Why
Want to get a head start on building critical language skills? Or maybe you’re looking to experience the Middle East beyond what you see in the news. You’re in luck—a gap program at CET Jordan will set you up with the tools to become an independent learner of Arabic, while giving you the supportive network to navigate life in Amman, Jordan.
program highlights
- Intensive Modern Standard Arabic and Jordanian Dialect coursework
- Engage with the local community through volunteer work
- Climb the city ruins, shop at the Friday flea market, see King Hussein Gardens
- Limited language pledge and extra support for gap students
- Travel out of Amman to see Wadi Rum, swim in the Dead sea, and explore Petra
TAKEAWAYS
- College credits and an official transcript from the University of Minnesota
- International and intercultural experience to benefit college essays
- Experiences to inform and shape college decision making
- Improved language skills and an official OPI score to add to your résumé
- Established study habits and structure for continued language learning success
Intensive
Program
Snapshot
- Recommended Credits: 9-12/semester; 6/summer
- Study Intensive MSA and Jordanian Dialect
- Volunteer at a local organization
- Weekly Arabic language partner sessions
- Limited language pledge
- Out-of-class learning & assignments
- Host University: University of Jordan
Coursework & Syllabi
Fall or Spring Semester
You combine one 6-credit MSA course, one 3-credit Jordanian Dialect course, and have the option to add a 3-credit language elective to meet the total of 9 to 12 recommended credits.
You are placed into one of these 6-credit courses:
You are placed into one of these 3-credit courses:
You have the option to add one of these electives to your course load for 12 total credits. These courses are taught in the target language.
- AM/LANG 222/322/422 Living Language: Jordanian Dialect in Popular Culture
- AM/LANG 233/333/433 Living Language: Modern Standard Arabic in Practice
SUMMER term
You combine one 4-credit MSA course and one 2-credit Jordanian Dialect course to meet the total of 6 recommended credits.
Critical Language With Critical Skills
Take intensive language classes, volunteer with a local organization, have a local Jordanian roommate, uphold a limited language pledge, and have a language partner… it’s no surprise our students make incredible strides in MSA and Jordanian Dialect. And with this kind of exposure before you even begin college, you won’t just have academic credits to give you a boost—you’ll have the skills, cultural competency, and insight to inform your college experience and set you apart from your peers.
Oral Proficiency Interview
"I have learned the difference between studying Arabic and making it a part of my lifestyle. That is the difference CET makes. They prepare us for Arabic in every aspect and set high expectations. I find my knowledge in Arabic growing everyday."
American University | Spring 2018
& Meals
COVID Modifications
Because of precautions CET is taking related to COVID-19, your housing experience will look different from standard programming. Please see the COVID playbook page for more information.
- Apartment
- Off-campus housing in residential area
- Live with CET peers & local Jordanian students
- 2-4 people/apartment
- 1-2 people/room
- Shared kitchen, living room, bathrooms, in-house washing machine
- Wifi, AC, space heaters, bed and bath linens, basic furnishing, kitchenware, TV with satellite, laundry drying rack
Your apartment is different from what you might find in the US—from the typical furnishings to the home life culture. You share a space with local roommates and other CET gap and college students and have everything you need—markets, cafés, restaurants—within walking distance. This isn’t just a place to live, it’s an extension of your Arabic language classroom and a daily opportunity for cultural exchange. You’ll use your language skills to help you navigate your new life and immerse yourself in Jordanian culture and customs.
Local Roommates
Living in Amman will be different—there are parts of the culture you don’t understand. English may disappear from your surroundings. And basic things, like navigating a market or ordering at a restaurant, are processes you suddenly have to relearn. These challenges are exactly what’s exciting about studying abroad—and your local roommates are your go-to resource for all things Jordan. Sure, they might teach you how to fry the perfect falafel or introduce you to an Arabic soap opera, but what they’re really doing is bringing local culture and language into your everyday life.
Eating in Amman
On-site Staff
Manal Yousef
Academic Director
Mazen Bernieh
Resident Director,
Logistics
Ahmad AbuShaikha
Resident Director,
Student Life
EXTRA Support FOR GAP
With the sudden dive into intensive college-level courses, a brand new environment, and a foreign language and culture, you might find that you need extra support as a gap student. You’ll have weekly meetings in English with the Resident Director and other gap students to unpack your experiences. Overwhelmed by culture shock? Need ideas for how to bond with your roommate? Or maybe you just want to share the details of your favorite new breakfast spot. These weekly meetings provide a safe space for gap students to discuss and reflect as a group though you’re also welcome to approach staff with any individual needs throughout the term.
Life in
- Known locally as: عَمّان ʻAmmān
- Population: 4.008 million
- Local Currency: Jordanian Dinar
- Famous for: Delicious food, Amman Citadel ruins, hospitable people, cultural diversity, central location
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 watching the sunset from the Citadel after dinner downtown. Or enjoy the Amman’s more cosmopolitan perks: see a concert with friends or sip on Arabic coffee after enjoying street art in Lweibdeh.
Activities & Excursions
Giving Back to Amman
Three-Day Retreat
"The challenges of living in a new place, speaking a foreign language, and acclimating to a new culture made me appreciate the experience even more. I met amazing people (Americans and Jordanians alike), learned a ton, and pushed myself in ways I didn’t think possible."
University of Michigan | Spring 2018
Program
Spring 2021
$12,990
|
Summer 2021
$7,990
Spring 2021: $12,990
Summer 2021: $7,990
CET aims to make program fees as inclusive as possible to minimize out-of-pocket costs.
All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.
From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way.
You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan that 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!
Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.
Estimated
Out-of-Pocket
Costs for Fall/Spring
- Round-trip Airfare: $750 - $1,040
- Meals: $1,200 - $1,400
- Personal Expenses: $900 - $1,100
- University of Minnesota Transcript (optional): $425
Estimated
Out-of-Pocket
Costs for Summer
- Round-trip Airfare: $1,260 - $1,450
- Meals: $600 - $800
- Personal Expenses: $450 - $550
- University of Minnesota Transcript (optional): $425
To be eligible for a Gap at CET program, you:
- Must be 18 or order at the time of program participation
- Should have a high school diploma but are not yet enrolled at a college or university degree program
- Are recommended to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, so students with lower GPAs are still encouraged to apply.
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.
Use the link in your online account to send a recommendation request to one of your previous teachers.
Your online CET account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.
A phone interview with a CET staff member is a required step of the application process. You will be contacted soon after the completion of your other application materials.
Spring deadline:
November 1st
Summer deadline:
March 15th
Fall deadline:
May 1 June 1
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.
Savannah Peery
Student Services Coordinator
Advises on programs in Colombia, Jordan, India & CET Shanghai
202.846.7648
[email protected]
