Learning Arabic whilst Traveling through the Arab World

Learning Arabic whilst Traveling through the Arab World Discover Arabic Speaking Countries All Over the World ChaptersWhy Learn Arabic?Which Arabic Language Should You Learn?What Region Should You Learn Arabic In?The Arabic language is spoken by nearly 300 million people around the world.It is an official language in 26 countries, and also one of the six official languages used in the United Nations.The Arabic language  is used in trade, culture, science and international trade.Learning Arabic has become indispensable in order to understand the world today, as well as enriching your knowledge, developing your business abroad, or opening yourself to new cultures. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teac her £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Learn Arabic?In all respects, learning Arabic and the Arabic culture comes with many benefits, and as you will see when choosing a country in which to learn it, this could allow you to learn its inner workings.We are not just talking about how a map of the Arab world can help you learn Arabic. We mean have you ever thought about taking an academic year off to go and learn Arabic abroad?What country is best to learn Arabic?Opening up to a culture we know nothing about is a fantastic experience.From a Teaching StandpointAs is the case with English, French, Spanish and German, Arabic is now one of the languages officially taught in education systems across the world.Whatever your level, whether you are in primary school or high school, there are programs available to you in order to learn Arabic.Different exams and diplomas are available for you to partake in Arabic language learning.Hit the school bench again and learn some Arabic!The same applies if you'd like to attend the world's best universities, as the vast majority of them now offer courses in the Arabic language.From a Cultural StandpointThe Arabic language is still considered one of the best means of transmitting literary, philosophical and scientific knowledge: the legacy of the great civilizations during the Middle Ages as well as Greco-Latin thought have all been a part of Arab  history.Arabic offers an opening onto the Eastern world both geographically and historically (the birth of Islam, its empires, etc.)For Arabic-speaking families, learning Arabic is always culturally relevant. It's also an educational asset and increasing proficiency will mean you can talk to your Arabic-speaking family.From an Economic StandpointThe Arab world benefits from a strategic geographical location in the world, at the meeting point between the 3 continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.Many A rab countries have a strong economic position, especially with their oil and gas assets. They are often the first producers and exporters of these raw materials.Which Arabic Language Should You Learn?Before choosing the country in which to learn Arabic, you should know that there are 2 types of Arabic: classical or literary Arabic and dialectal Arabic.Classical Arabic is common to all Arab countries, be it Jordan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, or Tunisia, etc.It is the main language for writing, the one found in media and speeches.Dialectal Arabic is used orally: each dialect corresponds to a different country, and is widely used for non-formal exchanges and in everyday life.What's more, the Arabic alphabet is completely different to the Latin one so you will need to get your head around this firstTake your time in doing this as this will be the foundation for everything you study later in Arabic. There are plenty of of apps to help you, or you could familiarize yourself by d ownloading an Arabic keyboard to write in Arabic.So, Which Arabic Should You Learn?If your interest lies in learning the dialect of a particular country, the safest option is modern standard Arabic, a classic version of the language. It is used in most of the Middle East.Its major use is for public communication and literature, press, and media.If Quran Arabic interests you more, then literary Arabic is for you.This Arabic can help you understand Islam.It is said that it is the Arabic of the Holy Qur'an, the language found in all religious Arabic books.Finally, if you plan to live in an Arab country or work in the Arab world, dialectical Arabic is the solution.It should be noted that there are 5 families of Arabic dialects which are divided according to countries, regions, cities and sometimes religions: Gulf Arabic, Levant Arabic, Mesopotamian Arabic, North-African Arabic and Egyptian Arabic.What Region Should You Learn Arabic In?Do you really have to go abroad in order to learn Ar abic? What countries are the most effective in learning the language?U.S.AIf you are seeking to learn a foreign language, the United States of America has no shortage of great colleges or universities offering very interesting programs that include the Arabic language. Additionally, you could start early with an Arabic language class in middle school or high school, or take tutoring lessons after school if your school does not offer the language. It's up to you, but there are an array of choices!In the UK, you could take Arabic lessons London or other big cities!You could learn Arabic in San Francisco for example!Numerous associations--whether they be public or institutional--offer classes in Arabic all over the USA, including one-on-one tutoring, which is very effective in order to learn Arabic.For example, here you will find the best places to learn Arabic at the college level.For those of you in New York City, you could take an Arabic class at the high school level in the United Nations International School or at the Friends Seminary.For those of you in Boston, why not try the Boston Language Institute or the Islamic Civilizations degree at Boston University for some quality teaching.Don't hesitate to contact the various academies for more information.You can also learn Arabic online! As well as lessons and resources, you will find lots of tips for learning Arabic on the internet too.For those who want to travel, to discover a new country and immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of a particular population, many countries offer Arabic language teaching.Here is Superprof's selection.TunisiaThe 3 Cs Training Center is a mango school located in Sfax where the  Arabic language is taught in combination with Tunisian culture.The school offers Arabic classes for adults as well as intensive personalized training for professional purposes.Each course is broken into small groups or individual classes to facilitate the progress of each learner.United Arab E miratesIqraa Language Center: located in the heart of Dubai, this is surely one of the most popular language schools in the country.The school specializes in teaching Arabic to foreign students.Each class has a maximum of 14 students and all teachers have Arabic as their mother tongue.Arabic Language Center (ALC for short) has been teaching Arabic for 33 years.The teaching method is simple and logical in order to make the experience interesting, effective, and playful.Each class contains a maximum of 12 students to optimize teaching and to ensure interaction between the students and teacher.JordanLocated in Amman, this school is extremely popular in Jordan and is renowned for the quality of its Arabic courses.It specializes in teaching foreign students.Ali Baba International Center is also located in the heart of Amman. This international center wants to promote Arabic as the first foreign language offered to students from all over the world.The Center is accredited by the Jordanian Ministry of Education as well as by Brookhaven College in the US.EgyptArabeya Arabic Language Institute: This center was created in 2003 and aims to offer intensive Arabic courses for all levels, whether for modern Arabic or modern Egyptian Arabic.The classes are formed of small groups so that each student receives the maximum  attention possible in order to progress.In these optimal conditions, students participate in the reading, writing, and learning of the Arabic language and the Arab culture.Ahlan Arabic Center is an institute offering many activities in order to practice everyday Arabic.Would you like to learn Arabic amidst an Arabic community? Don't wait any longer!There are 3 centers of this type in Egypt, namely in Alexandria's historic center, as well as in Cairo's Old Islamic town and in Luxor's city center near the souk.With trips outside the city, frequent visits to historical sites and markets (souks), the student will quickly progress in his oral practice of Arabic. The faculty is made up of professionals with a lot of experience in teaching Arabic to foreigners.Each course lasts between 2 and 3 hours, so you will be able to advance quickly towards Arabic fluency!MoroccoThe Cultural Center for Languages and Training (CCLT) is located in the heart of Rabat and is a very popular language school specializing in teaching Arabic to foreigners.Moroccan Center for Arabic Studies (MCAS) is also located in Rabat. This center offers courses for all foreign students. The groups separate into small classes (maximum 8 students per session).All teachers have Arabic as their first language and will be ready to help with any vocabulary, culture, or grammatical questions!TurkeyIstanbul Business Center (IBC) is known for the quality of its teaching and friendly atmosphere. IBC offers Arabic courses to students who are taking the language as part of their studies and would like to do an exchange program in Turkey. You will have no problem learning new Arabic word s and doing some reading and writing here!Meet other students who are abroad to learn Arabic like you!Their professional teachers are highly qualified and experienced, and are particularly attentive to the progress of each foreign language student.There is a wide variety of language courses, between the 25-hour a week intensive courses and Arabic courses in 6 different levels. They also offer one-on-one private tutoring.IsraelThe Lirom Israel Language Center in Tel Aviv offers a language immersion program with very high quality Arabic courses.

More than a Signal Deconstructing the Value of an MBA Degree

More than a Signal Deconstructing the Value of an MBA Degree GMAT MBA Admissions Blog I have an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. This is a top program and I’m proud of having been accepted to and graduating from it, but it did cost me almost $150,000 in direct tuition. So, do I think it was worth it? I think so, but I’m not always sure. It’s perhaps a more complex question that requires consideration along multiple dimensions. In this article, I’ll explore the value of an MBA. In general, on average, how much is an MBA degree worth? That seems like a specific question to which there should be some specific answers. This article by Balance Careersfocuses on applying a financial lens to the question. Here, you’d try to weigh two years of forgone salary and the direct cost of the MBA program against the increase in salary you’d earn after you have an MBA. So, let’s assume you make $75K per year, and the MBA itself will cost you $50K per year. It’s a two-year program. This means you are giving up $150K in salary over the two years. And the degree itself will cost you $100K. Obtaining your MBA just cost you $250K, and you now need to compare that to the increase in salary you’ll experience from having the degree. The article above provides example differences between pre-and post-MBA salaries and it seems like the difference is about $12,500 on average. Now, let’s use a little GMAT math. How long will it take you to pay back your MBA in this scenario? $12,500 per year * 20 years = $250,000. It will take you 20 years. That is a long time. You might argue that a $12,500 increase in salary is less than you’d expect. But I’d point out that many MBA programs cost much more than $50,000 per year. I think pursuing an MBA based on a pure, realistic quantitative financial analysis can often be a tough sell. To convince yourself pursuing an MBA makes sense, you need to believe the degree will create opportunities that you can’t necessarily build into a financial model, but which represent substantial upside for your career. But before we explore this idea further, I think it’s important to understand the fundamental nature of an MBA degree. What does an MBA provide? Obviously, an MBA is a master’s degree in the administration of business. But an MBA degree is not like a veterinary, medical, or nursing license that functions as a very real barrier to entry into a career. You cannot be a vet, a doctor, or a nurse without having a VMD, MD, or RN degree. Acceptance rates into vet and medical school programsare low, from 10 to 30%. Pass rates for the licensing exams (medical boards, NCLEX, etc.) that come after these academic programs reflect yet another barrier to entry into these careers. But if you aren’t concerned about the rankings or prestige of the program from which you graduate, you can get an MBA. Some MBA programs have acceptance rates near 100%. In other words, if you have a VMD, an MD, or a RN, that without a doubt means something very specific and will create new career opportunities for you. An MBA is very different. Having an MBA does not, generally, automatically mean you can do any specific job that someone without an MBA can’t do. This is because an MBA doesn’t always provide very specialized business skills. Although it’s an advanced degree in the study of business, some students enter MBA programs from completely different professions (e.g., teachers) and are as much being introduced to various business topics as they are building advanced knowledge about those topics. Yes - others do have lots of previous business experience, and they pursue more advanced knowledge in targeted areas. Either approach to an MBA can make a ton of sense, but it’s important to recognize the difference between the two and understand your unique situation. The value of an MBA depends very much on your personal situation and how you plan to use the degree. The degree itself doesn’t necessarily offer any new career opportunity to you. Should you get an MBA? This is a personal question. It really depends on your situation. I think individuals generally pursue an MBA for one or more of the following reasons (though I’m sure I might be missing one or two): To “signal” that they are accomplished and intelligent professionals by associating themselves with an MBA brand To explore switching careers and take a break from your current one To obtain specific new positions at their current employer or in related industries To create “option value” and in a general sense, make themselves more marketable because they have “advanced” business skills To build a network of like-minded, successful peers To work on a specific business or project idea To build management, communication, and leadership skills To build specific more technical business skills (e.g., marketing, finance, product management, search engine optimization, etc.) Some of these are, I think, more dangerous than others to rely on in understanding whether an MBA would be of value to you. For example, I would argue that, because anyone can get the letters “MBA” next to their name if they want to (i.e., by applying to and attending an unranked GMAT-optional MBA program, for example), just having an MBA doesn’t signal all that much. But, if you’ve attended a Top 10 MBA program, that’s a clear signal. An MBA from a top 10 program clearly tells future employers and business partners that you are credible, competent and talented (on some level). The same goes, maybe, for the top 20, or even 30 schools. But at some point, if you go to say, Michigan State for your MBA (~$50K per year tuition) because you are hoping to send a clear signal that you are talented, that is simply not as valuable a signal as spending $55K to get an MBA from UCLA. It’s important to be realistic about the brand you are buying into and the signal you think you are se nding. How can one get the most value out of a decision to pursue an MBA? I think a better reason to obtain an MBA is because you have specific plans you would like to test. You want to start a project or a business in the process of building new more general business skills. In this Poet’s and Quants article on the value of an MBA, a self-made millionaire who doesn’t have an MBA offers valuable advice on getting an MBA. Brian Wong, CEO and Co-founder of Kiip, a mobile advertising company, says “if you’re pursuing an MBA for a “safety net” or in hopes that it will give you “direction,” you’re doing it all wrong….my whole point is, I don’t want you to take an MBA for all the wrong reasons…don’t do something for some weird backup plan… Do something for an intention and I think you’ll get way more out of it.” I think that’s good advice. I would recommend not forgetting about the value of the brand and the signal when choosing where to get an MBA. Try to identify a school that helps you learn new things, where you can work on or build something or explore a specific new career, and that signals to others you are a valuable potential employee or business partner. One way to increase the value of your MBA is to reduce its direct and indirect cost. One of the biggest “costs” is foregone salary of stopping your career for two years. If you consider an online MBA, you don’t have to stop working.10 years ago, when perhaps the first few online MBA programs were being launched, the schools offering them where generally not very reputable, and you might be in danger of wasting a lot of money and time. But in 2018, many very reputable MBA programs are offering online programs taught by the same professors. They provide the same MBA degree and same brand recognition. For example, Indiana University’s online MBAis ranked #2 by US News, and its full-time program is in the top 30. In this article, the Mason business school at William and Mary makes the point that in 2018 university reputation outweighs any stigma associated with choosing to do your MBA online.I agree. In sum, the value of an MBA is highly dependent on your personal situation, why you are going and what you do when you are there, and of course, also on where you go to obtain your MBA. About the Author Mark Skoskiewicz is the founder of MyGuru. For more information on our GMAT tutoring options, click here.