Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
The Arabic Language at Alexandria University through Middlebury School of the Middle East is a language-focused program located in the beautiful Alexandria. Students at an intermediate to advanced level of Arabic immerse themselves fully into the language both at school and at home while experiencing the culture of Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city.
Middlebury College has designed its C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad to offer serious language students the chance to enrich and expand their skills in a setting where they can fully live and be immersed in the language. Middlebury's School Abroad in Alexandria, Egypt opened in the Fall of 2007 and enrolls approximately 20-30 students each semester. The programs strongly encourage students to pursue co-curricular activities such as sports teams, volunteer opportunities and musical ensembles. Students adhere to the Language Pledge which is a commitment to use the target language at all times. This program is geared towards students at an intermediate to advanced level of Arabic language who would like to improve both their Modern Standard and Colloquial Arabic skills and complement their language studies with one-on-one topical tutorials.
Alexandria, an ancient city of 3.5 million people located on the northern coast of Egypt along the Mediterranean, is Egypt's second largest city and its largest seaport. Alexandria is a living showcase for Egypt's glorious history, once the capital of Egypt and home to ancient Greek, Jewish and Armenian communities. Take in the chic, Mediterranean atmosphere replete with cafes and stunning seaside views with access to numerous beaches and lively entertainment.
Alexandria, an ancient city of 3.5 million people located on the northern coast of Egypt along the Mediterranean, is Egypt's second largest city and its largest seaport. Alexandria is a living showcase for Egypt's glorious history, once the capital of Egypt and home to ancient Greek, Jewish and Armenian communities. Take in the chic, Mediterranean atmosphere replete with cafes and stunning seaside views with access to numerous beaches and lively entertainment.
Getting to Your Program
Students are responsible for making their own flight arrangements to the orientation in Alexandria. Flights from the U.S. can go either into Cairo or into Alexandria (with a stop in Europe, though there are direct flights available from some U.S. cities like New York). There are two airports in Alexandria and El-Nozha (ALY) is closer to the city and the best option for arrival.
Students will receive recommended arrival dates and times from Middlebury.
Visa
Both a tourist visa and a student visa are required. U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program. Middlebury will provide you with visa information.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program.
On-site orientation sessions will be held for all students during the week prior to the beginning of classes. Orientation is conducted in a relaxed informal atmosphere in which students will get to meet the director and other students in the program. Besides exploring the university and the city, students will be introduced to Egyptian colloquial Arabic. The on-site orientation is mandatory for all participants.
Housing
Students spend their first semester in dormitories, with the option of finding and renting an apartment if staying for a second semester. The dormitories are divided by gender. The women's dorm features double rooms on a floor reserved only for this program. While students may or may not have an Egyptian roommate, they will definitely have Egyptian hall mates. The men's dorm consists of single rooms, and program participants will be living in a corridor reserved for the program and will be alongside Egyptian students. Both dorms have high-speed wireless access and included meals. There are also a limited number of homestays available.
Excursions and Activities
Excursions are planned each semester to culturally significant locations in Egypt. Recent excursions have included the Siwa Oasis, the Sinai Peninsula, and Upper Egypt (Luxor and Aswan). These excursions are partially subsidized by the program, and sometimes include subsidies for the Egyptian roommates to be able to travel with School in the Middle East participants. Students' out-of-pocket costs for these excursions typically run between $100 and $200 per semester.
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
You will also be enrolled in the required Middlebury School Abroad study abroad health insurance plan through HTH insurance.
On-Site Support
There is a director on-site, Dr. Nehad Heliel.
Returned Student Network
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here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
Local teachers are hired from Alexandria University to teach classes specifically designed for program participants in advanced language, culture, and civilization. All courses are taught entirely in Arabic at the TAFL Center. Students will take four courses:
Modern Standard Arabic;
Egyptian Colloquial Arabic;
A one-on-one/Content-Oriented Tutorial in Politics, History, Religion, Literature, Geography, Sociology/Anthropology, or Economics;
and an Elective (Media Arabic, Arabic Translation, Islamic Politics and Society, Modern Arabic Literature, or Modern Egyptian History)
Students with a higher level of Arabic would be able to replace the elective course with another content course taught in Arabic.
With the consent of the Director, highly advanced students may be able to direct-enroll in a class at Alexandria University during their second semester.
The Alexandria University campus is located next to the Mediterranean Sea and is home to approximately 170,000 students. Students on the Middlebury program will take their Arabic language courses at the Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language Center, which is housed within the Faculty of Arts at Alexandria University. The Center was established in 1985 to teach Arabic to international students from around the world.
Affiliate Institution(s)
Middlebury program in Alexandria
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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