Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane:
The University Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), Morocco was established in 1993 by Royal Dahir and opened it doors to students in January 1995 with a completely modern and networked campus. The outlook is international and tolerance is promoted and expected of students, staff, and faculty members belonging to over 25 nationalities who live and work together.
Arabic and North African Studies Program:
The Arabic and North African Studies program at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco provides all of these opportunities to students from all over the world, at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels. Though most of our students are from American institutions of higher learning, over the last 9 years, over 434 students from 22 different countries have come to the Middle Atlas Mountains in Ifrane, Morocco, to develop their language skills, learn about North Africa, and experience various aspects of Moroccan culture through activities, clubs and field trips to areas such as the Sahara desert, the historical medina of Fez and the dazzling city of Marrakech. This number is in addition to the dozens of exchange students who take Arabic during their time at AUI.
Arabic Language Courses:
Students will take both pre- and post-program proficiency tests. Their placement will depend on their performance in a written test and in an oral proficiency interview. Proficiency guidelines are those set by The American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
ARA 1411 Beginning Arabic
ARA 1412 Beginning Arabic
ARA 2311 Intermediate Arabic
ARA 2312 Intermediate Arabic
ARA 3311 Advanced Arabic
ARA 3312 Advanced Arabic
ARA 4611: Journalistic and Literary Arabic
ARA 1300: Moroccan Colloquial Arabic
Students in the intermediate and advanced levels are introduced to Moroccan Arabic structures necessary for basic interaction with native speakers. An additional objective is to illustrate the common differences between standard and colloquial varieties of Arabic. Instruction adopts a functional/communicative approach and uses materials developed by AUI faculty. This course consists of 16 contact hours.
North African Studies Courses:
North African Studies courses are offered in the regular summer semester: June 3 - July 16, 2009. Each course carries 3 semester credit hours.
Course Contents:
HIS 1301 History of the Arab World
SSC 2306 / 5306 Issues in Contemporary North Africa (Undergraduate & Graduate)
HUM 3301 Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture