Arabic Study Abroad Programs in Jordan

I studied at Middlebury School in Jordan in the spring semester of 2025. I had spent the previous summer in Jordan with another great program, but my time at Middlebury was not only the most fun regarding the people involved and my ability to interact with local Jordanians, but also because I came in non-conversational and I left nearly fluent. Not just in that I had a larger vocabulary, but that I was able to speak and think in Arabic directly, without having to translate from English first. The program staff are amazing, the class sizes are great and the content feels relevant. There is the ability to choose which electives you want to take (depending on your level), and even those at a lower level felt that they were using the Arabic that they knew in applicable contexts. Although the language pledge was difficult at first, after a week of commitment to the process, it became easy. In addition to the amazing academic environment, my homestay family was also a key component to my advancement in Arabic. I come from an Arab background and it really felt like I had another Arab jidda (grandma) helping me the whole way. The program also connected us with local students at the University of Jordan who took us around Amman and genuinely became our close friends. One other quick note was that the trips that we took were amazing. Like I mentioned, I had been in Jordan for a couple months before, and the places that we went to with Middlebury were not only some of the crucial must-see spots but also some more niche spots that I felt very privileged to be able to go to that I wouldn't have found/been motivated to go to on my own. I think that the program did a good job of giving us enough out-of-class work to improve our skills without it being so much that we didn't have enough time to explore the city/country. I do think that the program would be best suited for someone who has some prior experience with the language (in fact, I think you have to have studied for at least two years??? dont quote me on that). I had studied Arabic for almost three years at that point, but most others had studied it for two (academic) years before starting. Would 1000/10 recommend this program to anyone wanting to improve their Arabic.

Living in Jordan was one of the most immersive and meaningful academic experiences I have had. From the start, I felt fully supported by the program and quickly adjusted to daily life in Amman. Living with a host family was a highlight, as it gave me constant opportunities to practice Arabic and experience Jordanian culture in an authentic way. The balance between coursework, language learning, and cultural engagement made the experience both challenging and rewarding. Overall, my time in Jordan greatly strengthened my Arabic and gave me a deeper appreciation for the region and its people.

The Middlebury in Jordan staff is extremely caring, thoughtful, and their attention to detail is remarkable. I felt very looked out for, especially when we had to relocate due to conflict in the middle of the semester. In general, the program pushes you to learn the most you can and it truly helps you integrate into Jordanian culture. I will forever be grateful for the friends, mentors, and family I gained throughout my semester. I also gained invaluable knowledge on the region as a whole and linguistic skills -- knowledge that I never learned in my schooling in the U.S.

This past school year I took both semesters to study abroad in Jordan with Middlebury. While I had heard incredible things about both the program and Jordan itself, my expectations were far surpassed. This is the best work team I could imagine and supportive through everything from health issues, daily transitions, language challenges, regional conflict. I couldn’t be more grateful. I have never seen a team work so well together and create such an incredible program through attention to detail, love of students, and passion for language immersion. My arabic has exponentially improved and I was given endless opportunities to interact with daily local life creating lifelong friendships, connections, and job/volunteer experiences.

Studying abroad in Jordan was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. From the very beginning, the faculty and staff prepared us thoroughly through pre-departure orientations, cultural guidance, and constant support during the program. Their efforts made the transition smooth and gave us the confidence to fully embrace the experience. In Jordan, the faculty and staff became much more than teachers and program coordinators; they have become my mentors, friends, and family. Their warmth and dedication created a strong sense of community that made Amman feel like home. The country itself was extraordinary with rich history, stunning landscapes, and welcoming people. Beyond the academics, SIT offered us the chance to live and learn in a way that was immersive and deeply meaningful. What made the experience truly unforgettable was the combination of outstanding faculty, strong preparation, and the incredible kindness we encountered. I left Jordan not only with new knowledge but also with lifelong connections and a second family.

Middlebury will take your language skills to the next level and vastly improve them. By only speaking Arabic through the Language Pledge, I began to understand the nuances that full immersion can help with, making unforgettable cultural connections with people. The professors were incredible and supportive during all steps of the journey, and challenging myself daily helped me reach new heights with Arabic. The staff were kind and planned many events for us to attend and participate in while also giving us the freedom to explore on our own. I loved my host family, who truly exemplified Jordanian hospitality and treated me like I was part of their circle from the beginning. It is hard to not fall in love with Jordan, and Middlebury is the perfect backdrop for the journey.

I really enjoyed my stay in Jordan. The program director and assistants were very supportive and responsive. I really like the field visits to the refugee camp and numerous humanitarian local NGOs in Jordan and Turkey. Those field visits allowed me to learn a lot about working in the humanitarian aid field. I would choose the program again also because it enabled me to do one-month internship at a local NGO. I did my first professional internship at an Amman-based NGO that works in the HIV/AIDS field. It was a wonderful experience. I had also multiple amazing excursions across the nation such as the group trips to the Dead Sea, Petra and Aqaba with other students. The weekly-stipend 50 JD were enough to pay for my lunch and daily transportation fee (Uber) most of time. Therefore, I did not spend my own money a lot. In addition, the courses that I took at SIT in Jordan were not demanding. I didn't have a lot of homework. I would say that my study abroad program is not very academically rigorous. I like all of my professors but Dr. Latefa. She hardly replied to students' emails and did not explain all assignments clearly.

I would definitely recommend this program to friends, family and peers. CIEE program in Amman has been a great place to learn Arabic Language and Colloquial Jordanian Dialect. It has also giving me the opportunity to experience and learn not only from text and classes but from Jordanian people and the local culture which is beautifully diverse. The excursions and site visits provided by experienced staff and knowledgeable guides about history of the Jordan really complimented our learning process and immersion into Jordanian culture. The whole CIEE team from staff to professors conduct themselves very professionally and are student oriented 100 percent. I really love and appreciate this great learning experience and I thank everyone in CIEE for helping me grow as a human being in this beautiful and special learning journey.

The course work was intensive but very useful. It was truly amazing to watch my language skills develop so quickly. I would recommend CIEE to anyone looking to solidify and expand their language comprehension and have a rare global educational experience.

The program is handled very efficiently and has the best staff who truly are there for optimizing your experience abroad. The cost may be high, but between the quality of the staff and instructors, and also program excursions, it is well worth the cost.

I would because I really enjoyed the classes and on site staff, they did a great job helping us and providing opportunities, but I would also warn them about the cost and how with CIEE it's difficult to find inside scholarships.

I would because I really enjoyed the classes and on site staff, they did a great job helping us and providing opportunities, but I would also warn them about the cost and how with Ciee it's difficult to find inside scholarships.

The course work was intensive but very useful. It was truly amazing to watch my language skills develop so quickly. I would recommend CIEE to anyone looking to solidify and expand their language comprehension and have a rare global educational experience.

I would definitely recommend this program to friends, family and peers. CIEE program in Amman has been a great place to learn Arabic Language and Colloquial Jordanian Dialect. It has also giving me the opportunity to experience and learn not only from text and classes but from Jordanian people and the local culture which is beautifully diverse. The excursions and site visits provided by experienced staff and knowledgeable guides about history of the Jordan really complimented our learning process and immersion into Jordanian culture. The whole CIEE team from staff to professors conduct themselves very professionally and are student oriented 100 percent. I really love and appreciate this great learning experience and I thank everyone in CIEE for helping me grow as a human being in this beautiful and special learning journey.

The program is handled very efficiently and has the best staff who truly are there for optimizing your experience abroad. The cost may be high, but between the quality of the staff and instructors, and also program excursions, it is well worth the cost.

In Jordan I was able to meet some amazing people and do some amazing things. Before the trip I could not speak a lick of Arabic but by the end I could have a steady conversation with people in the city. After our classes the students all went into the city to buy stuff, eat, or just hang out. It was a great environment, great people, and great food.