Get ready for an exciting adventure to Oman!  This year we created a language and cultural immersion experience using the state-of-the-art language facilities at Washington and Jefferson College and taking an Arabic-only language pledge while on campus.  To complement the classes and studies, we offer a Middle Eastern cultural program in the Pittsburgh region that included visits to the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, lectures by local scholars on Middle Eastern culture, and cooking Middle Eastern foods. 

This year AMEI will host 15 Omani students for three weeks (June 4-23) at W&J.  Each American student will room with an Omani student and the official language in the dorms will be Arabic. American students will be following AMEI's Intensive Arabic curriculum, which focuses on strengthening conversation skills quickly.

Then we will all go as a group to Oman (June 25-July 20), two weeks in Muscat and one week in Salalah.  We will continue studying conversation with our Omani friends and visiting important sites of cultural heritage and Islamic culture, such as the Grand Mosque, the Citadel of Nizwa, the Port of Matruh, the Royal Opera House as well as talks, outreach programs to disadvantaged children and a little beach time.

Oman is a wonderful blend of traditional Arabic culture and a progressive form of Islam called Ibadi. For this reason, and due to moderate laws and fair government, the country has enjoyed great peace and stability despite the political turmoil of other Arab countries in the Arab Spring.  The friendships we make on this trip will be lasting and enriching.

The overall cost of the program is $7,000, which includes all living expenses, food, airfare, tuition (4 college credits) and activities.  Financial aid may be available for those who could not otherwise afford such an opportunity.