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Tunis Arabic Program 2013
Application Deadline: March 15th, 2013
To obtain application, write to Arabic@AIMSNorthAfrica.org today!
For over 15 years, the American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS) has been a leader in intensive summer Arabic language study in North Africa.
In the summer of 2013, AIMS invites students of all levels of Arabic to participate in an intensive language and culture experience in the vibrant suburb of Tunis, Sidi Bou Said. The seven-week program (June 14-August 2) offers over 150 contact hours in Modern Standard Arabic and Tunisian Dialect, including enrichment classes and homestays with local families that provide students with opportunities to immerse themselves in the dynamic culture and history of Tunisia and North Africa.
Why study in Tunis with AIMS?
Since 2006, the Tunisian capital has served as the backdrop for one of the most successful summer immersion programs available to university-level students of Arabic anywhere. Together with a world-class staff of experienced teachers, AIMS has helped students of all levels of Arabic-beginning, intermediate, advanced, and superior-make unparalleled advances in linguistic and cultural proficiency, all in a single summer of study.
During their seven-week stay, students will benefit from an intensive academic program (over 150 contact hours) that uniquely integrates Modern Standard Arabic, Tunisian dialect, and the culture of post-revolutionary Tunisia and North Africa through state-of-the-art teaching methods, individualized conversation practice, lectures with local leaders and activists, and more. Students can opt to receive university credit at their home institutions as well.
In addition to facilitating intensive language study, AIMS operates three North African research centers (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) dedicated to fostering the free exchange of ideas between North African and US scholars. For over 25 years, the Tunisian center known as CEMAT (Centre d'études maghrébines à Tunis) has provided scholarship and research opportunities to local and international scholars through grant programs, lecture series, conferences, workshops, and an extensive research library. AIMS encourages students of the Tunisia Arabic Program to draw upon the wealth of resources available at CEMAT as they develop their interests in Tunisia and North Africa.
Location of Tunisia Arabic Program Summer Institute
Situated 20 kilometers north of the capital in the picturesque town of Sidi Bou Said, our language school offers a comfortable space for serious study, wireless access, and easy transit to lively downtown Tunis and the old city by metro-all while being just a stone's throw away from the Mediterranean. Known for its iconic white and blue architecture, its breathtaking vistas and bustling nighttime cafe culture, Sidi Bou Said has inspired international artists, philosophers, and students alike.
Housing and Meals
Tuition costs cover single occupancy homestays with local Tunisian host families, who provide students with two meals per day (breakfast and dinner) and laundry service. During Ramadan (the second half of the program), students are also provided with catered lunches on-site at the language school. AIMS has long worked with homestay families in the area, most of whom live in comfortable middle class homes, and all of whom understand the need for students to have time to study in privacy.
Time and again, students inevitably form lasting bonds with their host parents, siblings, and extended families. The homestay component of the program gives students a one of a kind, first-hand glimpse into every day life in Tunis, as well as endless avenues for practicing their Arabic in-depth. Moreover, summer is wedding season in Tunisia, and when combined with Ramadan and the summer festivals in nearby Carthage, there are countless opportunities for students to partake in important local celebrations and traditions with their host families and peers.
While we highly recommend homestays as an integral part of the AIMS linguistic and cultural experience, students may also elect to stay in a hotel for the summer or find a local apartment at an additional cost (i.e. not included in the overall program fee).
Weekends and Group Excursions
In addition to attending weddings, music festivals, and Ramadan celebrations in the ancient medina of downtown Tunis with their host families and classmates, students are free to explore Sidi Bou Said, Tunis, and the surrounding areas in the afternoons and on the weekends. As part of their cultural immersion and included in the overall tuition cost, students also enjoy a program-organized, overnight weekend excursion to one of Tunisia's many fascinating regions outside of the capital, such as Tabarka and the Roman ruins of the north, the Cap Bon peninsula, and the holy city of Kairouan, among others.
Health and Safety
The success of the AIMS language program relies on the health and well-being of all students. We are committed to maintaining a safe and comfortable atmosphere where students will thrive intellectually and enjoy Tunisia both linguistically and culturally. Sidi Bou Said and its surrounding neighborhoods are among the safest in the country, and home to high-quality doctors and medical facilities with whom AIMS has cultivated a strong relationship over the past decade. As CEMAT functions year-round, we also rely heavily on our deep and rich connections with local American and Tunisian governmental entities to monitor the political situation and ensure the safety of students.
Dates and Fees
Mandatory on-site orientation begins Friday, June 14, with classes beginning on June 17 and running for seven full weeks. Program ends on Friday, August 2.
Tuition for the seven-week 2013 AIMS Tunisia Arabic Program is $6,500. This fee covers:
- All primary educational aspects of the seven-week program, including over 150 hours of university-level Arabic instruction (MSA and Tunisian dialect)
- Daily personalized conversation practice with experienced language tutors
- Cultural lectures/encounters with local leaders and activists involved in important sectors of Tunisian society following the Arab Spring
- Homestay with an experienced local Tunisian host family for the duration of the program
- Approximately two months of breakfast and dinner provided by the host family, and nearly one month of lunches provided during Ramadan at the AIMS language school site
- Regular laundry service
- One overnight weekend excursion
Optional add-ons (not included in the tuition cost):
- Weekly on-site cultural clubs: examples include Tunisian cooking, music, and pottery
- Hotel/apartment option should students choose to forgo a homestay
- Additional organized overnight weekend excursions
- University credit at student's home institution
Extra Expenses
Students should budget for additional meals/snacks, local transportation, and any additional independent travel they anticipate undertaking during, before, or after their participation in the program. Travel to and from Tunisia is the responsibility of each student. All students attending the program must have health insurance that covers them for the duration of their stay in Tunisia. All prices are subject to student enrollment.
Eligibility and Application Process
Undergraduate and graduate students, senior and independent scholars from all disciplines, nationalities, and Arabic language ability are encouraged to apply. Online information and registration will be available January 1, 2013 at aimsnorthafrica.org. Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2013, and successful applicants will be informed in April with acceptance due by May 1.
Student Selection
A selection committee of AIMS scholars and staff select students based on academic performance, an essay demonstrating intrinsic motivation to learn Arabic, letters of recommendation, and a strong desire to study in Tunisia. AIMS minimum G.P.A. for admission is 3.0; however, exceptions may be made in special circumstances.
Payment Requirements
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required upon acceptance and will be deducted from each applicant's tuition fees. The full fees are due by May 15, 2013. If the full fees are not paid by May 15, 2013, the applicant may lose his / her place in the program. Students may pay online using PayPal or make a check payable to "AIMS" and mail to:
Kerry Adams, AIMS Executive Director
American Institute for Maghrib Studies
Center for Middle Eastern Studies
845 N. Park Ave.
Marshall Bldg., Room 470
PO Box 210158-B
Tucson, AZ 85721-0158 USA
Phone: (520) 626-6498
Fax: (520) 621-9257
aims@aimsnorthafrica.org
Arabic@aimsnorthafrica.org
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