Summer Complete Immersion Program 2013
Summer I: Sunday 16th of June 2013 - Wednesday 7th of August 2013 (200 contact hours)
Summer II: Sunday 14th of July 2013 - Wednesday 7th of August 2013 (100 contact hours)
Days of the Week: Sunday - Thursday
Content
A: Language: The language program is divided into 3 major levels: beginners,
intermediate and advanced. All these levels include the four major skills: reading, writing,
speaking and listening. Special emphasis is put on grammar, vocabulary and conversational
skills. The standard percentage of dialect is 20%, although many institutions ask for more
or less than this percentage. JLA expresses flexibility on this regard in order to meet the
different needs of its students. Each level has its standard curricula and textbooks.
In some cases, if the students' number in a course or program is three or less, we have the
right to change the course from a full/part-time format into tutoring format.
Students are always welcome to suggest a course to the JLA administration, which will be
very positively considered. We are always ready to tune our courses to meet our students’
needs. Please do not hesitate to give us your comments and suggestions so we can be of help
to you.
B: Culture: Parallel to the language program we have a cultural program that includes
Arabic literature, Calligraphy, Archaeology of Jordan, Arabic society, Arabic media, Arabic
music, Middle East political issues, Arabic culture (traditions, customs, costumes and
Arabic cooking). Advanced programs include language, culture, clubs, and basic courses in
translation and interpretation.
Clubs: JLA has the following clubs to encourage students using the language and
familiarizing themselves with the culture:
1. Chatting Club: students will have the chance to sit and chat with a native speaker
of Arabic according to a schedule of topics that enforce the topics they studied in
classroom. In this club students will have a more spontaneous conversation and can
learn from their own mistakes.
2. Arabic Games Club: Students consider this fun time. They can play Arabic games
such as word scrabble, Arabic words flash cards, backgammon, Mangala, Arabic
Karaoke, and many other interesting and educational games.
3. Book Club: The book club is arranged by your professors. Your professors will
suggest an Arabic book to be read every fortnight. The professor will give a general
presentation on the blogs on the JLA website. During the week, students and the
professor will discuss online the main themes, the plot, the style of the writer etc.
This proved to be a very informative and useful method to our students as they can
learn a lot from their professors and from each other.
4. Cinema Club: In this club, very selective Arabic films and documentaries are
presented to our students at a regular basis.
5. Cooking Club: One of our enthusiastic teachers will introduce major Arabic and
Jordanian and Middle Eastern dishes to our students. Students will participate in
preparing dish and enjoy the food after that.
Please click here to see photos of our clubs and here to see the videos.
Teaching Methodology
Our approach is mainly communicative. We believe in interactive and dynamic
methodology. It proved to be very effective in the development of students' communication
skills. In most of our classes, students are given good chances to practice and develop their
speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
The communicative method belief is that it is important not to be restricted by a specific
Arabic language textbook. Although we rely on Al-Kitaab and other series, we never feel
that textbooks must be used from cover to cover. They should only be used as tool, as a
starting-point. With a little inspiration and imagination, an Arabic language textbook can
be manipulated and rendered for a more communicative purpose. Teachers must free
themselves from it, rely more on their own command of language and professional
expertise as to what linguistic items, skills, idioms, phrases, words, need to be drilled,
exploited and extended.
We do not want you to know Arabic without being able to use it. We want you to use it,
practice it. Language is a practical skill you need to develop through practice, not only
something you need to learn. That is why our teaching method focuses on the development
of the four skills: speaking, listening, reading & writing.
Each course syllabus is built and prepared for each subject under reliable and objective
measures of linguistic ability and details the specific contents and skills that students
should learn and acquire in each level.
Placement Test: On the first day of study students will sit for a skill placement test. The
placement test will evaluate your skill level and place you in the right class.
Development Test: By the end of the course students sit for a development test so JLA,
its and students and if applicable their institutions will have a detailed idea about their skill
development.
Course Evaluation Report: Students will be asked to fill a Course Evaluation form so
JLA can get their feedback and comments on courses, instruction, etc so we can protect our
standards. And make sure that our standards are consistent in all classes and sections.
Assistance: The JLA staff, academic and administrative, take care of the students' needs
for the complete duration of their stay. They are always available to give students every kind
of information and to offer any kind of help they may need.
Academic Credit
Jordan Language Academy can help in arranging academic credit on an individual basis. If
student are in a university or college and they like to receive academic credit at their home
institution, they need to pass final exams for all the Arabic courses at JLA. Students should
discuss in advance with their professor on their campus their desire to transfer credits and
have the professor sign the appropriate part of the application form. Students may choose
to be graded on an A, B, C, D, F scale, or PASS/FAIL.
A written summary of course work and individual achievement will be provided for any
student applying for university credit. We can provide your home institution with course
syllabi, course descriptions, and course schedules to help them approve the classes. Once
you have begun taking courses here we can continue to communicate with your home
institution with attendance sheets, grades, and progress reports. And finally, upon course
completion, an official transcript is provided.
Certification
Your courses can be certified by the following institutions:
1- Jordan Language Academy:
We offer two types of certificates:
- A certificate of attendance: this can be offered to all students who attend classes
regularly.
- A certificate of passing courses examinations: this can be offered after passing final
exams for all or some Arabic courses. If students choose to receive this kind of certificate
they should sit for a final exam and receive grades. An official transcript is issued with this
certificate. This type of certificates can be offered to all or part of the courses you study.
2- American Consultants for Training (ACT)
American Consultants for Training is a leading international
organization based in Texas, USA, that provides training, career
development and consultation services for educational institutes
as well as businesses around the world.
ACT offers a world's leading range of certificates based upon an international standardized
assessment scheme which was developed in accordance with The American Association for
training and consultation.
If you choose to be assessed by ACT you need to express interest at least 8 weeks before the
end of your course.
3- Jordanian Association of Translators and Applied
Linguists
The Jordanian Association of Translators and Applied Linguists is an
official Jordanian organization based in Amman. The Association
offers certificates after they refer to the records, reports and a
summary of course work offered by JLA. The Association offers two types of certificates:
- Certificate of attendance: offered to all students who attend classes regularly.
- Certificate of passing courses examination: offered after passing final exams.
Persian Program
Jordan Language Academy runs classes of Persian for students who are specialized in
Arabic and Farsi. We can arrange classes for groups and individuals according to their
language level.
Internet & Free Wi-Fi
We offer our students free High Speed Wireless Internet Access in all parts of JLA. Students
are welcome to bring their laptops and connect to the internet in any part of the JLA.
Speakers
We have a regular program of guest speakers. Our speakers are well-known distinguished
people in many cultural fields.
Flexibility
JLA offers tailor-made programs that meet the needs of learners. We can arrange programs
and courses to one or more students according to their specific and technical needs. We
have done that several times for students from different countries and reached excellent
results. These courses can be offered anytime of the year.
Excursion
Learning Arabic is not restricted to classroom education and weekdays. JLA offers a range
of optional full and half-day excursions to nearby archaeological sites, natural treasures of
Jordan and cultural activities and events. Your professors, specialized tour guides, or
archaeologists will accompany you in your tours. Students will be encouraged to practice
their Arabic in these excursions. These excursions can be combined with lessons or private
tutoring. Tours are usually arranged in weekends.
Library
Jordan Language Academy has an agreement with ACOR (American Center of
Oriental Research). Our students are always welcome to use the rich library of
ACOR. Click here to view ACOR's library page on their website.
Research Libraries Specializing in Jordan and the Middle East:
Council of British Research in the Levant
German Protestant Institute of Archaeology
Institut français du Proche-Orient
British Council
Important libraries in Jordan:
Abdul Hamid Shoman Library
National Library of Jordan
Jordan University Main Library
Yarmouk University Library (Irbid)
Volunteer Work
JLA is very keen to find natural cultural opportunities for its students to further immerse in
the Arabic culture. Students can strengthen their knowledge of the social life, economic
pattern, cultural norms and customs etc, by complementing their language learning
experience in an authentic environment far from books and classrooms. We find volunteer
work opportunities for our students in the Jordanian institutions. These opportunities are
dominated by students' skills, commitment, and their backgrounds from one side and the
opportunities available in the Jordanian institutions at a given time.
Field Training in Translation
Through our agreements and partnerships with several distinguished institutions, we offer
our students the opportunity of field training in translation from and into English and
Arabic. This opportunity is offered mainly to our advanced students in the evening or
during our breaks. Field training in translation proved to be a very fruitful and rich
experience.
Accommodation:
Students can choose any of the following options of accommodation in Amman while
studying at JLA at a very reasonable rate:
1) Home stay: JLA arranges home stay with local families (according to availability) who
are carefully selected. In this case, two-three meals will be served by the host family.
2) Furnished Apartment: JLA can rent furnished apartments for students
3) Hotel: JLA can arrange a long hotel/ hotel apartment stay in a nearby neighbourhood.
All these options can be arranged for singles or families. For more details please contact us.
Our agent is International Accommodation Services (IAS), and can be contacted through:
Website www.hostfamilyjo.com or E-Mail booking@hostfamilyjo.com
Location
Jordan Language Academy is located in the western part of Amman close to the seventh
circle and to the old part of Amman. It is about 4 minutes walking from the commercial
areas. There are many nearby hotels, restaurants, fast food, falafil, humus, shops, 2 big
malls etc. JLA is also close to residential areas where we arrange for our students to live;
either in furnished apartments or with host-families. JLA is:
0 minutes from taxis
5 minutes walking from public transport
25 minutes from the Airport
6 minutes from Mecca Mall
7 Minutes from the City Mall
10 minutes from the Area of Embassies and Ministries
15 Minutes from ACOR Library
To sum up, JLA is centrally located in one of the best areas of Amman.
Click here to view our map location.
Our Contact Details:
P.O. Box 5537 Amman 11953
Mobile: +962 77 950 2229
Telephone: + 962 6 582 0986
Fax: + 962 6 582 0985
www.jordanla.com
info@jordanla.com
Amman - Jordan
Best regards,
Dr. Elham Kawar
PhD in Arabic/English Contrastive Linguistics
Jordan Language Academy Chair