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06nov(nov 6)8:00 am11dec(dec 11)11:00 pmWinter Term 1

Saifi Immersive Arabic Summer Program (SIASP)

3 July – 7 August 2023

Make today the day to learn Arabic!

ONLY in Five weeks!!

About SIASP

What is SIASP?

SIASP is an immersive language program in the Arabic language based in Lebanon.  The program includes six hours of classes from Monday – Friday (plus homework), offering students the opportunity to complete TWO levels in either Formal Arabic (MSA) or Levantine (Urban) Arabic.

 

Students can practice their Arabic in daily life, immerse themselves in Middle Eastern culture and learn about Lebanon’s history, food, and society.  The program also includes field trips, special cultural activities, film nights, and lectures on Middle Eastern history and politics.

 

This is an exciting opportunity to see Lebanon, meet fellow Arabic students, and acquire greater proficiency in Arabic.  Whether you are a complete beginner and/or a student that has already studied some Arabic, SIASP will help you to improve as quickly as possible.

 

We offer two language options, CHOOSE one and EXPAND your Arabic.

Course Schedule

Morning Class:                         09:00 – 12:00

 

Lunch:                                      12:00 – 13:00

 

Afternoon Class                       13:00 – 16:00

 

Students will also be expected to complete between 2 -3 hours of homework every day.

Cultural Activities and Field Trips

All students registered on SIASP must attend our special summer activities which include:

 

• Lebanese film night (2 Lebanese movies)
• Lebanese cooking and food decoration classes. (2 cooking classes)
• Guest lectures from experts on Lebanese society, literature, international relations, and politics. (2 lectures)
• Field trips around Lebanon (2 Trips)

Urban Arabic

Beginner-Elementary

Urban Arabic is a systematic program developed by Saifi Institute to teach the Levantine dialect which is spoken in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan.  It is essential to learn this language if you want to communicate with people in the region or conduct research in the field.

We are the only Arabic school in the Middle East offering a step-by-step curriculum in the Levantine dialect that uses the Arabic script. In this five-week course, students will reach an intermediate level, covering both the beginner and elementary levels using Saifi Institute’s dedicated Urban Arabic curriculum and textbooks.

The summer program places special emphasis on additional practice in conversation, giving presentations, and listening comprehension to ensure students graduate with a solid foundation and with confidence in their language abilities. This program sets students up to continue their studies in Arabic in the Middle East or anywhere else around the world.  Students with NO prior knowledge of Arabic can join this course.

Material covered in this course

  • Urban Arabic Book 1: Beginners’ guide to the Alphabet (Saifi textbook).
  • Urban Arabic Book 2: The complete beginners’ level (Saifi textbook).
  • Urban Arabic Book 3: The complete elementary level (Saifi textbook).
  • Urban Arabic: Conversation Classes (Beginner & Elementary).
  • Urban Arabic: Lebanese Music & Lyrics.
  • Urban Arabic: Dialogues, Presentations & Listening Comprehension.
  • Urban Arabic: Abu Jameel (daily life stories).

Eligible students

  • Anyone who is interested in learning how to speak a regional dialect from the beginning.
  • Anyone who wants to understand movies, television, and social media and participate in daily life in the Arab world.
  • Anyone who wants to conduct research in a field that requires proficiency in the Arabic language.
  • Students who are complete beginners or have little knowledge of Arabic (Formal or Urban).

Formal Arabic

Modern Standard Arabic

Formal Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the written language of all Arabs. It is rarely spoken except in speeches and on some satellite media channels. It is mostly used for researching historical documents, academic articles, and in the media. Using the Al-Kitaab textbook, in just five weeks, students will complete two levels in Formal Arabic.

 

In addition to studying grammar, students receive a large amount of practice in the receptive skills (listening and reading). In the productive skills (writing and speaking), special emphasis is given to speaking Formal Arabic – specifically conversation and presentations. Translation skills are also emphasized.

Material covered on this course

  • Al-Kitaab Book 1 (2nd Edition).
  • Additional texts for translation.
  • Audio-visual content including Film clips, songs, and simple adverts.

Eligible students

  • Beginners who already know the Arabic alphabet.
  • Students with a little knowledge of Arabic want to reach a higher level.
  • Students wishing to fast-track their Arabic studies within a short period.

Fees

Fees (Prices in USD)

Formal Arabic: $1200

Urban Arabic $1200

The fees for this course include:

  • 150 tuition hours.
  • All required books for the course.
  • Extra-curricular activities and field trips.
  • Free Wi-Fi in the school.

Health Insurance:

Saifi is not responsible for any Health insurance during your stay, therefore students must present a scanned copy of their insurance policy at the reception before they can commence the course

Additional costs (not included in fees):

  • Travel to and from Lebanon.
  • Accommodation in Lebanon.
  • Additional learning resources.

How to apply

How to Apply

  • Fill in the application form which can be found below
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SIASP 2023 Application

1 file(s) 126.06 KB
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  • Email the application with all supporting documents to: siasp@saifiarabic.com
  • To ensure your place, once accepted you will need to pay the fees by Monday 26 June 2023.
  • If you have any questions before applying, please email them to siasp@saifiarabic.com

Accreditation

  • All students successfully completing the course are entitled to a certificate for each level they complete. Certificates of completion indicate the proficiency level, grade, number of hours, and date of course completion. Saifi Institute provides information for Urban Arabic on the level which corresponds to CEFR and ACTFL proficiency levels.
  • We also provide each student with a letter of recommendation that provides more detail on their performance in class, their grades, and their commitment to learning Arabic during their time with Saifi.

About Saifi Institute

About SIASP

Saifi Institute is an Arabic school located in the heart of Beirut.  Saifi Institute has been teaching Arabic to foreigners since 2008, and every year we welcome thousands of students from all over the world to our school.  We provide a positive and enriching study environment that includes a purpose-built school, passionate teachers, good facilities, and well-structured programs.

 

Saifi Institute is also the only language school in the Middle East offering a dedicated curriculum called Urban Arabic that teaches the Levantine dialect from beginner level through to fluency.  Saifi Institute was the first school to develop a complete curriculum dedicated to teaching the Levantine dialect.  Our courses can be taken in succession meaning students can move directly from one level to the next and are specifically designed to enable students to switch between Urban and Formal Arabic as needed.  The Saifi method is highly effective because we teach Urban Arabic like a recognized, official language using the Arabic script. We take a structured approach to teaching grammar, reading, and writing which ensures students can translate and write progressively advanced texts as they learn to speak.

FAQs

SIASP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is an immersive Arabic course?

 

An immersive Arabic course is a highly intensive Arabic course. Each day involves 6 hours of class time, five days a week, and between 2 – 3 hours of homework per day. We do not recommend students take our immersive course unless they are highly committed to receiving a lot of information quickly. Once you sign up for SIASP, we consider you understand what you have signed up for and are committed to studying very intensively for five weeks. If that does not sound manageable to you, it’s best you register for one of our intensive courses where you will be in class 3 hours a day with around 2 hours of homework per day.

 

 

If I sign up for SIASP, will I be able to stop halfway if it’s too much?

 

You may quit the course any time you like but you will not be eligible for a refund or a credit transfer. All students registered on SIASP will be required to sign a commitment declaration on the first day of the term because commitment to this course is very important. In addition, you will not receive a certificate of completion.

 

 

I am not a university student; do I qualify for SIASP?

 

Yes!  The beauty of our summer program is that it is available to anyone.  Just apply, pay for your place on the course and you’re in!

 

 

I am already a student at Saifi, am I eligible to apply for SIASP?

 

Yes!  There are no restrictions on who can apply.

 

 

I am a complete beginner; do I need to know the Arabic alphabet?

 

It depends on which course you choose.  The Beginner-Elementary course in Urban Arabic does not require you to have any prior knowledge of Arabic.  Just sign up and we’ll take care of the rest.  The Beginner-Elementary course in Formal Arabic does require students to already know how to read and write the Arabic alphabet.

 

 

What is the difference between Saifi’s intensive courses and SIASP?

 

The immersive summer program is designed to fast-track your Arabic enabling you to cover TWO levels in just 5 weeks (as opposed to the usual 10 weeks).  Currently, we run this program once a year.  In addition to 6 hours a day of Arabic tuition, the program runs a host of other activities.  These include a weekly Lebanese film night, field trips, cultural activities like reading coffee grounds, calligraphy, and cooking classes, as well as talks by academics on aspects of Lebanese politics and society.

 

 

Do the fees include extra-curricular activities and field trips?

 

Yes. All the extracurricular activities and field trips are included in the fees.

 

 

Will I need to do an evaluation before being admitted to the program?

 

Students joining the Intermediate-Advanced Formal Arabic program will need to do an evaluation before being admitted into the program to ensure they are at the right level.  Students joining the Beginner-Elementary Formal Arabic course need to be able to read and write the Arabic alphabet. Students joining the Beginner-Elementary Urban Arabic course do not need to complete an evaluation.

 

 

Are there scholarships available?

 

No, all course fees must be paid up-front by Friday, June 26, 2023, to ensure your place in the program.  Please note after that date, refunds will not be given.

 

 

When do I have to pay to ensure my place on the course?

 

Once you have been accepted onto the course, you must pay the course fees as soon as possible to guarantee your place.  The final payment of all tuition fees is due Friday, June 26, 2023. If you do not pay by that date, your place may be assigned to someone else.

 

 

Are Saifi’s regular classes still running during the summer program?

 

Please check in advance the offered classes online or you can send an email to info@saifiarabic.com

 

 

How many people will there be in each class?

 

There will be a maximum of 10 participants in each class.

 

 

I already work in Beirut; can I attend the program part-time? I want to work at the same time as attending this program, is this possible?

 

No, this course is full-time.  We will not accept part-time students. This program is extremely intensive.  Not only does it involve 6 hours of tuition five days a week, but students are also expected to complete 2 – 3 hours of homework per day (including weekends).  We do not recommend students try to work at the same time if they want to complete the course successfully.  Furthermore, students that do not attend all the classes without a medical reason may not be eligible to graduate from the course with a certificate.

 

 

Do you offer university credit for this course?

 

Receiving university credit for completed classes at Saifi is not uncommon, however, each university has different requirements and demands.  Saifi’s class levels (Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, etc.) are based on the American (ACTFL) and European (CEFR) language proficiency criteria, to make it as easy as possible for students to obtain credits.  If you would like to receive credit for your language studies, we recommend printing out our course description and syllabus and discussing this with the language department at your university.

 

 

Will I receive a transcript/accreditation?

 

All students successfully completing the course are entitled to a certificate for each level they complete.  Certificates of completion indicate the proficiency level, grade, number of hours, and date of course completion. Saifi Institute provides information on each language level that corresponds to CEFR and ACTFL proficiency levels. We can also provide each student with a letter of recommendation that gives more detail on their performance in class, their grades, and their commitment to learning Arabic during their time with Saifi.

 

 

When should I apply for SIASP?

 

As soon as possible.  Places are limited and to ensure you have a place, we advise early application and payment.

 

 

Do you offer accommodation?

 

No, the program does not offer accommodation. However next door to the school is a hostel offering private or shared rooms.  We advise you to book early as the summer months get very crowded.  Check www.hamragardens.com  for full information.

 

 

What is the cost of living in Beirut?

 

Living costs really depend on your lifestyle.  Renting a room in a shared apartment is around $400+ per month. Living costs are around $500+ per month depending on where you eat and drink.   In general, food and travel costs can be very low if you use shared taxis and buses and eat takeaway or cook your own.  Restaurants and bars do tend to be pricey.  Nightclubs are the most expensive.

 

 

Will I need a visa?

 

Many nationalities can obtain a free one-month tourist visa on arrival at Beirut international airport which is valid for 3 months (and does not require renewal).  It is essential that you check Lebanon’s visa requirements before traveling.  Please see the General Security website for more details on this.

 

 

Why do I need to pay for health insurance?

 

Lebanon does not currently have a free healthcare system and Saifi Institute cannot be responsible for your health costs while you are in Lebanon.  On arrival at the institute, you will need to show evidence of a health insurance policy that covers you for the entire duration of the program.

 

 

Does Saifi have a health insurance program I can purchase?

 

No, you must organize your health insurance with a provider in your home country.  Please remember to bring evidence of your policy with you when you attend the course.  Students cannot commence the program without it.

 

 

How can we change the dollar to Lebanese currency?

 

Next to the school, there is a trustworthy place for changing money on a daily rate.

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