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Arabic Flagship

AHLAN WA SAHLAN! The Arabic Flagship program at University of Maryland is proud to be one of only six Arabic Flagships in the nation.

Our mission is to create the next generation of global professionals who speak Arabic at a professional level and possess deep knowledge about the many cultures of the modern Middle East. Our Arabic program at UMD is hosted in a high-quality university that offers many areas of study, and we have created a strong and vibrant community for Arabic learning.

The Language Flagship Logo of Three colored squares connected

Our students benefit from rigorous classes taught by well-trained and experienced faculty, the latest technology, cultural activities, field trips, language partners for one-on-one practice and a wide array of specially-designed workshops to help our students learn Arabic and to practice what they learn.

The Flagship program combines intensive study in the U.S. (both academic year and summer programs) with well-articulated periods of immersion overseas in Morocco. We are proud of our talented and diverse Flagship students who achieve long-term success in our program.

Graduates of our program go on to take their place as leaders in government, education and in the private sector. They are able to use their sought-after language skills, many diverse majors and real-life experience gained through internships and intensive immersion overseas to make a difference to U.S. national security and interests and to secure meaningful, well-paid careers.

About the Arabic Flagship Program at University of Maryland

Meet Our Students

Learn more about the Arabic Flagship students.

Our Students

Information About Overseas Study

Overseas Study Overview

Immersion is a critical step to reaching high-level language proficiency. The Arabic Flagship Program offers students three opportunities to study abroad in intensive, immersion environments - with a full year immersion program in Morocco administered by the University of Arizona as well as summer programs abroad in Oman, Jordan, and Morocco. Fall/Spring semester program in Amman, Jordan administered by CET are also available to students.

While overseas, we take every precaution to ensure our students are safe and well cared for  – careful monitoring, risk management and evacuation procedures, a full time American Resident Director on staff overseas, and comprehensive medical and evacuation plans for every student participating.

 

Fall/Spring in Amman Jordan

Academic

Students study at the CET center located in the beautiful capital city of Amman, Jordan where they can earn up to 12 credits towards their Arabic major. Students have the opportunity to study the Jordanian dialect while continuing to focus on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Students are also given the opportunity to engage in a variety of cultural excursions as well as an immersive internship that encourages students’ professional growth, while also building new language skills.

Housing

CET pairs students with a local roommate who can introduce them to daily life in Jordan. A shared apartment cultivates an environment that encourages students to maintain their Arabic language pledge while also immersing students in the culture outside the classroom. 

Summer in Meknes, Morocco

Academic

Flagship students study at the Arab-American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM), located in the heart of the old city. Over the summer, students spend time in class learning Moroccan Darija as well as continuing their studies in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Students spend time one-on-one with language partners, participate in cultural activities and travel to historic sites.

During the summer, Arabic language classes take place five days a week and run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. In addition, afternoon cultural or language activities, homework and other outside-of-class preparation amounts to an additional 20 hours a week or more.

Housing

Students will stay with a host family, which offers an interesting and satisfying cultural experience and complements the academic portion of the program. Living with host families also offers the opportunity to form lasting friendships with Moroccans.

Capstone Year in Meknes, Morocco

Academic

Flagship students study at the AALIM center located in the heart of the old city. Over the summer, students spend time in class learning Darija as well as continuing their studies in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA) and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). 

In addition to language courses, students also take a direct enrollment course in the fall and spring, work with Moroccan language and academic partners every week throughout the year, attend cultural events and field trips and participate in varied internships to gain professional experience during the fall and spring semesters.

Application to the capstone year is a mandatory element of the Arabic Flagship Program and students must commit to completing the capstone year upon acceptance into the program.

Internships

In the fall and spring semesters, Flagship students begin their professional internship. Opportunities in the fields of cultural events, theater, journalism, museums, women’s rights, athletes with disabilities, education, nonprofits and more are available.

Housing

Flagship students live with host families during the summer session. During the fall and spring semesters, they can either continue living with a host family or live in an apartment with Moroccan students. Both of these living situations offer an interesting and satisfying cultural experience and complement the academic portion of the program. They also offer the opportunity to form lasting friendships with Moroccans.

 

Approved Summer Abroad Programs

Careers After Flagship

Infographic about career paths after flaship programs at UMD

Contact Us

Maya Montgomery

Arabic Flagship Program Coordinator, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Program Coordinator, Arabic Flagship

3123 H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-4742

Email: arabic@umd.edu

Phone: (301) 405-4742

We hold several Information Sessions throughout the semester for prospective students who want to learn more about the Arabic and Persian Flagship Programs. The Spring 2024 Info Sessions are on the following dates:

Thursday, February 15th, 5:00 - 6:00pm

Tuesday, March 26th, 5:00 - 6:00pm

Wednesday, April 10th, 5:00 - 6:00pm

Thursday, April 25th, 5:00 - 6:00pm

Sign up to receive the Zoom Link here.

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