Years Abroad in The Middle East

• Tell somebody that you’re going to the Middle East for your Year Abroad and they’ll look at you as if should be certified just as soon as they can push the paperwork through – just those two words bring car bombs, airstrikes and mass demonstrations swiftly and firmly to mind.* When you come out on the other side of your year in the Middle East, those two words will instead make you miss the limitless generosity of the people, the great mates you’ve made, and the life that you lived out there. And, of course, the weather.

  Students have been making their way to Damascus, Cairo and Sana to learn Arabic for years, and as such the institutes there know what they’re doing. Ranging from monthly courses for absolute beginners to special, year-long programs for YA-students there for the long haul, you’re sure to find a course for you. Upsides? Total-immersion teaching will be a little overwhelming at first, but your Arabic will come on in leaps and bounds. The Middle East will, for the most part, be a culture that you’ve never experienced before and doing a course with a bunch of students all in the same boat will see you cement some brilliant friendships and have a great social circle for when it’s all a bit too much. Downsides? British universities have different exams criteria so the course mightn’t really cater too much to what you need to know. Don’t worry though, because there are some superb private teachers out there, and the Arab students will put you to shame in how eager they are to learn English so there are always language exchanges available if you’re willing to give your number out.

  If you’re willing to throw yourself into it, your YA in the Middle East could be one of the best years of your life. Keep an eye out here, because individual country profiles will follow shortly.

   

  *Okay, there was a car-bomb 1km from my flat in my second week there, and then there was a cross-border airstrike not too long after. But for the most part that rarely happens.

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