Morocco: Arabic Language Immersion

Arrive into Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Eat a wonderful welcome dinner of tagine in the city’s famous main square Jamaâ El-Fna, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wander the thousand-year-old market where you can watch snake charmers entrance their cobras and vendors hawk their wares. See everything from whale vertebrae and acrobats to ostrich eggs and orange juice stands!

Sabah al-khair! Rise and shine for your first day of Arabic lessons. Take engaging, conversation-focused classes in small groups with other students at a similar proficiency level. Partner with a local Arabic speaking partner and start learning the local dialect, Darija.

Start each day with your Arabic class before a variety of afternoon activities. Head into the medina to explore some of Marrakech’s vibrant souqs, or marketplaces. Stop by a genuine Moroccan spice shop and take in all its colors and scents. Sample argan oil, jasmine, amber, and more! Participate in a souq scavenger hunt, putting your new Arabic skills to the test. Explore the ruins of the 16th-century El Badi Palace in the southern part of the medina. Join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you will begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

Conclude your final Arabic lesson and head back into the medina’s markets. Stop by a wood carving and silversmith shop where you’ll participate in a workshop from skilled local artisans. Practice your Arabic through conversations with the artisans to learn more about their profession. Present what you’ve learned during your language lessons with the rest of your group.

Say goodbye to Marrakech and head back to Casablanca. Visit the Hassan II Mosque, which has the tallest minaret (narrow tower of a mosque) in the world. Stop by the souqs of Casablanca to do some last-minute souvenir shopping.

Join your group for a big final Moroccan dinner. At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Your Program Leaders will take you to Mohammed V Casablanca International Airport (CMN) for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.