Michigan State University
Dearborn Public Schools
University of Arizona
University of Michigan Partner Program
University of MD - College Park
University of Oklahoma Partner Program
University of Texas - Austin
Arabic Overseas Flagship Program*
Michigan State University and Dearborn Public Schools
The philosophy of the Arabic Language Instruction Flagship (ALIF) program at Michigan State University is to form a partnership between the university and a K-12 school district in order to develop a national model for foreign language instruction that flows smoothly across all grades and builds on previous learning. Michigan State University has partnered with the Dearborn Public School District in order to achieve this goal.
Michigan State University Undergraduate Program
At the Arabic Language Instruction Flagship (ALIF) program at Michigan State University, students major in a subject of their choice while completing specialized coursework in Arabic language and culture. The program goal is to develop advanced speakers of the language with the cultural and linguistic skills needed to function professionally in the Arabic language. Program highlights include:
- Four years of Arabic language instruction
- Selected general education courses taught in Arabic
- A senior project written and/or presented in Arabic in each student’s field of study
- Study abroad at Alexandria University in Egypt
- Creation of an ongoing, electronic portfolio to showcase Arabic skills
- A supportive learning environment where flagship scholars live and study together
- Extracurricular activities such as visits to local areas of cultural interest and film series which support and enhance the learning experience
Curricular path and funding
Students of all different proficiency levels follow personalized study plans consisting of small classes complemented by small group tutoring and co-curricular activities. Most students complete the program in four to five years, depending on the demands of their academic discipline.
Students will be eligible to apply for scholarships to cover one domestic summer of study as well as to join both a summer and a yearlong overseas study. Most students, upon reaching intermediate level of proficiency, study Arabic at Alexandria University for a summer. This usually happens between their sophomore and junior years. However, all flagship students are required to spend an academic year overseas at Alexandria University with the Arabic Overseas Flagship program when they reach an advanced level of proficiency. This usually is during the student’s fourth or fifth year of study.
Eligibility and Application Process
The program is open to incoming or current undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines. Applicants should have a strong academic record, a demonstrated interest in advancing their Arabic skills and using Arabic in their future career, and a desire to share their understanding of this language and culture within the larger community.
Contact:
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or Sue Gass, Director MSU Arabic Flagship Program,
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http://arabicflagship.msu.edu/
Dearborn Public Schools
Michigan State University and Dearborn Public Schools are collaborating to enhance Dearborn’s Arabic world language program. Starting at the elementary level, students study Arabic language and have it incorporated into content area instruction under the direction of the Dearborn Foreign Language Assistance Program (DFLAP). The Arabic Language Instruction Flagship (ALIF) program is ensuring excellence in K-12 instruction by partnering with DFLAP to strengthen elementary and middle school instruction and to create and implement a new curricular model of Arabic instruction for high school students.
At the high school level, the creation of innovative curriculum, assessments, and materials coupled with teacher professional development all contribute to the goal of increasing student competency in Modern Standard Arabic. The revised curriculum and newly developed materials will align curriculum to Michigan World Languages Standards. Extracurricular events provide students with a richer understanding of the culture as well as the language. This new curriculum creates a national model for K-12 language instruction. Students will graduate with excellent communication and intercultural skills, and will be ready to continue their Arabic studies in higher education.
Contact: Kathleen McBroom, Director Dearborn K-12 Arabic Flagship Program,
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The Michigan State University Arabic Flagship Program is reaching out to K-12 state and nationwide schools by providing professional support. With our standards-based Arabic curriculum, and teacher development program, we are able to work with teachers in using best practices in language teaching. As new foreign language requirements in the state of Michigan and many other states require a two-year minimum of a high school foreign language, we need to ensure quality in all language programs. This sets the ground for Michigan State University’s Arabic Flagship Program to take extra measures in helping to build capacity for K-16 seamless articulation in Arabic as a foreign language.
By taking these steps, the Michigan State Arabic Flagship Program aims to increase the stream of students who are interested in becoming members of the Flagship community and, specifically, who will reach a superior level of Arabic allowing them to function as global professionals in Arabic.
For more information, Please contact the program Outreach Coordinator Dr. Wafa Hassan
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University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is new to the Arabic Flagship family. Please contact
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for more information about the Arabic Flagship program at The University of Arizona.
University of Michigan Partner Program
The University of Michigan Arabic Flagship (UM AF) program provides training in Arabic language and culture at the undergraduate level. Qualified students are given the opportunity to achieve the ACTFL Superior Level proficiency in Arabic while pursuing an undergraduate major of their choice.
Curriculum
The UM Arabic Flagship curriculum offers a high-quality, proficiency-based sequence of courses at all levels of Arabic instruction. The curriculum includes advanced courses in Arabic language, literature, culture, society, economics, and politics of the contemporary Arab world. AF students meet with tutors twice a week to practice their conversation skills and to analyze the language and content course material. Students interested in working for the US government or in international business are especially encouraged to take the courses in Business Arabic, Media Arabic and the newly-developed content courses in economics and politics of the Arab World taught entirely in Arabic.
Overseas Programs
Flagship students are expected to join one of our Flagship sites abroad for a capstone year. The AF program offers two programs at the Flagship Center at the University of Alexandria, Egypt, administered by the American Councils for International Education:
- 8-Week Summer Intensive Study
- Year Long Academic Study
The overseas programs provide intensive immersion courses in Arabic language and culture. The full-year program also includes direct enrollment at the University of Alexandria for coursework related to students' field of study and professional internships. The Advanced level proficiency (L2) is required for participation in the full year program.
Eligibility
The UM Arabic Flagship program is open to current or incoming UM undergraduate students from a wide range of disciplines and varying levels of Arabic language proficiency. Applicants from high schools and transfer students who have already completed one to two years of Arabic study or a summer intensive Arabic course are welcome to apply. All applicants must meet the following Flagship entrance requirements:
- Full-time student admitted to UM
- Completion of one to two years of Modern Standard Arabic, or a Summer Intensive Elementary Modern Standard Arabic course
- GPA of 3.25 or higher
- Commitment to achieving Superior Level proficiency in Arabic
- U.S. citizen
Application Procedure
To apply for the UM Arabic Flagship program, students should submit the following:
- Completed application form available on the website
- Statement of purpose
- Official transcript
- Two letters of recommendations from teachers with accompanying recommendation waiver form (must be received directly from recommenders)
Contact Information
For more information about the UM Arabic Language Flagship Program, contact:
Sofia Rosenberg, AF Coordinator
E-mail:
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Web: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/neareast/arabicflagship
Phone: (734) 763-8177
University of Maryland-College Park
Through the Arabic Flagship Program at the University of Maryland, College Park undergraduate students attain professional level proficiency in Arabic, both Modern Standard and either Levantine or Egyptian dialects.
UMD’s Arabic Flagship Program provides engaging and communicative courses in Modern Standard Arabic and dialect as well as content courses taught in Arabic subjects such as Arab literature, Cinema, Politics, Islamic Culture, and the History of the Arab World. Our program benefits greatly from our proximity to Washington, D.C. and we incorporate a variety of cultural activities such as distinguished guest lecturers, one-to-one language partners, cultural exchanges, and language focused clubs. The programs provide a unique opportunity for students to attain professional level language proficiency (ILR 3 and above), sufficient to pursue future studies or work in the language.
Arabic Flagship Undergraduate Program
The Arabic Flagship Undergraduate Program is open to talented students of any major at the University of Maryland who are willing to make a serious, long-term commitment to learning Arabic. The program seeks students with a minimum GPA of 3.25 and with a strong language learning aptitude and passion for the Arabic language. While attaining professional level language proficiency, sufficient to study or work in the language, undergraduate Flagship students can pursue an undergraduate major of their choice. The Undergraduate Program does not require study of Arabic prior to arriving at UMD. Heritage learners are also very welcome to apply.
Undergraduate Flagship students benefit from:
- Varied levels of rigorous Arabic language courses, in both MSA and Dialect
- Optional summer abroad in Alexandria, Egypt via the American Councils for International Education
- One capstone year abroad in Alexandria, Egypt via the American Councils for International Education
- Content courses taught in Arabic, ranging from Arabic Literature to Cinema
- Regular individual sessions with conversation partners
- A variety of visiting speakers, special faculty lectures, field trips, and formal and informal cultural experiences, plus a dedicated Arabic study area filled with Arabic multimedia resources
- The unique opportunity to live at UMD’s Language House, a living-learning community
- Competitive scholarship funding for domestic and overseas study in Alexandria, Egypt
Upon graduating from the Undergraduate Flagship Program, students have found success in finding employment with the government, non-profits, and in the private sector. Other students have successfully been admitted to competitive graduate programs or have won prestigious scholarships, such as the Boren and Critical Language Scholarships.
The University of Oklahoma Flagship Partner Program
The OU Arabic Language Flagship Partner Program is an undergraduate program designed for learners of Arabic who seek to achieve superior language proficiency while pursuing degrees in the academic majors of their choice. The program offers an innovative five-year curriculum in Arabic language and culture designed to produce graduates with strength both in Arabic language proficiency and their chosen career fields.
During the five-year program, students take three years of core courses in Arabic language as well as content-based courses taught exclusively in Arabic. “Arabic Media and Politics,” “Arabic Culture and Society Through Modern Fiction,” “Arabic Culture Through Film,” “Genres in Modern Arabic Literature,” and “Readings in Islamic Religious Texts” are among the content-based courses offered. To advance and hone their language skills, instruction relies on:
- Class discussion and debate
- Individual and group projects
- Oral presentations
- Writing assignments
- Individualized writing tutorials
To enhance classroom learning and to provide students with opportunities to use Arabic outside of the classroom, the program offers extra-curricular activities on campus including:
- An Arabic language house in an OU dormitory where only Arabic is spoken
- A regular Arabic table at meals
- Regular screening and discussion of Arabic-language films
- Hosting of events related to Arabic culture and arts, such as music and calligraphy
Students will be eligible to apply for two scholarships to join two study-abroad programs at the Arabic Flagship site in Alexandria, Egypt. After completing their second year of Arabic at OU, students are eligible for a ten-week Summer program. After completing their fourth year at OU, students are eligible for a year-long program.
Qualified students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Full time OU student, or accepted at OU
- Commitment to complete the entire Arabic Flagship program and achieving Superior level Arabic proficiency
- Arabic as a long-term career goal
- GPA of 3.25 or higher
Prospective students are strong academic achievers pursuing different majors, such as Arabic, business, engineering, history, health sciences, international and area studies, journalism, political science, pre-law, pre-med, etc. OU offers many different merit-based scholarships. In addition, many Flagship scholarships are available to cover tuition and partial living expenses.
Contact: OU Arabic Flagship Partner Program at
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Website: http://www.ou.edu/flagship
University of Texas-Austin
The Arabic Flagship Program (AFP) at the University of Texas at Austin offers a three- to five-year training program in Arabic language and culture for undergraduate students. Students receive the resources and training needed to reach Superior proficiency in Arabic while pursuing an undergraduate major or their choice.
Students join the AFP after enrolling in Arabic and developing a passion for the language. A typical UT AFP scholar is a student with a GPA of 3.5 or above who has demonstrated the dedication and talents required to reach Superior proficiency in Arabic. UT AFP scholars are committed to the language and have career goals that cannot be truly fulfilled without it. Current scholars plan to work for the government, in international business and trade, education, public relations and advertising.
AFP Arabic Courses
The UT AFP requires three core years of Arabic language study that includes training in standard and colloquial Arabic. Intensive summer studies are available at UT at the Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. After completing the core language program, scholars can enroll in Advanced dialect courses (Egyptian or Levantine) and content-based courses offered in Arabic (e.g., Media Arabic, Lebanon between Formation & Transformation, Issues in Arab Cinema, Critiques of Language & Culture).
Scholars are encouraged to take courses in history, political science, literature, and religion that are taught in English with an Arabic Language Across the Curriculum (LAC) component. LAC students work with authentic Arabic texts and discuss them in Arabic in small groups. Examples of LAC courses include 1001 Arabian Nights, Modern Egypt: A History, and Shiite Political and Religious Ideologues.
AFP scholars have the opportunity to study abroad through a program in Alexandria, Egypt, which is administered by the American Councils for International Education. After finishing their third year of study in Arabic, Scholars are eligible to apply to a summer program at the TAFL Center in Egypt. After the fourth year of study at UT, students undertake a capstone year in Alexandria, where the final transition from Advanced to Superior proficiency in Arabic is made. These funded opportunities make this program vastly unique and are part of the reason why UT scholars are highly sought after upon graduation for careers that that require Arabic.
Student Funding
The UT AFP offers merit-based funding for scholars for both stateside and overseas study. Funding amounts vary based on student progress, tenure with the AFP, and course selection. Many AFP scholars are eligible for in-state tuition waivers and receive other merit-based scholarships as well.
Who Can Apply
The AFP is open to talented undergraduate students of any major who:
- Are enrolled full-time at or accepted for admission to UT
- Are committed to achieving Superior proficiency in Arabic
- Have long-term career goals for which Arabic proficiency is keyas
- Demonstrate academic excellence
- Have some experience with Arabic
How to Apply
To apply for the program, students are asked to submit the following:
- A completed application form
- Statement of purpose
- Letter of recommendation
- Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
Application forms can be downloaded from the UT Arabic Flagship Program website at: http://utarabicflagship.org/
Contact: Kimberly Dahl, program coordinator, at
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or Mahmoud Al-Batal, director, at
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Website: http://utarabicflagship.org/
Arabic Overseas Flagship Program*
The overseas portion of the Undergraduate Arabic Flagship Program, administered by American Councils, began in June 2008 with both a summer and an academic year program in Alexandria, Egypt. Hosted by The University of Alexandria, the program consists of intensive classroom instruction in both Modern Standard and Colloquial Egyptian Arabic, cultural excursions and language practice with peer tutors. Classes will be taught by Alexandria University faculty on the university campus, and students will live in university dormitories for the summer. A full-time Resident Director with extensive experience in the Middle East will supervise the program and serve as advisor to participants. The program is currently open to undergraduate students enrolled at one of the designated Arabic Flagship Universities. While participants are not expected to be Arabic majors, they should have reached the intermediate level in their Arabic skills in order to qualify for the program. The undergraduate program is intended for students who are committed to using Arabic and a knowledge of the Middle East in careers that include business, science, education, and government, as well as many others. Support services include mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C.; accident and illness insurance; a full-time U.S. resident director; and American Councils offices in Washington, D.C. and Egypt.
Contact: Flagship Programs at
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Website: http://flagship.americancouncils.org/splash.php
*Administered by American Councils for International Education
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