Graduate Overseas Program 2010-2011

Location: Damascus, Syria
Institution: Damascus University, The Higher Language Institute: 12 months: June 2, 2010 - May 31, 2011

Program Timeline

June 2 - 4: Pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC
June 4: Group flight to Damascus-Syria
June 6 - 12: In-country orientation, visit of the city and the University, selection of the home stay families and/or apartments, placement test, and group selection.
June 13: Summer semester begins
Aug 5: End of summer session
Aug 6 - 21: Summer break
Aug 22: Fall Orientation
Aug 23: Fall semester begins
Sep 10 - 12: Eid El Fitr
Sep 17 - Oct 2: Mid-fall break
Nov 16 - 19: Eid El Adha
Nov 25: Thanksgiving
Dec 7: Eid El Hijra
Dec 16: Last day of fall semester
Dec 17: Hijri New Year's Day
Dec 17 - Jan 15: Fall break
Jan 16: Spring Orientation
Jan 16: Spring semester begins
Feb 16: Eid El Mawlid El Nabawi
Mar 8: Eid El Thawra
Mar 13 - 26: Spring break
Mar 14: Teacher's Day
Mar 21: Mother's Day
Apr 10: Easter
Apr 17: Independence Day
May 1: Labor Day
May 6: Martyrs Day
May 12: Last day of classes
May 19: Group flight to the US

1. Flagship Participant Handbook: contains detailed information on the academic and cultural program at Damascus University, as well as general information on student life in Syria

2. Pre-departure orientation program: Washington, DC (June 2 - 4, 2010)

Expectations, logistics, program nuts and bolts, health and safety information, informational sessions on self-managed learning, seminar on cultural adaptation and readjustment

3. In-country: orientation program: Damascus, Syria (June 6 - 12, 2010)

Intensive small-group instruction at Damascus University
The Language and Culture course incorporates guest speakers and bi-weekly excursions
Daily meetings with individual language tutors who are selected from among professors teaching at the University's Language Institute
Discipline-based course in the participant's area of specialization - Fall semester
Professional internship, + Discipline-based course in the participant's area of specialization - Spring semester

Following is the number of hours per week devoted to each component:

Program component	Academic hours/week
Daily intensive classroom language instruction (Fall & Spring)	16
Daily meetings with individual tutors	4
Discipline-based courses (Fall & Spring)	~2-4
Internships (Spring)	~ 16

Formal language learning is further reinforced through the following informal components

Discussion club meetings (5-6 per semester)
Home stays with a Syrian host family
Opportunities to engage in local service projects (local schools, orphanages, health services, and other areas of student interest)
Optional special interest activities (sports, music, theater)