Arabic Language Institute
This program offered by Legacy International (USA) in partnership with the Center for Language and Culture is part of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth. Forty US students and four adult escorts travel to Morocco and explore new cultures, develop friendships, and increase knowledge of Arabic language and Islamic culture. The program is 6 weeks long, intensive, academic, and highly interactive.
The Arabic Language Institute Program has a two-fold purpose: one linguistic, and the other cultural. The linguistic element provides intensive formal language instruction in Modern Standard Arabic to U.S. high school students at the beginning and intermediate levels. The program is a cultural and linguistic immersion in the Arabic-speaking world, including home stays, site visits, student roundtables, and lectures. Legacy has provided this program to US high school youth since 2006. Read participant testimonials.
ALI Program Slideshow
Student practices her name in arabic calligraphy - Sara
Sharing names in arabic calligraphy- Ayah
Practicing conversation
First words are always the hardest
Making Friends
Morocco is famous for it's delicious couscous
Moroccan mint tea at sidewalk cafe with friends.
Participants enjoy some sightseeing.
Local festival parade.
Lessons in winding a turban
Visiting local orphanage
Making friends with toddlers at local orphanage.
Appreciating the beauty of interior local mosque.
Sight seeing around ancient ruins.
Beauty of a Moroccan garden
Stroll through the garden at sunset.
Community service clean up
Helping to rearrange at a school
Helping out
Camel ride into the desert
Returning along beach
Program Results:
- Improve their Arabic language skills, and their ability to communicate with people from Arabic cultures.
- Learn about the bases and sources of Islamic thought
- Gain tools and skills to potentially advance future career goals.
- Increase appreciation for the cultures, lifestyles, and social systems of the Islamic world.
- Gain necessary tools with which to understand the elements of modern Moroccan society, and by extension, other Muslim societies worldwide.
ALI is part of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides full, merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.NSLI-Y is part of a broader government-wide presidential initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. To apply to Legacy’s Arabic Language Institute program fill out initial applications on the NSLI website
A letter from U.S. high school student, Holly Ratcliffe, who attended Legacy’s Arabic Language Institute, shows the impact of these “life changing” programs on participants.
Letter from Alumni Tyler Jones, Arabic Language Institute 2008, 3 years later reflects on what he learned from his experience in Morocco.
Thanks for your inquiry. All expenses are paid for accepted applicants. The application deadline has passed for the 2013 trips and dates and application deadlines have not yet been set for the 2014 and 2015 program. However, you can check this website: http://www.nsliforyouth.org/ for updates and to find out when dates and deadlines will be set.
Yes. Whatever your level, you can apply to the program.
is this program open to high school students with no prior arabic experience
Dear Idris: Thanks for your interest in our Arabic Language Program. We are not currently seeking Arabic instructors for our programs. We work with two great partners in Morocco: The Center for Language and Culture and Bridges in Rabat. You can check with them to see if they have any openings for instructors.
Iam an Arabic Instructor , I want to participate in your program .please provide me how.
thank you
Amal, Arabic instruction in-country is handled by our partner in Morocco: The Center for Language and Culture, please feel free to contact them.
Iam an Arabic Instructor , I want to participate in your program .please provide me how.
thank you
Nathan: Thank you for your interests and inquiry. Check out the National Security Language institute website (http://www.nsliforyouth.org/) –initial applications for Legacy’s Arabic Language Institue program go through them. Applications are being accepted until end of December.
Hello — where can I get more information on registration, etc? do you have a telephone contact number with more ifnromation? My son is afirst year Arabic student and is looking for full-immersion program for the summer of 2011. Thanks very much for any information you might provide,