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complaints & solutions why us why Syria Programs Comparison -

Because we understand the nature of studying and living in foreign culture, our help is not limited to the money our students pay..
Our care is not only inside the class. We do everything that helps students and researchers enjoy comfortable and fruitful stay!

General Servises and Assistance for Students of Arabic
Housing: wide range of houses available; big, medium, small, separate or shared, in many areas.

Stay permission: Visa procedures in Emigration and Passports Department, tourist stay, registration in the university, stay extension.

Entertainment and socializing:

1- Public and private social occasions; feasts, weddings, ceremonies, family private occasions.
2- Visits and meeting with people from all classes.
3- Discussing with students the difficulties of communicating and understanding people.
4- Picnics and trips to nearby areas.
5- Information about, organizing or visiting cultural activities; concerts, lectures, movies, theater plays, exhibitions, conferences, festivals, economic fairs.

Special courses: Arabic calligraphy, Arabic Music instruments; lute, drum, Arabic dance, Syrian food.

Research assistance: Information, references, contacts, translation, interpretation, consultation, discussion.

Tourism: Tips and advice, tours around the country, tourist guides, reservation, transportation.

NON-NATIVE STUDENTS OF ARABIC - COMPLAINTS & SOLUTIONS top

From our perspective and observations, the students' complaints about what caused partial or total failure of their study, have centered on few points as follows:

The difficulty to practice Arabic language due to heavy westernization and powerful tourism. (Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt etc)

The difficulty to mix with average people and benefit from the opportunity of cultural environment and discuss the various versions and people's opinions about their language, history, politics etc due to ultra-conservative society and strong religious fundamentalism. (Almost anywhere in the region)

The inflexible and old-fashioned or traditional programs they study in the region which do not pay enough attention to what the students want or need. (Almost anywhere)

The relatively high rate of illiteracy. (Many parts in the region)
Strong localism or sectarianism that tries to ignore the shared culture with the rest of the Middle East. (Egypt and Lebanon)

The language duality emphasis and the non-acknowledgment of one another: complete separation between studying spoken and written Arabic without any comparison in which they look two different languages. Students then have to make hard choices; either learn spoken in order to benefit from speaking environment at the expense of written Arabic and their exam or, improve only written Arabic and forget about speaking as if they study in a foreign country, because of the difficulty of speaking written Arabic for average intellectuals and common people. (Anywhere) More information on pages Free Information and Downloads!

Different types of daily life problems due to the students' unawareness of the local social, economic, political or traditional systems. (Anywhere in the region)

SYRIA OFFERS SEVERAL ADVANTAGES FOR STUDENTS OF ARABIC

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Over the rest of the Middle East. These advantages include: Syria has less commercial tourism which means more natural atmosphere for Western residents and less chasing and harassments from agents, less westernized which means more originality and more confidence in Arab identity, more educated and liberal society which means easier and better access to local community for language practice and cultural immersion and Syria is safer and cheaper. Syrian society is also more diversified where big minorities number half of the population. That better represents the diversity and richness of Middle East culture in a peaceful and tolerant atmosphere, not merely the typical conflict between westernized and fundamentalist movements.

THE ADVANTAGES OF OUR PROGRAM: top

Comprehensive for language and research: from the alphabet to the perfect mastering of the language plus many specialized cultural courses for advanced students and researchers.

Flexible program: curriculum development and flexible course length and timing for special requirements.

Modern: Modern and communicative methods. Liberal and secular strategy.

Spoken-Written integrated program: Respect for the integrity and the unity of Arabic and the natural social function of each type of the language compromised with student's exams.

Focused and practical: Time, efforts and money saving. Offers only what the students need for their own personal, business or academic career or interests.

Reliable: Free information, assistance and tips on housing, socializing, cultural events, shopping, touring and work out any difficulty student may face in his/her daily life in Syria.

In order to enjoy the richness and diversity of Middle East culture, not suffering it! Good place with good program always proved to guarantee the best result. That is the secret of our success and our students' immediate or long-term satisfaction.

* Ibn Rushd group inherited Hussein Maxos Group in 1995 but many of our old students and contacts around the world keep using the old name, which makes it valid. However, both are the same group.

Comparison of Arabic teaching programs

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Area of comparison	IRAMES*	French Institute	Syrian institute	British institute	Abonor Islamic institute
Integrated Spoken-Written Arabic	Yes	No	No	No	No
Special courses in focus and timing	Yes	No	No	No	No
Research- traditional focus (i.e. literature)	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Research – modern focus (i.e. economy, anthropology)	Yes	No	No	No	No
Separate Spoken or Written Arabic	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Assistance for students’ stay and cultural immersion	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Special study for student’s home exams	Yes	No	No	No	No
Classes of small groups (3 to 5)	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Regular courses of mixed big classes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

* IRAMES is Ibn Rushd for Arabic & Middle East Studies, Independent Group-Damascus. top

IRAMES*