and find people with similar interests. Because social networking is something new, appropriate behavior is open to interpretation and experimentation. For example, facebook accounts for women will often be completely devoid of personal information and photographs. Some women will still not open accounts because facebook allows people to send messages and photographs between each other privately.
While we increasingly worry about the cost of modernization in America, issues like environmental damage, immigration, economic sustainability have yet to fully register their impact in Oman. While the effects of development are visible in all these areas, the issues are so new that their consequences are not clear. One example of this is the large population of Indian and Pakistani migrants now working in Oman. They may constitute up to a fifth of the population and they represent the bulk of the labor that goes into building roads and infrastructure. Many migrants have come here to open businesses or to work in IT or other fields and have a vested interest in remaining in Oman. The government recognizes legal migrant workers as ‘residents,’ but it has yet to be seen whether they will receive rights comparable to those of citizens. Part of the equation rests on what the migrant workers demand for themselves. In Oman, they often have better access to employment and services than they do in their home countries. In theory, they receive equal rights in court. Yet the plight of illegal migrants is a more troubling issue. These migrants are generally the least skilled and educated and are more vulnerable to abuse. For example, Omani police officers may threaten undocumented workers with deportation unless they pay a bribe.
Right now I am living with a family of Omani-Zanzibari background. Until the early 1960’s, many Omanis lived in Zanzibar, and to some extent, colonized parts of Eastern Kenya and Tanzania. Overthrow of the Omani-dominated government in Zanzibar resulted in a sizable diaspora, with Omanis either resettling in Tanzania or returning to Oman. With them came a unique cultural heritage combining Omani and East African elements. At home, my family speaks Swahili, a blend of Arabic and East African languages. They are also fluent in Arabic and English. They have much in common with their compatriots; however Omani society remains fairly conservative and the family is more relaxed. Most Omani families would not probably take in an American student for an extended period. Guests are never expected to pay for themselves and gender-separation is also a serious impediment.
At home, there is a pretty clear division between what areas are public and private. As a guest, I’m expected to stay in the areas between my room, the living rooms, the kitchen and dining room. Fortunately, my room and the others are on the first floor, while the family lives on the second, so I can move freely between rooms without problems.
Cultural exchange is by no means a one-way street and as I better understand the values here, I have come to question assumptions I had. The biggest revelation has been that people in Oman are not cut off from the rest of the world nor is the society closed off to different influences. The country is not as Arab nor as Muslim as I had imagined, and it has peacefully incorporated large foreign communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India. Omanis do not try to force their way of life on other people, rather they revel in diversity and bringing the best out of different cultures.
Over the next few weeks, I plan on writing more about my experience here and if you have any questions, please write to gregauclair@att.net.
Oman is a country that has seen rapid transformation, most of which has taken place in recent memory. Many facets of life are still being negotiated and this has presented considerable challenge at times. Many older Omanis can remember the days before cars, roads, telephones, air-conditioning and televisions. In almost all the smaller towns and villages, you can see mud-brick houses where Omanis used to live. Almost all of these have been abandoned in favor of larger, more modern residences. Yet despite the empty and time-worn appearance of these old houses, many of them were occupied as recently as 20 or 25 years ago.
Overall, Omanis are enthusiastic about modern life. They have seen dramatic improvements in the quality of their healthcare system, schools and economy in a relatively short amount of time. The harsh environment has become more livable and comfortable thanks to modern appliances and technology. Supporting over three million residents probably would not be possible without water desalinization and a system of dams and reservoirs that capture the run-off of what little rain Oman gets.
Omanis have much greater exposure to the outside world than previously, thanks to satellite television and internet. The kids in family I live with follow WWE wrestling, as do a large number of young Omanis I have met. Facebook is also gaining popularity with young Omanis, especially young men. Social networking allows them to meet people outside the normal circle of extended family and find people with similar interests. Because social networking is something new, appropriate behavior is open to interpretation and experimentation. For example, facebook accounts for women will often be completely devoid of personal information and photographs. Some women will still not open accounts because facebook allows people to send messages and photographs between each other privately.
While we increasingly worry about the cost of modernization in America, issues like environmental damage, immigration, economic sustainability have yet to fully register their impact in Oman. While the effects of development are visible in all these areas, the issues are so new that their consequences are not clear. One example of this is the large population of Indian and Pakistani migrants now working in Oman. They may constitute up to a fifth of the population and they represent the bulk of the labor that goes into building roads and infrastructure. Many migrants have come here to open businesses or to work in IT or other fields and have a vested interest in remaining in Oman. The government recognizes legal migrant workers as ‘residents,’ but it has yet to be seen whether they will receive rights comparable to those of citizens. Part of the equation rests on what the migrant workers demand for themselves. In Oman, they often have better access to employment and services than they do in their home countries. In theory, they receive equal rights in court. Yet the plight of illegal migrants is a more troubling issue. These migrants are generally the least skilled and educated and are more vulnerable to abuse. For example, Omani police officers may threaten undocumented workers with deportation unless they pay a bribe.
At home, there is a pretty clear division between what areas are public and private. As a guest, I’m expected to stay in the areas between my room, the living rooms, the kitchen and dining room. Fortunately, my room and the others are on the first floor, while the family lives on the second, so I can move freely between rooms without problems.
Cultural exchange is by no means a one-way street and as I better understand the values here, I have come to question assumptions I had. The biggest revelation has been that people in Oman are not cut off from the rest of the world nor is the society closed off to different influences. The country is not as Arab nor as Muslim as I had imagined, and it has peacefully incorporated large foreign communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India. Omanis do not try to force their way of life on other people, rather they revel in diversity and bringing the best out of different cultures.
Over the next few weeks, I plan on writing more about my experience here and if you have any questions, please write to gregauclair@att.net.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
An IU student goes to Oman - Part I
My name is Greg Auclair and I am a NELC graduate student who has spent the past three months in Oman. I came to Oman for a study abroad program through the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center and right now I am staying on an additional month before I begin research and language study in Syria. There is a lot to say about Oman, a lot more than can be covered in a few blog posts, but I hope that writing will at least offer some perspective on what life here is like and what it’s like to be a student abroad. Oman is a blank page for most people and this is a big problem. Before I came here, I knew little, but Oman has a rich history and its influence extends well outside its borders.
I spent two months in a small town called Nizwa, in the country’s interior region and for the last month I have been in Muscat, which is the country’s capital and biggest city. In Muscat I have been teaching English and working on a volunteer project with a local organization, Nissa Sidab. I will talk about Nizwa and Muscat in greater depth in later posts, but for the time being I’d like to address life in Oman in general.
First of all, I would like to say that living in Oman has been a wonderful experience. The friendly and trustful nature of the people here is amazing. People who were complete strangers have invited me into their homes to sit and have coffee. One example that sticks out in particular was when a taxi driver stopped and bought me and my tired-looking friends tea and juice mid-route.
Oman has a kind of harsh natural beauty which takes some getting used to. Mountain ranges can be found in the north and south, while the middle of the country is largely flat desert. Most of the country is dry, with the exception of the mountain range around Salalah, which receives considerable moisture in the summer due to the khareef.
I spent two months in a small town called Nizwa, in the country’s interior region and for the last month I have been in Muscat, which is the country’s capital and biggest city. In Muscat I have been teaching English and working on a volunteer project with a local organization, Nissa Sidab. I will talk about Nizwa and Muscat in greater depth in later posts, but for the time being I’d like to address life in Oman in general.
First of all, I would like to say that living in Oman has been a wonderful experience. The friendly and trustful nature of the people here is amazing. People who were complete strangers have invited me into their homes to sit and have coffee. One example that sticks out in particular was when a taxi driver stopped and bought me and my tired-looking friends tea and juice mid-route.
Oman has a kind of harsh natural beauty which takes some getting used to. Mountain ranges can be found in the north and south, while the middle of the country is largely flat desert. Most of the country is dry, with the exception of the mountain range around Salalah, which receives considerable moisture in the summer due to the khareef.
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| Oman is a geologist’s paradise. Different layers, representing millions of years of deposition, erosion and compression are clearly visible. |
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| Lush pockets of green contrast starkly with the desert landscape. Almost every village has an adjacent date plantation. Irrigation is provided by a system of canals known as ‘aflages’ in local parlance. |
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| Fog in the hills of Salalah. The khareef, similar to the monsoon season, reaches a small portion of Oman for three months out of the year. The weather in Salalah during this season is unusually cool for Oman. |
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center in Oman
The deadline for this year has past, but please keep this program's scholarship in mind for next year...
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (SQCC) is pleased to announce scholarships up to $6,000 for advanced Arabic language students interested in studying Arabic in Oman. Organized by the SQCC, World Learning and the University of Nizwa, the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center/Summer Arabic Language and Media (SQCC/SALAM) Program at the University of Nizwa runs June 3 - July 21, 2010.
Application Deadline: April 12, 2010
To learn more about the program, see the downloadable brochure and application materials at the website listed below. There are separate program and scholarship applications and instructions for both are included in the documents. Both applications must be completed to be considered for a scholarship.
Visit SQCC’s Scholarship page for more details: http://mei.edu/SQCC/ScholarshipsFellowships.aspx
Both applications must be submitted to scholarships@messenger.sqcc.org.
Contact SQCC with further questions at info@sqcc.org or at (202)261-1690.
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (SQCC) is pleased to announce scholarships up to $6,000 for advanced Arabic language students interested in studying Arabic in Oman. Organized by the SQCC, World Learning and the University of Nizwa, the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center/Summer Arabic Language and Media (SQCC/SALAM) Program at the University of Nizwa runs June 3 - July 21, 2010.
Application Deadline: April 12, 2010
To learn more about the program, see the downloadable brochure and application materials at the website listed below. There are separate program and scholarship applications and instructions for both are included in the documents. Both applications must be completed to be considered for a scholarship.
Visit SQCC’s Scholarship page for more details: http://mei.edu/SQCC/ScholarshipsFellowships.aspx
Both applications must be submitted to scholarships@messenger.sqcc.org.
Contact SQCC with further questions at info@sqcc.org or at (202)261-1690.
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