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Fex is a modern city of approximately 950,000 residents with
a great historical and cultural heritage. It is really three cities in one. The
oldest section, Fez el-Bali, is a bustling walled city of narrow pedestrian
streets filled with shops, mosques, and tourists. In the adjoining Mellah, the
Jewish quarter, balconies overlook the busy streets below. The new city, or
Ville Nouvelle, centers on the Boulevard Hassan II where in the evening men,
women, and children of all ages leisurely stroll and chat with friends. The
predominant languages are Colloquial Moroccan Arabic and French.
Academic Program
Students take three courses for a total of 8 credit hours.
In the first week, students will study Colloquial Moroccan Arabic, culture, and
society. For the following six weeks, students study Modern Standard Arabic at
an appropriate level. There are approximately 22 hours of classes each week,
Monday-Friday. Two afternoons per week, students meet with conversation
partners (Moroccan students who attend the American Language Institute in Fez).
Grading is based on oral and written work, exams, and the final paper.
Instruction is provided by the Arabic Language Institute in Fez (ALIF). Housed
in a villa in the Ville Nouvelle, ALIF is an ideal setting for studying Modern
Standard Arabic. The instructors are native speakers with years of experience
teaching Arabic to American students. ALIF resources include a computer lab
with high-speed Internet, Wi-Fi, a library, a small bookstore, and an on-site
café.
Cultural Activities & Excursions
Students will participate in two Saturday excursions as well
as a three-day trip to the Sahara. Optional cultural activities include the Fez
Sacred Music Festival (June 4-12, 2010) and weekend trips to Rabat, Chefchauen,
and other cities in northern Morocco.
Accommodations
During the first week, students live in a hotel near ALIF. Then,
students live with carefully chosen Moroccan families that provide living
accommodations and three meals daily. Students may choose between the medina (a
more traditional Arab home) and the Ville Nouvelle (a more European-style
home). Usually two students are placed with each family.
Transportation
Students arrange their own transportation to Casablanca;
those who do not have extensive experience traveling internationally are
encouraged to book the same flights as the resident director. A bus will
transport students from Casablanca to Fez.
Cost
The course fee for Summer 2010 is estimated at $3,550 for
all students attending an Iowa Regents university. Additional study abroad
fees, which vary by university, will also be assessed. The program fee includes
instruction, lodging, insurance, three meals daily, and the required
excursions. The fee does not include incidentals or transportation to and from
Morocco. The estimated cost of a round-trip flight from Cedar Rapids to
Casablanca is $1,800.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
In general, financial aid received to attend the Iowa State
University may be applied toward the cost of studying abroad. Aid eligibility
is adjusted to reflect the total cost of participating in the program. In
addition, students are encouraged to apply for need- and merit-based
scholarships awarded by their college and the Study Abroad Center.
Eligibility
The program is open to all students who have at least one
year of college-level study of a foreign language or two years of high school, and a
minimum 3.0 GPA. No previous study of Arabic is required.
Program Description
The Iowa Regents' Arabic Program in Morocco is a seven-week
intensive language program. A University of Iowa professor, Denise Filios,
accompanies the students, oversees their studies, and helps them adjust to life
in Morocco. The program begins with a one-week orientation during which
students live in a hotel, study Moroccan Colloquial Arabic, and familiarize
themselves with Moroccan culture. During the remaining six weeks, students live
with a Moroccan family and study Modern Standard Arabic as well as Moroccan
culture. Students earn 8 s.h. resident credit.
This program offers students a unique
learning experience living with a Moroccan family, studying with native
professors, and acquiring enormous cultural competency during their stay in
Morocco.
Brochure
