Where will your Arabic expertise lead you?
The Arabic Summer Intensive Program vvv
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Lay the groundwork now for an international career.
Prepare yourself to become a citizen of the world: gain Arabic language skills The Arabic Flagship Partner Program at the University of Oklahoma (OU AFP) announces the Arabic Summer Intensive Program, 2012. The Program is open to OU current students, incoming freshmen and to high school students who want to earn college credit and begin study of Arabic during the summer 2012. This is a college-level course capped at 20, where no prior knowledge of Arabic is required. Qualified students will have the opportunity to finish the equivalent of the first year of Arabic, totaling ten credit hours (ARAB 1115 and ARAB 1225), over the course of 2 six-week sessions. During this time, students will familiarize themselves with the Arabic script and develop basic proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will also work in smaller groups with language tutors who will assist them in practicing learnt material, doing homework assignments, and carrying out tasks assigned by the class instructor. The Program also offers exposure to Arab culture through films, presentations, and cooking.
OU’s Flagship Center www.ou.edu/flagship The Language Flagship www.thelanguageflagship.org The College of International Studies www.ou.edu/cis Contact flagship@ou.edu for further details.
Eligibility and Admissions: To join the OU Arabic Flagship Program summer intensive program, you should be aware of the following requirements: High school students: • You must be provisionally admitted to OU • High school Juniors must have scored either 25 on the ACT or 1130 on the SAT or carry a 3.5 GPA • You must be a highly motivated student with an interest in the languages and cultures of the Middle East • You must intend to apply to OU (or have already been accepted) • High school students must also obtain a signed statement from their principal confirming eligibility to satisfy requirements for graduation no later than Spring of their senior year. Additionally, you must also provide a letter of recommendation from your counselor and written permission from your parent/ legal guardian • Submit your application materials by April 20, 2012. OU incoming freshmen and OU students: • You must be a highly motivated student with an interest in the languages and cultures of the Middle East. • Must have an excellent academic record. • Should intend to apply for the OU AFP
How do I apply? Submit the following materials to flagship@ou.edu by April 20, 2012 • • • • •
Completed application form High School Transcript (for current high school students and incoming freshmen) OU transcripts (for current OU students) One letter of recommendation from a foreign language teacher Brief personal essay describing what this opportunity means to you and how you intend to use your language training in the long term
What are the Benefits? • • • •
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Acquire the fundamentals of Arabic. Arabic is a critical language not commonly taught in Oklahoma In a small class setting, engage with our dedicated and highly qualified faculty and tutors Earn credits and experience to support your candidacy to the OU AFP and qualify for future scholarships to study in the Arab world Upon successful completion of both six-week sessions, you may continue your Arabic studies at OU at the Intermediate level. Students who decide to join the OU AFP will have sped up their 5-year program journey by one year. Develop familiarity with, and knowledge of, the diversity of cultures which are transmitted through the Arabic language
How much does it cost? The course tuition is free to high school students. Participants assume responsibility for the cost of living expenses, commuting to classes and course textbooks.
Are there any scholarship opportunities? We have a limited number of scholarships at $500 each for students interested in joining the OU AFP during their undergraduate career at OU. In order to be considered, you must submit an application and schedule an interview. Contact us at flagship@ou.edu to obtain scholarship application.
What are the dates? • •
The first course will run May 14th through June 22nd The second course will run June 25th through August 3rd
How are classes Structured? •
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During each session, class will run for 2 hours and 20 minutes daily, Monday through Friday. Two tutors will be present in each class. After class, students and tutors will meet in the language learning center to practice learnt material, do homework assignments and carry out tasks assigned by class instructor. Tutors will play a supporting and facilitative role in the classroom and the language learning center. Opportunities to learn about culture are also included, in a format called the Arabic weekly round table. Movie series, discussions, guest speakers, and other interactive/ non-lecture style activities add life to this summer learning experience and help round out the classroom portion of the summer program. This will occur every Friday. Students will be expected to carry out daily homework assignments and engage in daily class activities. Homework assignments focus on activating vocabulary, grammar and learning new culture. In-class activities involve pair and group work, short presentation, role-play, etc. Generally, for every hour in class, students are expected to spend no less than two hours outside of classroom on a regular basis working on new material learnt. Besides, all students are expected to attend the weekly roundtable and engage in discussions related to Arab culture and material presented during the Roundtable. As soon as students acquire basic conversational skills in Arabic, they will be asked to communicate in Arabic and the use of English language during the program will be kept to a minimum. Students are advised to seriously consider the nature of the program and the expectations associated with participation. The end of the second session will be marked by a brief, field trip-style visit to the Arab community in the Dallas, TX for an authentic, experiential learning opportunity. At the end of the intensive summer, there will be a final ceremony where students receive certificates of program completion. This will be a time to reflect on your diligence and success, and recognize each individual’s hard work.
What is the Flagship Program?
The Flagship Program is an initiative of the National Security Education Program (NSEP). NSEP was founded by OU President David L. Boren over twenty years ago, during his time as US Senator. Boren understood that our nation’s capacity to maintain national security, promote international cooperation, and compete effectively in the global economy depends on having a pool of individuals trained in less commonly taught languages such as Arabic. The Language Flagship is a national effort to change the way Americans learn languages through a groundbreaking approach to foreign language education. The program leads the nation in designing, supporting, and implementing a new paradigm for advanced language education. The program’s goal is to graduate students with a professional level of proficiency in languages critical to U.S. competitiveness and security, who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals. Long-term cultural and linguistic immersion is a defining aspect of the program. Since 2009, the University of Oklahoma Arabic Flagship Partner Program has supported undergraduate students who are committed to attaining advanced/superior levels of Arabic proficiency. The OU Arabic Flagship Partner Program is housed in the College of International Studies. Over 40 students are currently taking part in the program, while pursuing degrees in the majors of their choice. Flagship provides scholarships to offset a portion of the cost of participating in Arabic Flagship programs off campus. Our students have made tremendous gains after taking part in study abroad programs in Alexandria, Egypt, Meknes, Morocco and UT-Austin.