Intensive Summer Programme Arabic Course

In addition to the one-month Intensive Summer Programme (described below) GAP also offers a full-time programme. We are also able to offer alternative summer programmes and night or part-time classes (throughout the year) on request.

The Intensive Summer Programme is described below, with a general description followed by Accommodation Details, class schedules, Costs and Payment Conditions.

General Description

Every summer we offer a one-month intensive course in colloquial Gulf Arabic. This takes place in July. For the summer of 2008 this will be from Sunday 29th June until Thursday 24th July.

This course is for (almost) beginners. We require that students be able to read, write, pronounce and recognise the characters of the Arabic script before they arrive. We have placed this requirement on applicants because it is possible for students to acquire this familiarity at home using one of the many 'Teach Yourself' courses and it allows us to move straight into teaching the language. To help students see if they are sufficiently competent in the script to benefit from the course we have devised a self-assessment.

This course concentrates on the spoken Arabic so no Modern Standard Arabic is taught. If you are interested in verbal communication with Gulf Arabs and with developing your speaking and listening skills then this course is for you. If you are interested in improving your reading and writing skills then it is not.

You will study the spoken language based on the tried and tested ‘patterns’ method used successfully in the Middle East for over thirty years.

Local native speakers will teach you everyday vocabulary and common expressions used by Arabic speakers in this part of the world, within a framework that teaches you to express yourself as Arabs would express themselves.

Accommodation Details

We do not provide dormitories or any other form of student housing, however we do assist students by meeting them on arrival in Buraimi and taking them to an appropriate hotel. We recommend the hotel flats situated in Buraimi as these are located close to cafes and restaurants where local people congregate and are also well priced.

Class Schedule

Classes run from 8a.m. until 2:40p.m. every day.

The daily class schedule is:

0800-0855	First class
0900-0955	Second Class
0955-1010	Tea Break
1010-1105	Third Class
1110-1205	Fourth Class
1205-1305	Lunch
1305-1350	Fifth Class
1355-1440	Sixth Class

However, once the day's classes are over the learning continues!! Students will then need to spend 4 hours a day divided between ‘community learning’ (spending time with local people) and private study (practising and preparing for classes). This is a programme not merely an institute and one cannot learn Arabic solely in the classroom.

A typical day for a student might then look like this:

0800-1440	Class time
1400-1700	Rest
1700-1900	Homework and preparation for the next day
1900-2130	Visit friends, neighbours etc

By the end of the course it is expected that students will be at Novice High level on the ACTFL scale, i.e. be able to give and receive directions; use verbs in the past and (to some extent) the present and engage in very basic conversations in a few topics.

The Intensive Summer Programme brochure can be downloaded from the Downloads Page.

The brochure is in PDF format so you will need Adobe Acrobat (or another PDF reader) to read it. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat.

Costs

The total cost for the Intensive Summer Programme is AED3500, this includes tuition fees and the course book. Students should also allow for AED10 per day for travel to and from the institute. Please contact us if you would like more details on accommodation options.

Payment Conditions

Payment is due in full in the first week of class. Students have one week (from the first day of class) during which they can opt to leave the class and only pay for those lessons they have studied. After that period no refunds will be given to those who choose to leave the class for part or all of the course. Please note that a student leaving a class and wishing to 'use the remainder of their funds' for private classes is considered a refund (i.e. you cannot decide to do this after the first week). If you know that you are going to miss classes or only study for part of the course then we can arrange at the beginning for you to only pay for the classes you study, so please talk to us on arrival if there is any doubt that you might not complete the course.

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