Program Overview

The CLS Arabic Program in Tangier provides an intensive 8-week language learning environment designed to cover the equivalent of one academic year of university-level Arabic study. Students receive a minimum of 20 hours per week of formal classroom instruction by trained and experienced teachers. Sixteen hours per week are spent learning Modern Standard Arabic, while four hours each week are spent on the local Maghrebi Arabic dialect, known as Darija. The CLS program in Tangier employs a communicative, interactive teaching style that promotes proficiency, with classes focusing on improving students’ skills in all areas. In addition, students will have regular one-on-one meetings with local Moroccan university students and community members to practice their conversation skills and learn more about Moroccan society.

The CLS Arabic Program in Tangier is administered in partnership with the Arab American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM). AALIM is accredited by the Moroccan Ministry of Education and offers all levels of Arabic study throughout the year as well as cultural tourism and special programs for adult learners. With local headquarters in Meknes, Morocco, AALIM hosts the CLS Tangier Program on the campus of the American School in Tangier, where students can enjoy afternoons studying under the palm trees. Visit the AALIM website for more information on their year-round language and culture programs.

Outside of formal classes, the CLS Tangier Program offers a variety of cultural enrichment activities designed to expand students’ understanding of Moroccan life and culture. In the past, these activities have included learning to cook traditional Moroccan tagine as well as a weekend trip to the Sahara Desert to learn more about the Berber and nomadic cultures of southern Morocco. Moreover, CLS encourages students in the Tangier program to get to know the historic city in their spare time, perhaps by exploring the traditional souks, drinking mint tea at a local café, or enjoying the breathtaking view of the Strait of Gibraltar from the Kasbah.

CLS Tangier students will live with local host families, giving them an opportunity to experience life in a Moroccan family and practice Arabic outside of class. In Tangier, students will eat breakfast and dinner with their families almost every day, which allows them to gain insight into Moroccan culture and develop close bonds with their families. Many CLS Tangier students have said that living with host families was one of the most enriching parts of their CLS experience overall.

“I felt that every aspect of CLS was rewarding and effective. In particular, my host family was my favorite part of the entire experience. My homestay is where I learned the most Arabic, as well as where I made lifelong friends.”

- CLS Tangier student (2016)