Summer Exchange Programs - Egypt

Age Range:

Birth Date Range:

Travel Dates:

Application Deadline: March 15, 2012

Egypt Summer Language Study Program

This four-week program is designed to give students an intensive introduction to the Arabic language and immersion into Egyptian culture. You will live with a Egyptian host family, attend Arabic language classes, and will travel with your fellow AFS Students to cultural and historic sites.

Program Details

You and your fellow AFSers will fly together between New York and Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. Upon your arrival, you will be met by volunteers and staff of AFS Egypt and be taken to an orientation site where you will participate in a 1-2 day arrival orientation.

In previous years, students have been placed in Ismailia, Port Said, Port Fouad, and Cairo. Host communities are subject to change and host placements will be determined by AFS Egypt staff and volunteers.

You will attend 60 hours of Arabic language class (3 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks), all taught by certified language instructors. These classes are offered exclusively to AFS students. Beginner Arabic speakers are welcome. Class size varies by language level but will be approx. 10 students per class. All language study materials will be provided but we suggest that you bring an English-Arabic dictionary for personal use. In addition to your language classes, cultural lessons and activities will be organized by your local AFS volunteers.

Meals and Diet

Egyptian cuisine reflects the country’s melting-pot history. The dishes are simple, made with fresh fruits and vegetables and seasoned with spices. Bread is the mainstay of Egyptian diets and comes in several forms. Aysh shami, a flat, pita-type bread made with refined white flour is the most common. Rice and fava beans, cooked in a variety of ways, are other staples.

Eligibility

To participate in this program, you must:

• Be within the age range at the start of the program (age range located above)
• Have a passing GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
• Be in good mental, physical, and emotional health in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policies
• Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
• Be in possession or have applied for a U.S. passport at the time of application.