Soliciting language prep advice

[Instanoodle]

I’ll be starting the MTS program at HDS in the fall with a focus on Islam.  Although I have no Arabic under my belt just yet, I got into two very different summer intensive programs, and need some advice.  One option is the program at a state school near my home, which ends well before I have to schlep my life to Massachusetts.  The second is at Qasid in Jordan, which would be great as a life experience in the Middle East (I’ve never been), but it ends the same day I’m supposed to be in Boston for orientation – which my mental capacity is having a hard time grasping, and it means I don’t really have a chance to say goodbye to my life here between quitting my time-consuming job, getting to Jordan, then heading straight to Boston.  I think I can make it work, but it sounds like I'll finish Qasid finals and jump right into the HDS course load.  Also, I definitely want to study out-of-country next summer.

 

It may be immature, but I was looking forward to being here this summer, spending some quality time with my sig. other, going on a few trips, and spending part of August catching up on the latest and greatest research in my area.  However, I’m viewing the next two years as preparing me for PhD program applications and rigor, into which trips to the beach don't really tally.  

 

The questions: any advice on which program?  Does Qasid as an immersion program give me an advantage in PhD apps?  Or do I benefit equally from some R&R/studying/brushing up on French and German at home after the state-run program?  While I realize this is more of an internal debate, I’d appreciate some advice from those ahead of me on this path.  Thanks in advance and sorry for the run-ons.

[sacklunch]

Personal issues aside, the immersion program would be much better for learning Arabic. I have done both immersion and regular language coursework and the former is the only way to go if you want to advance in the language at any moderate speed. If your focus were not Islamic studies then I would say it's no problem taking the local course. But because 1) you have no Arabic now, 2) you only have two years to 'catch up', and 3) when you apply to doctoral programs, depending on your sub-field, you will be competing with other applicants with more Arabic even if you do the immersion school and continue on with Arabic while at HDS. Learning Arabic should be your number one priority for the next two years. It will be the dealer breaker in your application. 

 

FWIW, I know several students currently in M* programs (and some done) and all have told me that Arabic is the number 1 thing keeping people out of doctoral work. Unfortunately there are plenty of native speakers interested in Islamic Studies. This is also why many non-native speakers end up with two M* before they begin a PhD (just as in biblical studies, the main thing that keeps people out is language prep.).

[hj2012]

You will learn Arabic faster in an immersion setting, but in this case I don't know if the personal factors make the sacrifice worth it. You are going to be behind your peers regardless of whether or not you go abroad, so my sense is that you should plan to make up for this deficiency with serious, full time language study after your MTS and before applying to PhD programs. I would look into yearlong intensive Arabic study, perhaps a program like CASA (UT Austin in Egypt).

Good luck!

[Perytion]

I think sacklunch is probably totally right about the importance of having a solid foundation in Arabic.  As for the superiority of the immersion experience, I might be inclined to differ.  The Arabic you're going to need is Modern Standard Arabic (الفصحى), which is considerably different from the dialect you will be exposed to in Jordan.  Also, on the streets in Jordan with only the Arabic you learn in a summer program, you will almost certainly be speaking English 99.9% of the time.  Of course, the quality of instruction in Jordan will likely be much higher than at a program here in the US, so you might get a little bit further.  And the experience of being in the Middle East is totally invaluable.  But if you're already planning on studying internationally next summer, then I think the advantages of going to Jordan are not so great.  In fact, you will probably get more out of an immersion program if you already have some Arabic under your belt.

 

BTW, I'm going to be doing Islamic studies at HDS next term too!  See ya there!

[mdiv2014]

another hds incoming student here, but with over 50 years in this incarnation and currently in ME i bring a totally different perspective (and as for MY run on sentences....hey, grad forum is not a paper for publication)

statistically your significant now is unlikely to be your significant years from now.....i blew off a choice job in my 20's because of someone. poor choice.....unless it is a committed soulful - i need this person more than life itself - relationship, the relationship will not be there 20 years from now based on statistics here. young 20 somethings need a dash of statistics once in a while. often actually.... 

as for the immersion, i am more familiar with the one at american uni of cairo and the one in yemen ......but what i can say is - don't pass these opportunities up - never. arabic is i think the 3rd hardest langauge to learn. it takes time, committment, time, and more time. to get the us military or state dept language bonus ppl have had to study fulltime 56 weeks and pass a really hard test but frequently when they come to the ME require top up tuitions - constantly. arabic is not french.

MSA is the language of instruction in immersion places - asking for a shwarma on the street is different though - the shwarma vendor will understand MSA but what he says is not in your MSA books. And you should be in class for around 6 hours a day for 6 weeks on a summer immersion.... it should be hard work .....

Edited April 30, 2014 by mdiv2014

[Instanoodle]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.  I'll be heading to Jordan this summer as long as I can leave early to make it to orientation on time.  As for the sig other, we're older than you give us credit for, and a little long distance is a challenge worth accepting.  

 

Thanks again, I can always count on this forum for some sound advice.