Arabic

Group/Customized Programs

Since 2018, Noor Majan has been providing tailored academic year programs for diplomat students from the U.S. Foreign Service Institute. Additionally, starting in 2019, we have successfully hosted various groups participating in the Project GO summer program. We are proud to have also developed a semester program specifically designed for students from USMA West Point.

We also teach Arabic to various local companies and their international employees in Oman, among them Oman aviation and several foreign embassies.

Over the past few years, Noor Majan has worked with various universities and organizations, helping them create programs to meet their goals and needs. We understand that some groups may want a more rigorous academic environment or may desire a combination of cultural tourism and academic study. We can accommodate different timelines and are flexible with specific academic requirements.

In the past, we have worked with the Grand Valley State University, implementing the Arabic language and cultural component of their Oman-Emirates faculty-led trip, and with Central Connecticut University to develop a program focusing on the Arab/Persian Gulf in the 21st century.  We have worked with the Critical Language Scholarship program since 2013, which requires a more intensive academic environment, and collaborated with the Al Amana Centre in developing a joint Arabic language and cultural program with their center.

We welcome any questions on how Noor Majan can meet your organization’s or university program’s goals.

Inquire here for how we can work with you

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    Group/Customized Programs2023-05-14T02:00:39+02:00

    Program and Academic Overview

    Rihla Summer Program Description: An 8 Week Epic Journey
    Price: $5,500 with airplane ticket included from Morocco to Oman
    First Journey (4 weeks): Meknes, Morocco Second Journey (4 weeks): Ibri, Oman
    Arabic Classroom Hours 20 Hours/Weekly Arabic Classroom Hours 20 Hours/Weekly
    Arabic Language Partner Hours 2 Hours/Weekly Arabic Language Partner Hours 2 Hours/Weekly
    Cultural Excursions Included Cultural Excursions Included
    Transportation Daily transportation to School. Airport Pickup (more details please see student life tab “transportation”) Transportation Self transport to Airport.
    Accommodation Shared Apartments Accommodation Moroccan host family
    Meals Lunch included on weekdays Meals 2 meals with host family included

     

    Rihla Summer Summer Program Dates
    First Journey 4 weeks): Meknes, Morocco Second Journey (4 weeks): Ibri, Oman

     

    Rihla Semester Program Description: An 16/17 Week Epic Journey
    Price: $12,820 with airplane ticket included from Oman to Morocco
    First Journey (6-7 weeks): Ibri, Oman Second Journey (10 weeks): Meknes, Morocco
    Arabic Classroom Hours 20 Hours/Weekly University Classes at UMI 3 classes
    Arabic Language Partner Hours 2 Hours/Weekly University Content Debrief/Suport by AALIM Staff 3 Hours/Weekly
    Cultural Excursions Included Arabic Classroom Hours 3 Hours/Weekly
    Transportation Daily transportation to School. Airport Pickup (more details please see student life tab “transportation”) Content Course Offered at AALIM 1 Course
    Accommodation Shared Apartments Arabic Language Partner Hours 2 Hours/Weekly
    Meals Lunch included on weekdays Accommodation Moroccan Host Family
    Meals 2 meals with family included

     

    Rihla Summer Semester Program Dates
    First Journey (6-7 weeks): Ibri, Oman Second Journey (10 weeks): Meknes, Morocco
    August 13 – September 28, 2017 September 30 – December 8, 2017
    January 7 – February 15, 2018 February 17 – April 27, 2018

    Academic Information

    Arabic at Noor Majan and AALIM

    Noor Majan and AALIM are both committed in providing an academically rigorous experience through the Rihla program. We want the experience to be fun, insightful, but most importantly we strive to meet your language and cultural goals. Thus, Arabic courses at Noor Majan and AALIM have been vetted for their compatibility in both content and rigor. Both organizations use Al-Kitaab fii ta’allum al-’Arabiyya by Brustad/Al-Battal (2nd edition) as the primary course material and we strive to provide original material to enrich your experiences and insights on Morocco and Oman.

    If you would like a detailed look at Noor Majan’s and AALIM’s curriculum please see the links below:

    (Block 1) Academic Information at Noor Majan (Link to Sub Tab 1 (Academic Program Overview))

    (Block 2) Academic Information at AALIM (http://www.aalimorocco.com/coursecontent)
    Economic Classes at the University of Moulay Ismail & Content Courses at AALIM
    Economic Classes at the University of Moulay Ismail (UMI)

    Every semester UMI offers a range of courses which Rihla students may chose to enroll in with the assistance of AALIM staff. Classes at UMI are taught in both Arabic and French, however all humanity courses will be taught in Arabic. For the most up to date list of course offerings, please contact AALIM.

    Content Courses at AALIM

    In addition to providing a rigorous Arabic language education, AALIM offers content courses to complement a student’s academic experience. These classes give a valuable depth and insight in a range of topics related to the Arab and Islamic world. These classes are taught at American standards and may be counted for credit at your university. Below are some of the course offerings from AALIM. For the most updated list, please contact AALIM.

    Arabic Literature in Translation (English)
    3 hours per week, covers Arab authors from across the MENA, both men and women, and spans the time from the early 1900s to the present after introductory units on pre-Islamic and early Islamic literary forms to provide context.

    Management Across Cultures (English and Darija)
    3 hours per week, examines American/European management theory in the lecture portion and allows the student to compare this theoretical framework with the Moroccan reality in the practicum when they meet local business owners and managers.

    Overview of MENA Countries (English and MSA)

    3 hours per week (with a few exceptions for countries which require more time) this class covers one MENA country per week, with discussion of the recent history of each country, its political structure, economics and security considerations. Some countries also require discussion of human rights and/or demographic factors.. Basic information is presented in the English lecture, and students learn to discuss and analyze the information in Arabic in the Arabic practicum.

    Grand Valley State University faculty-led trip to Oman, 2017
    Grand Valley State University faculty-led trip to Oman, 2017

    Grand Valley State University faculty-led trip to Oman, 2017

    For more information on the Rihla Program please contact either Noor Majan or AALIM.

    Noor Majan Arabic Institute
    Contact: Samira Selle
    Email: Samira.selle@noormajan-institute.com

    Arabic American Language Institute in Meknes (AALIM)
    Contact: Anne Marie
    Email: aalimorocco@yahoo.com
    Website: www.aalimorocco.com

    Program and Academic Overview2019-10-27T14:44:26+01:00

    What is the Rihla Program?

    The immensity of the Arabic speaking world poses challenges for students to gain sufficient exposure to various dialects of Arabic and adequate cultural exposure to the diversity of the Arab world. To address this issue, Noor Majan and the Arab American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM) teamed up to provide students the opportunity to study in Oman and Morocco under one program called Rihla, named after the Arabic word “journey”.

    Noor Majan and AALIM are both recognized as the leading Arabic institutes in the their respected countries and are sister sites for the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship program. Together, the two institutes aim at closing the cultural and linguistic distance between two ends of the Arab speaking world. By collaborating on curriculum and cultural programs, the Rihla Program, allows students to experience the similarities and differences between the two regions.

    The Rihla program is offered as a summer and semester option. We divide both offerings, summer and semester, into two distinct “journeys’” or parts. The Rihla summer program focuses on Arabic language and culture; with the first journey taking place in Morocco for 4 weeks and the second journey for 4 weeks in Oman.

    The semester program differs from the summer program through its goal of broadening students understanding of the MENA region through economics and Arabic. The first journey takes place in Oman for 6-7 weeks, where the student will work on building a strong foundation in the Arabic language. Then the second journey, which lasts 10 weeks, will take the student to Morocco where the focus will be on both economics and Arabic. The student will dually enroll in AALIM and the University of Moulay Ismail (UMI) in Meknes.

    Rihla Summer

    Rihla Summer 2017 Participants (Left to Right) Yanzhe Li “Arthur”- Princeton University, Melita Piercy- Princeton University, Maggie Dene- College of William and Mary

    2017 Summer

    2017 Summer Participant, Melita Piercy, exploring the history city of Ibri, Oman

    Rihla Summer 2017 participant, Melita Piercy, posing by the traditional blue doors of the mountain city of Chefchaouen, Morocco

    QUOTE BLOCK

    “Studying at Noor Majan through the Rihla program truly made for such a productive, enjoyable, and unforgettable summer experience. In addition to significantly improving my Arabic language skills, the program also provided me with invaluable opportunities to engage with the local culture and develop meaningful relationships with both locals and other students. The structure of the Rihla program in which I studied for one month in Morocco at a partner institute and the second month in Oman with Noor Majan was an integral part of my experience; I found it so valuable to be immersed in two very distinct cultures of the Arabic speaking world and see how the same language can be shaped by culture and history. At both Noor Majan and AALIM, the partner institute in Morocco, the language instruction is phenomenal and really challenged me to engage with the language all day for the entirety of the summer. Coming into the program my listening and speaking skills were quite poor, but by the end of the program, I felt comfortable engaging in meaningful discussions on topics in politics and media. Every aspect of my experience with Noor Majan Training Institute and the Rihla program has been so valuable and enjoyable and I’m so thankful for the memories I have made and the amount that I have learned throughout this summer.” – Melita Piercy, Rihla Summer Program 2016, Princeton University”

    What is the Rihla Program?2019-10-27T14:45:07+01:00

    Course Syllabi

    Daily Schedule

    Start Finish
    8:30 10:10 MSA Textbook work
    10:10 10:30 Break
    10:30 11:20 MSA Skills focus
    11:20 11:30 Break
    11:30 01:10 Media Arabic
    01:10 01:50 Lunch

    Language Partners

    At Noor Majan we recognize that successful language acquisition comes from repetitive application of concepts and knowledge in real life situations. Thus, to support language growth we pair students with local Omani language partners for two hours every week. These individuals are given training on intercultural communication and strategies on how to support students studying Arabic. They encourage students to speak Arabic freely and to be confident in their language abilities. More than often language partners become students’ friends and serve as a mentor in engaging in the local culture. Friendships between language partners often leads to students being invited to their homes or to family events.

    Download

    Course Syllabi2023-05-14T02:28:44+02:00

    Course Materials

    The primary course book used by Noor Majan is Al-Kitaab fii ta’allum al-’Arabiyya by Brustad/Al-Battal (3rd edition). Depending on whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced student, our curriculum is based on this internationally recognized resource, complemented with excerpts from other renowned sources, e.g. Al Kitab Al Asasi (El Seyyid Badawi), Modern Standard Arabic (Eckehard Schulz) or Ahlan wa Sahlan (Mahdi Alosh). For the media course, classes are based on real-time current and authentic resources from print and broadcast media.

    For students at the superior level or with those needing a more specific curriculum in the realm of diplomacy and politics, Noor Majan Arabic Institute has developed our own reader with relevant texts and exercises.

    We are also able to teach the Omani dialect as a separate class for customized program courses or in private lessons. We follow our own curriculum that was developed with the communicative needs of students in Oman in mind. The dialect course mainly contains dialogues and points our specific grammar points that will help you master the local colloquial.

    Our methodology is to engage the mind with a relevant and appropriate usage of the language. Thus, any opportunity to bring external sources and materials is exploited and very much encouraged by the Noor Majan methodology.

    Although the material listed above is Noor Majan’s standard offering for Arabic courses; we can accommodate for an extensive set of curricula, dependent on your needs and requirements as an institute. Our institute and teachers are able and willing to deliver to your requirements. Please inquire for information regarding your requirements and curriculum.

    Block 1 Learning Outcomes (beginner)
    At the end of the unit/program, beginner students will be able to form short and simple sentences. Students will possess a good amount of basic vocabulary as used in familiar and everyday situations, with a limited ability to use this vocabulary correctly and grammatically in all related situations. They will be able to answer formulaic questions with only rare occurrences of mistakes in vocabulary and grammar. Students will start expressing their thoughts independently of formulaic expressions, albeit their uttering may be incomplete or incorrect at times. Students will be able to understand the general content of speech on familiar topics and will have developed a more accurate sense of differentiation between similar sounds of the Arabic alphabet for their own text production.

    Block 2 Learning Outcomes (advanced beginners)
    At the end of the unit/program, advanced beginner students will be able to express themselves about personal topics and issues relating to daily life in short sentences. Students will be able to express their needs, requirements, and wishes (in a restaurant, hotel, taxi, or shop) and speak about their hobbies. They will be able to answer non-formulaic questions to a certain extent and be sometimes able to correct themselves while speaking or writing. Students will have more fluent reading ability and develop a better sense of Arabic written expression. Students will be able to understand the general content of speech and will have developed a more accurate sense of differentiation between similar sounds of the Arabic alphabet.

    Block 3 Learning Outcomes (Intermediate)
    At the end of the unit/program, intermediate students will be able to converse confidently about social issues. They can retell stories and speak about events that happened in the past. Students at this level will be able to express themselves about a variety of topics in all tenses. They can be understood by native speakers and partake in their conversations. Students will be able to understand and analyze Arabic grammar as used in diverse sources. Students will be able to use new grammar and vocabulary in order to produce coherent texts about social, historical, and personal topics.

    Block 4 Learning Outcomes (Advanced)
    At the end of the unit/program, advanced students will be able to express their opinion supported by arguments and can coherently reply to other opinions being expressed. Students at this level will be able to speak and write about varied and complex topics and issues that do not pertain to their direct environment and life. They are able to understand abstract texts and speech and can express themselves on these topics intelligibly. They are able to process authentic text sources of the target language such as print and broadcast media, books, and websites. They can independently develop on the issues raised in these source texts and organize written and oral texts on a formal language level.

    Block 5 Learning Outcomes (Higher Advanced)
    At the end of the unit/program, higher advanced students will be able to express their opinion supported by arguments and can coherently reply to other opinions being expressed. Students at this level will be able to speak and write about varied and complex topics and issues that do not pertain to their direct environment and life. They are able to understand abstract texts and speech and can express themselves on these topics intelligibly. They are able to process authentic text sources of the target language such as print and broadcast media, books, and websites. They can independently develop the issues raised in these source texts and organize written and oral texts on a formal language level.

    Course Materials2023-05-14T02:28:09+02:00

    Course Objectives

    Objective 1: Grammar, Text production, and Discussion

    Writing: Be introduced to new grammatical features that are part of a higher level of expression. Students will learn to construct sentences and express more complex thoughts independently. Students will be asked to produce texts departing from the texts treated in class. These include summaries, descriptions, narrations, and argumentative pieces developing a personal standpoint according to their level.

    Speaking: Students will discuss current topics in class or in debate groups using the studied grammar features. They will have awareness raised concerning typical mistakes in sentence structure and pronunciation. The course is completed by oral presentations in class.

    Objective 2: Media Literacy

    Listening: Students will develop the ability to comprehend utterances in the target language in recorded broadcast media, in both fusha (MSA) and commonly spoken Arabic as found in reports, interviews, and talk shows.

    Reading: Students will be introduced to texts from print media and the internet using the grammatical structures under study. In this unit, students will read different genres of texts, learn and apply skimming techniques according to their level, understand in-depth the given texts, and analyze them grammatically and style-wise.

    Course Objectives2023-05-14T02:23:41+02:00

    Arabic in Oman

    Arabic is a diglossic language, meaning the language is divided between two varieties for formal/international and informal/regional contexts. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is typically used in the media and academia, while local dialects of Arabic dominate day-to-day life. Many dialects proliferate throughout the Arabic-speaking world, posing a unique challenge to students who desire to master the language.

    However, the dialect widely spoken throughout the Sultanate is considered as the closest among Arabic dialects to MSA. This unique nature of Omani Arabic allows students to freely use a combination of MSA and dialect during their studies in Oman. Noor Majan develops and strengthens students’ understanding of various registers of Arabic by exposing them to several accents in the media skills component, with a focus on Omani Arabic.

    What is it like to study Arabic in Oman? 

    Arabic in Oman2023-05-13T23:21:40+02:00

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