CET Jordan: Summer Study Abroad

CET Jordan: Summer At-a-Glance

Intensive Modern Standard Arabic & Jordanian Dialect
Curriculum suitable for all Arabic language levels
For-credit and non-credit internship electives
Option to conduct field research
Full or limited language pledge
Official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
Arabic language partner
Out-of-class learning and assignments
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Summer

CET Jordan offers unparalleled Arabic language instruction and a curriculum tailored to your interests for your summer study abroad. Choose one academic concentration to guide your summer (Intensive Language, Internship, or Research), then take on engaging courses, out-of-class learning, and even a housing setup designed for round-the-clock immersion. 

Academics in Jordan

Summer
Snapshot

Curriculum & Syllabi

This program offers three curriculum options in the summer: Intensive Language, Internship, and Research. All options combine various courses for a total of 6 to 9 recommended credits.

Option 1: Intensive language

You commit to a full language pledge and combine one Modern Standard Arabic course and one Jordanian Dialect course for a total of 9 recommended credits.

Option 2: InteRNSHIP

You commit to a full or limited language pledge and combine one Modern Standard Arabic course, one Jordanian Dialect course, and an internship component for a total of 6 to 9 recommended credits.

If you choose to participate in an internship for academic credit, your placement and this course provide 3 credits. Your class and work hours will add up to a minimum total of 100 hours.

If you don’t need academic credit, you can choose this not-for-credit option:

Note: Internship placements start approximately two weeks into the term, after you’ve had a chance to warm up your Arabic. 

Option 3: RESEARCH

You commit to a full or limited language pledge and combine one Modern Standard Arabic course, one Jordanian Dialect course, and a research component for a total of 9 recommended credits.

CET Jordan students complete an Arabic exercise on a whiteboard

Tailor your summer in Amman

Customized curriculum. With three different concentrations, you decide how you want to explore Jordan. The Intensive Language track focuses on language gains, Internship allows for professional growth, and the Research concentration gives you room to explore your own interests under the guidance of a knowledgeable faculty member. 

Intensive language. You take MSA, the language of the nightly newscasts, and Jordanian Dialect, the language between friends. On top of that, you meet with your language partner weekly, navigate your daily life with your chosen language pledge, and even take an official Oral Proficiency Interview—written proof of your language gains.

Hands-on learning. If you intern in Jordan, we match you with an organization that will help you grow, and vice versa. And if you choose to conduct research, we connect you with local experts and resources to bring your exploration to the next level.

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: planning activities that show you Amman, showing you how to cook authentic Jordanian dishes, and just hanging out at night when you’re taking a break from studying. Learn more about living with locals. 

Eating in Amman. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes within walking distance of your apartment. 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. 

CET Jordan students and Jordanian neighbors eat in a restaurant together

Life in Amman

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. 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: visit a museum with friends 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. Relax during a yoga session, try Arabic calligraphy, or take a cooking class. 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.

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Student Resources

"My language improved so much because of this program. I never thought I would be able to speak this well or this quickly or understand as much as I do. I definitely have a broader perspective because the culture is very different from the United States, and the people live life differently."

— Anonymous Student Evaluation,
Summer
"The other students in the program were very supportive and we developed a great bond during our time there. That's one thing I really loved about CET, they provide you with a lot of opportunities to develop connections with people in the community and gain these rare and often personal insights into life in Amman."

— Stephanie Williams,
Washington & Lee University | Summer
"It was amazing to experience life here as opposed to just studying Arabic in the university setting in the US. I loved speaking to people on the street or in taxis and I felt like people were generally nicer and more open to conversation than people in the US. "

— Anonymous Final Evaluation, Summer
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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

Program Fees

Summer

$9,390

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 campus. 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

CET Jordan students sit on a rock in Wadi Rum
Program fee breakdown. Of the total program fee, $7,190 goes to tuition and fees, and $2,200 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
Deadline

March 1

Have a question? Get in touch!

Melanie MacKenzie

Senior Student Services Coordinator
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.