CET Jordan Study Abroad

CET Jordan: At-A-Glance

Intensive Modern Standard Arabic & Jordanian Dialect
Internship and research opportunities
Electives in English or Arabic
Choose your own language pledge
Official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
Arabic language partner
Excursions around Jordan
Out-of-class learning and assignments
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Fall

SPRING

Fall

SPring

CET Jordan study abroad students get top-tier intensive language instruction with unbeatable curricular customization. Enroll in two core courses and the rest is up to you—pick engaging electives in Arabic or in English, take on directed research or an internship with a local organization… you even choose your own language pledge. Combined with field-based learning, language partners, and a housing setup designed to engage and acclimate you, it’s a full semester of learning on your terms.

Academics in Jordan

Semester
Snapshot

Curriculum & Syllabi

You combine two core language courses and two to three 3-credit electives to meet the recommended 15 to 18 total credits.

Choose two to three 3-credit electives to meet the recommended 15 to 18 total credits. Arabic electives are back-loaded and start later in the term after your language skills have warmed up.

Language Learning Electives
 
Arabic Content Courses
 
English Content Courses 
 
Field-Based Electives
 
*Your internship placement and course provide 3 credits. Class and work hours will add up to a minimum total of 150 hours.
professor teaching arabic class

Choose your adventure in Amman

Take on immersive language learning. The curriculum emphasizes learning beyond the classroom—you have your Jordanian neighbors and a language partner to practice with, a language pledge, and all your classes have excursions that make the city your classroom. 

Individual attention for impressive results. Use weekly one-on-one office hours to workshop tricky grammar patterns and get the attention you need to succeed in an intensive language program. Then see exactly how much your skills have progressed when you take an official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) at the end of your term. 

Customize your semester. If you choose to intern abroad, we match you with an organization that allows you to explore your own interests in a professional setting. Build your résumé and test your language skills in a work environment. Leaning toward research? Deep dive on your topic with guidance from local experts and faculty. 

Housing and Meals

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Living Like a Local

Jordanian neighbors. You live in an apartment with CET peers in a residential neighborhood of Amman. Sharing the building with you are jiran, Jordanian neighbors. The jiran are part of the program—not only are they your built-in community, they also plan activities that show you the city and bring local culture and language into your life. You might cook Jordanian dishes together, have game nights, go for hikes, or simply hang out when you’re taking a break from studying. Learn more about living with locals. 

Eating in Amman. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés within walking distance of your apartment in Amman’s Swefieh neighborhood. Be sure to try mansaf, the national dish of roasted lamb served over rice. Feeling a home-cooked meal? Have a night in with your housemates and trade cooking tips as you prepare dinner together. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Jordan. 

students at lunch with local roommate with view of Amman behind

Life in Amman

Street view of Amman with some cars parallel parked to the left side against some colorful grafitti.

Amman is the place to be—it’s lively, diverse, and there’s no shortage of opportunities to take your Arabic language skills for a spin. After class at the CET Center, peruse local shops or get a bite to eat at a neighborhood café. Explore the city’s traditional side by shopping at the Friday flea market or browsing the Gold Souq. Or enjoy Amman’s more cosmopolitan perks: attend a film screening at the Royal Film Commission with your language partner or sip on Arabic coffee while befriending a barista on Rainbow Street.

Experience Jordan with CET

Around the city. The program offers different activities that allow you to explore Amman, experience Jordanian culture, or just unwind. Master dancing the dabkeh, try Arabic calligraphy or play soccer with jiran. And there’s even more to see on your own.

Beyond Amman. Get ready for an unforgettable weekend—gaze upon the Natabean ruins at Petra, take a sunset jeep tour through the dunes of Wadi Rum, and then stay up date chatting, drinking tea, and playing cards with jiran and language partners in true Bedouin fashion. And after your midterm break, travel to a nature reserve in Ajlun to relax and reconnect with your peers and your own goals for your semester in Jordan.

Volunteer in Amman. Give back to the community by opting to volunteer regularly with a local organization. Play with children at the King Hussein Cancer Center, lend a hand to organizations supporting refugee communities, or help distribute food to those in need. 
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Student Resources

"The program offers a beautiful community between students, professors, and management. I cannot stress enough that everyone in the program is genuinely interested in the personal growth of each student, both academically and individually. Everyone, including management, always has their door open, ready to help, whether to practice Arabic, provide assistance with any situation, or just sit, chat, and have a good laugh."

— Lorenza Inserra,
American University | Fall student
"In terms of identity, gender has never previously been an aspect of my individuality that particularly resonated with me. Since moving to Amman, however, I have felt a new level of solidarity with women as a whole. We have this shared experience of misogyny that allows us to bond on a deeper level regardless of our other identities."

— Emily Griffith,
University of Missouri | Fall student

READ EMILY'S BLOG
"My primary goal was to learn Ammiya (Jordanian dialect) Arabic, which the locals speak. So, when I expressed an interest in developing my conversational abilities, my teacher was very supportive. We scheduled one-on-one sessions throughout the week to practice conversing, which led to my goal and my ultimate personal success in this program."

— Annisa Mohamed,
University of Minnesota | Fall student
"CET’s structure supports a strong community among professors, neighbors, and the cohort itself. Also, it gives students the tools to foster individuality and personal development through language skills and connections with local establishments such as pottery, Turkish baths, and other fun activities!"

— Rachel Spahn,
Northwestern University | Fall student
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On-site Staff

Manal Yousef

Manal Yosef, PhD
Academic Director

Mazen Bernieh

Mazen Bernieh
Director of Operations

Ahmad AbuShaikha

Ahmad AbuShaikha
Resident Director, Student Life

"During one of our very first orientations, we were told that up until now, everything we knew about the Arab world had been from a Western institute, Western media outlet, or a Western point of view. We were now in an Arab world, being educated by Arab teachers and living amongst Arab perspectives. With my two content classes, this factor played an important role in helping me see both sides of the conflict while assessing sources and media more critically."

— Rojina Timsina,
Kalamazoo College | Fall student

Program Fees

Fall/Spring

$19,390

What's Included

All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.

We arrange your housing in a fully-furnished apartment about a 10-minute walk from the CET center. Your program fees go toward rent, utilities, furnishing, and other management costs.
 
A local SIM card and basic phone plan are included with your program fee. You pay for costs up front, and on-site staff reimburse you at the end of the term. 
 
 
If you choose to conduct an internship, we help you land the job, make sure you’re prepared, and then stay in close touch with your host organization… all semester long. 
 
We also cover your transportation fees to and from your placement site—you pay for up-front costs and on-site staff reimburse you twice during the term.
A local network of peers provides you with cultural and language support that will transform your experience.
 

From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way. 

We cover the official Oral Proficiency Interview. Your scores will look great on a résumé…and on your fridge.
 

You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.

The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee. All you need to do is remember to bring your camera!

We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You’ll purchase your visa upon arrival and we’ll reimburse you in local currency once on site for one entry. Any additional entries needed because of personal travel are on your own.

Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.

At the end of your term, you’ll receive academic documentation as proof of all you’ve accomplished abroad. Depending on your home institution, you will either get a CET grade report or a School of Record transcript from the University of Minnesota.

More on finances

students at Amman market
Program Fee Breakdown. Of the total program fee, $15,190 goes to tuition and fees, and $4,200 goes to housing and other student life fees.

Local Cost of Living. Depending on your lifestyle, the cost of living in Amman can be very cheap or expensive. Things like groceries, restaurant prices, and taxis are cheap, but electronics, imported products, and western chains (e.g. Starbucks) are expensive.

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses: 

Note on Medical Expenses: Students should expect to initially pay out-of-pocket for most medical care before reimbursed for expenses by GeoBlue insurance. Estimates for common expenses include: treatment for common stomach issues ($85), therapy session ($70), & visit to a specialist ($50).

How to Apply

  • •  Pre-requisites: None. Open to students of any Arabic level, including absolute beginners
  • •  Must be 18 or older at the time of program participation.
  • •  Open to students from any US college or university
  • GPA: 3.0 or higher is recommended, students with lower GPAs will be asked for a faculty recommendation to supplement their application

Complete the application through your online CET account. This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.

Upload a scan of your passport to your online CET account. This should be a single scan that includes the signed signature page and the photo/personal details page. Don’t have a passport yet? Let us know and we can help advise you.

This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request,  simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your online account.

Your online CET account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.

Application
Deadlines

Fall Semester:

May 1

Spring Semester:

November 1

Have a question? Get in touch!

Melanie MacKenzie

Manager, Student Services 
202.846.7662
[email protected]

Price Subject to Change:

CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.

Course Availability

Our goal is to offer every course every term, but sometimes factors like faculty availability and program enrollment keep us from reaching that goal. If you’re concerned about needing to enroll in one particular course, please contact us
 

ACTFL Oral proficiency INTERVIEW

An ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) score is an objective measure of your language progress and level. On average, 92% of CET Jordan students improve at least three OPI sub-levels. With over 24 terms’ worth of data, it’s clear CET Jordan students make significant progress no matter what level they arrive with. 

Internship Possibilities

We help you identify opportunities that align with your Arabic abilities, professional interests, and skills. Then, we provide you with support to make sure you have the structure and guidance to get the most out of your placement. 

Pick Your
Pledge

Before the term begins, you decide on what type of language pledge commitment you want for your term in Jordan. This choice directly influences your housing and extra-curricular life, so it’s important to think carefully about your decision. 

FULL LANGUAGE PLEDGE

Commit to speaking Arabic all the time—in your classes, out in the city, interacting with CET peers, and even your daily life at home. Under a full pledge, you’re housed with other full pledge students, attend extra-curricular activities together, and are challenged to consume Arabic language media/art in your free time. 

Students who uphold a full language pledge can reasonably expect to progress as follows:

LIMITED LANGUAGE PLEDGE

Commit to speaking Arabic while in classes, at the CET Center, and on all program activities. In your free time, you’re required to speak an additional three hours of Arabic daily and the rest is up to you. You’re housed with other limited language pledge students. 
 
Students who uphold a limited language pledge can reasonably expect to progress as follows:

CET Jordan: Academic Consultation Board

Over the years, we’ve built a strong network of locally-based faculty that we’re proud to call our peers. These faculty make up our Academic Consultation Board—a select group of local voices and thought leaders that help advise and shape components of the CET Jordan program. 

Board members support the program in many ways, including but not limited to:

Academic Consultation Board Members

Learn More about our Programs

where will you intern?

Get a list of possible internship placements in Jordan.