Middle Eastern Studies 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.

My experience in Amman with this program was incredibly transformative and enriching. The program staff put so much love and effort into the program experience including excursions, site visits, and overall cultural emersion.

I participated in the Amman, Jordan IR program and it was the most amazing and transformative experience. The on-site staff’s coordination of the homestays, excursion trips, and our overall experience was incredibly professional and thoughtful. I felt very taken care of, safe, and comfortable during my time in Amman. I will never forget my time in Jordan and I will be back in the future!

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.

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.

I didn't know what to expect from Amman, Jordan, but I had a great time there. It's a beautiful city with great food (the hummus and the falafel! I miss it). Shopping in the markets downtown, seeing art and culture, eating good food and smoking hookah just about everywhere. The only thing was that I was there during Ramadan, and a lot of shops and restaurants were closed during daylight hours... but that inconvenience was far outweighed by how cool it was to observe & experience Ramadan and the holiday at the end of it! (And the kunafa... delicious Ramadan dessert.) Plus, the tourist destinations in the rest of Jordan were amazing! Petra was incredible, Wadi Rum (the desert) was unreal, the Dead Sea was SO cool, and Aqaba (on the Red Sea) was gorgeous. Unforgettable experiences. This was my second AMIDEAST program, because I had such a great time on my first one (Area & Arabic Language Studies in Rabat, Morocco). This program was very different but equally amazing! The academics were seriously challenging; we spoke Arabic for five hours in class each day and then did Arabic homework for another 1-2 hours at night. My roommates and I occasionally declared "Arabic-only days" in our shared apartment, which were a lot of fun. Needless to say, my Arabic skills improved a LOT. I loved my Arabic professors, and made close friends from my classes that I'm still in close contact with. I had an amazing time on this program.

While I didn't actually spend 1001 nights in Jordan, if given the option, I would have stayed in an instant. Jordan is a truly amazing place to study, and an amazing place to live. Jordanians value hospitality greatly, and it shows. The AMIDEAST program did an amazing job holding up these standards, with a week long orientation and as much help as we needed along the way. While AMIDEAST did a great job of preparing us for life in Amman, it seemed like the city has its own way of welcoming you. I had days where shopkeepers would offer us tea, our host families would stay up until they knew we were safe, and taxi drivers would offer to buy a coffee for the ride. The people are some of the nicest I've met, and they have no problems helping you out if you're lost. The program managers were especially helpful, whether we were having issue with our host families or just looking for a new cafe to try. Not to mention, AMIDEAST has been in the region for a long time, so they know how to deal with almost everything. So even if you do end up having some kind of issue, they've probably seen it before. When you study abroad, you bring something from the host culture back home with you. While I brought scarves and tiny camels home, I also brought the experience of 120 Jordanian nights. Although experience is untranslatable into an answer for the age old question, "How was Jordan?", I have tried to bring my little piece of Jordan to America through how I act. After all, I can't really return the favor to AMIDEAST, but I can do what I can to make the world a little more hospitable.

The language pairing system and excursions. All students were paired with 2 Egyptian local students interested in expanding their knowledge about American culture and increasing their English levels. They were instant friends and contacts and served as the perfect liaisons between our differing cultures and to ease in the transition of being in a new location. I continue to message and interact with them on a near daily basis and have been the perfect example of lifelong friends. They accompanied us on our excursions to historical sites and their input on culture, language, immersion, and daily life were invaluable. Word of mouth and personal references for the program carry a lot of weight - I listened to those who urged me to attend the program from both the American and Egyptian perspectives and was not disappointed in the least.

I chose Amideast Jordan because I wanted the challenge of immersing myself in an entirely new culture, language and identity. I didn't want to do something typical. Long interested in the Middle East, I thought Jordan was the perfect balance of Arab, Islam, Christianity, modernity and antiquity. I could not have been more correct. Although the challenges I faced were many. My most memorable study abroad experience was the immersion. Living in Jordan was challenging, but not for the reasons I anticipated. King Hussein once said, "Jordan has a strange, haunting beauty and a sense of timelessness. Dotted with the ruins of empires once great, it is the last resort of yesterday in the world of tomorrow. I love every inch of it." Having traveled from Irbid to Aqaba, I could not agree more.

For 8-weeks, I lived and breathed Arabic. The intensive natural of the program was fabulous, and now I feel conversationally fluent on many topics in MSA and very comfortable using Jordanian Arabic. Even though there was a good bit of homework, I still had time to explore Jordan every weekend and hang out with Jordanian friends. Academics: Everything was very rigorous - 4 hours of Modern Standard Arabic per day and 1 hour of Colloquial per day. The professors from the Qasid Institute were extremely knowledgeable and helped me improve an additional level in Arabic. Living with a host family, I was encouraged to use my Arabic often. Living Situation: I lived in a Jordanian host family and I loved it. They were a constant support, made delicious food, introduced me to the whole extended family. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I fell in love with Jordan because of the opportunities this program presented. I made great American and Jordanian friends, explored the majority of the country, and improved 2 levels in Arabic. The countless cultural activities, endless staff support, and internship opportunities helped me to experience Jordan on a more personal level. Academics: I was constantly challenged and excited by my courses in this program. The Arabic was rigorous and the Colloquial class allowed me to communicate on every day topics. My Community-Based Learning course was my favorite because I got to intern with a Women's organization in Jordan, and experience the women's rights movement in Jordan first hand. My content courses were Middle East Studies oriented and fit perfectly into my major. Living Situation: I chose the Shared Apartment option and loved it. The rooms were clean, spacious, and very close to AMIDEAST facilities and large grocery stores. I stayed through the summer and switched to a host family and loved this option as well. Cultural Immersion: We had bi-weekly cultural activities, such as discussions with Jordanian students, dabkeh dancing lessons, or Jordanian cooking lessons. Additionally the many excursions we went on exposed us to Jordan outside of Amman. Program Administration: The staff was always attentive and helpful with any issue. They became close friends by the end of the program. Health and Safety: I felt very safe in Jordan. As in much of the world, harassment can be an issue at times, but I was able to ignore it and it never escalated beyond catcalls. However the program orientation prepared girls extremely well for living in Jordan and dealing with harassment when it occurs.