Embedded within languages are emotions, outlooks, mannerisms and cultures – ultimately, language is the cipher for understanding everything about a particular society and participating effectively within it. Successful interaction with an Arab world whose global importance grows with each passing day entails a mastery of Arabic. Whether it’s a doctoral candidate decrypting ancient religious texts, a journalist reporting ground-breaking events, lucrative business deals in the Gulf, or delicate diplomatic negotiations in the Holy Land, the need for learning Arabic through an intimate, and yet holistic, social context has presented itself as a contemporary imperative.

Jordan then greets that demand with a lively blend of local customs and cosmopolitan attitude, and preserved ancient sites alongside rapid technological and social development, affording Qasid students a genuine experience of the Arabic language and its culture.

The country’s particular dialect of Arabic is also an idyllic aspect of the locale for non-native speakers, because the nuances of the local language are commonly known to closely reflect Classical Arabic. As such, it is most readily understood by people of other regional variations in dialect across the Arab world and in Arabic speaking populations worldwide. And for putting one’s skills into practice, Jordan’s central location makes it a convenient, Middle East hub for travel, tourism, and business alike.

Finally, our externship program takes language immersion to a qualitatively different level. Interested students can elect to perform volunteer work that spans the entire gamut of Jordanian society. Qasid facilitates this by providing a limited number of openings with pre-qualified NGOs, private companies and local nonprofits, as well as keeping in close contact with the affiliated institute’s program coordinator. In this way, our students benefit by spending a significant amount of time in predominately Arabic speaking settings, and enjoy an opportunity to interact with a side of Jordanian society that most other students of Arabic rarely see.