C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in The Middle East

» General Information

Location:

Alexandria, Egypt (Population: 4 million)

Description:

Intended for students with an intermediate to advanced proficiency in Arabic, the Middlebury program in Alexandria provides students with the opportunity to increase their language abilities through housing and interaction with native speakers. Whether spending time with roommates, in classes, or in the city, students use their language in a very real immersion environment. Students enroll in courses specially designed for students on the Middlebury program (advanced students in their second semester may directly enroll in one class at the local university) and live in residence halls with local roommates or in homestays. The program provides a diversity of choices in curriculum, with all courses conducted in Arabic.



Terms:

Fall Semester (Fall Quarter), Spring Semester (Winter/Spring Quarters), Full Year

Sponsor:

C.V. Starr-Middlebury Schools Abroad

Website:

C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in The Middle East


» Other Programs in Egypt

Language Requirements

Required: 4 semesters (6 quarters) of college-level Arabic, or the equivalent

Program Requirements

All students are expected to enroll in a language course the term prior to going abroad.

Academic Specialties

Language courses, taught at the Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language Center (TAFL) on the campus of Alexandria University’s Faculty of Arts, are the focus of the program. Students will also participate in content-oriented tutorials focusing on politics, history, religion, literature, geography, sociology/anthropology, or economics.

In some semesters, advanced students (in their fourth year of Arabic) will be able to replace a class with another content course taught in Arabic, such as History of the Middle East. Highly advanced students may be able to direct-enroll in a class at Alexandria University during their second semester, with the consent of the Director.

Course Type

Classes are taught in Arabic and are similar to seminar courses at Northwestern, with the exception of the tutorials, which will involve one-on-one study with a professor.

Middlebury requires that all participants enroll in the following courses:
•    Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
•    Egyptian Colloquial Arabic
•    Content-Oriented Tutorial
•    Elective Course

Additional Information

Volunteer opportunities available.

Housing

  • Students live in an Arabic-speaking environment, either with Egyptian student roommates/hallmates in a dormitory or with a host family.
  • Host family placements are more likely for female students, given Egyptian attitudes regarding the segregation of genders.
  • Students who stay for a year can find independent housing (apartments) during the second semester with the program’s permission. Students who pursue this option must sign Northwestern's Independent Housing Waiver.

Program Costs

Estimated Costs:  Fall 2011
For the most updated program cost information, please refer to your program provider’s website.

  • Tuition:  $10,340
  • Room & Board:  $1,500
  • SAAF:  $2,355
  • Transportation:  $1,500
  • Books & Supplies:  $50
  • Personal Expenses:  $400
  • Visa:  $25
  • Total Estimated Costs:  $16,170

Additional Information:

For more information on billing and financial aid, visit the Financial Considerations section of the website.

Approximate Program Size

15-25 students

Application Requirements

Northwestern students must complete two applications for this program:
  1. Northwestern University Application for Permission to Study Abroad.
  2. Middlebury program application.

Contact Returnees

Northwestern students may enter this section of the site for a list of students who participated in this program.