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General information
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Facilities Classes at ALIF are conducted in a large Moorish-style villa surrounded by an oasis-like setting of date palms, olive trees and rosemary shrubs. The tranquil residential neighborhood is away from the hubbub of downtown while being within easy walking distance of a variety of restaurants and cafes. ALIF boasts a specialized library focusing on Arab, North African and Islamic studies, as well as a modest yet growing collection of Arabic language videos and cassettes. The ALIF snack bar offers various refreshments, such as traditional Moroccan mint tea, and lunch service. ALIF also shares its classrooms and grounds with a large, well-established English language school (ALC- Fez), thereby providing an ideal environment for interacting with young Moroccans. Recent additions to ALIF's facilities include a video-viewing area for students who wish to enjoy ALIF's collection of Arabic films, a modest computer center equipped with Arabic wordprocessing software, and a satellite television that receives over fifteen Arabic stations from across the Arab World. Instructors In teaching CMA, ALIF's instructors have developed a highly interactive teaching approach designed to get students conversing almost immediately with native speakers in a variety of increasingly challenging topics of discussion. ALIF's language coordinator is also one of the few CMA experts worldwide certified by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton to administer oral examinations in Moroccan Arabic. Cultural activities Students undertaking specific research projects in Morocco are also welcome to give presentations on their own work to other ALIF students and their Moroccan peers as a means of gaining response and input from others who may have similar interests. Also, throughout the year, ALIF offers a series of tours and cultural excursions (in the past these have included tours of Fez and nearby sites such as the Taza caves and the carpet souks of Khenifra). The cultural activities calendar regularly includes extracurricular courses in Oriental Dancing, Arabic calligraphy, Moroccan cooking and traditional music. Transfer credits Students wishing to obtain university credit may be required to take a proficiency examination at the end of their studies at ALIF. ALIF provides ACTFL proficiency examinations for a fee of 300 dhs; and on request can calculate a grade-point average. Visas One residency condition is a bank statement from a local account showing that the applicant has adequate resources; therefore, be sure you are in a position to open a "convertible dirham" account with the equivalency of at least 20,000 Dh ($1 = 10-11 Dh) in foreign currency ( in cash or travelers checks), or are able to have this amount wired to you after your arrival. (This amount is in addition to funds required for tuition, immediate living expenses, and two to three months advance housing costs, as it should remain untouched in the bank for at least the first month.) The Arabic Language Institute in Fez, B.P. 2136, Fez 30000,
Morocco Last updated 04/13/06 |