LEARN ARABIC NOW AT UJLC

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L E A R N A R A B I C N O W

U N I V E R S I T Y O F J O R D A N

UJLC

C O M M I T M E N T T O E X C E L L E N C E

www.ujlc.ju.edu.jo

[email protected]

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I am pleased to welcome you to the University of Jordan

Language Center (UJLC) website, and I hope this site will be of

great help and provide answers to all of your questions about

our Arabic program for speakers of other languages(ASOL) and

the Arabic & English communication skills courses.

Here, at the UJLC, we are proud of the experience we have

gained throughout the years in teaching Arabic for non-native

speakers from all over the world and for the University

communication skills courses offered each semester to well

over 9000 University students.

What makes our Arabic for speakers of other languages (ASOL)

program special is the diversity of its students and renowned

curriculum and instructors. With over 300 international

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students registered in our ASOL program each semester, the

Language Center has become a pioneer in the field and

number one choice for most of the international students

worldwide.

My office and staff will support your success at the Language

Center. In conclusion, we will make all efforts and will provide

all educational means available to serve that goal and make

your stay in Jordan an unforgettable one.

Welcome home.

Professor Mahmoud Shra’ah

Director

UJLC

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OUR MISSION

The University of Jordan’s Language Center (UJLC) teaches

Arabic and English communication skills to all university

students and Arabic courses to non-native speakers. It also

serves the local and global communities by holding local and

international exams, and by holding training courses for

students and teachers in English and Arabic.

Our mission is to provide first class education and services by

supporting the linguistic, intellectual, social and cultural

development of our students through talented and

professional instructors, emerging in the native community and

having a positive and supportive learning environment. We also

provide opportunities that enable students to develop the

knowledge and skills needed to achieve their academic and

professional goals.

The Language Center looks to be distinct and active in the local

and global hub, particularly in the areas of teaching Arabic to

non-Arabic speakers. Our broad vision is not limited to only

language instruction-but-also extends to the Center becoming

a leading research facility.

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Here at UJLC, every minute of our students' time counts. We

promise our students a one- of- a- kind lifetime experience: A

total immersion of language and culture where students make

new friends and families away from home.

ARABIC FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER

LANGUAGES

The University of Jordan Language Center (UJLC) is one of the

leading institutions in the region and the world in teaching

Arabic to non-native speakers. UJLC started offering Arabic

courses for speakers of other languages in 1979. Since then,

UJLC has taught Arabic to thousands of students from all parts

of the world. UJLC has become known for its excellent teaching

and friendly atmosphere and is committed to providing quality

language instruction and over the years, the Arabic program

has since grown in professionality and reputation. The

Language Center has a vision and a commitment to provide

exemplary instruction and extra-curricular activities to all its

students to ensure a unique immersion experience. Arabic at

UJLC is taught not only through linguistic frames but also

through literature, culture, history, media, and common daily

life materials.

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THE REGULAR PROGRAM

The Arabic program is designed to deliver Arabic language

instruction to non-native speakers from all over the world. The

UJLC offers six levels, and may offer nine levels based on the

results of a placement test, of intensive Arabic (Beginners,

intermediate and advanced) throughout the year. The fall and

spring semesters last for (16) weeks each including registration

and examinations. The summer semester lasts for (8) weeks

including registration and examinations. Classes in the regular

program run from Sunday through Thursday in two sessions

from 9:00 a.m. -12:40 p.m. with a short break between the two

sessions. This includes 20 hours per week or around 300 hours

per semester for the fall or spring semesters and around 150

hours in total for the summer semester (note: every class hour

is 50 minutes). Students will mainly learn modern standard

Arabic in addition to Arabic integrated into the program.

Students with previous knowledge of Arabic are required to sit

for a placement exam at the beginning of each semester. Those

who have not studied Arabic will join level one.

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Students joining UJLC with different and diverse cultural

backgrounds enrich the experience at UJLC. Students will forge

valuable friendships and contacts not only with fellow

classmates but also with locals as well. The Language Partner

Program (LPP) represents a unique way of complementing what

students are studying inside the classroom.

Culture plays a vital role in our program. Through LPP, trips,

guest speakers and cultural clubs, students will experience first-

hand the richness of Jordanian culture and will have, as a result,

a better understanding of Arabic language.

Evening classes are also offered upon request and need.

The calendar & course description can be viewed and

downloaded from our website.

TEXTBOOKS

In the regular program, textbooks authored by UJLC’s talented

instructors are used. UJLC authored six books of Arabic with

supplementary materials carefully designed to covers the

necessary tools for students to practice and master the four

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basic language skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening,

and the sub skills of vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.

The Language Center is a pioneer in the country and the region

in authoring its own books and the curriculum has carefully

been designed to match and complement the students’ needs,

demands and backgrounds.

OUR TEACHING TEAM

Our students come first. That is why they will have the best

tuition from the very best instructors – dynamic, qualified,

highly skilled professionals experienced in teaching Arabic to

speakers of other languages. We aspire to provide our students

with the perfect language and cultural experience, and that is

why our teachers inspire and challenge students to maximize

their potential. Once hired, new instructors are required to

undergo extensive classroom and on-the-job training. Our

instructors hold Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in Arabic and in

teaching Arabic as a second language. The intense focus we

place on hiring the best instructors for our programs results in

not just superior program outcomes, but it keeps our students

coming back. Our instructors not only share their experiences

but also their passion and devotion to the programs offered by

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UJLC. Their work is always driven by and focused on student

learning.

THE TAILORED PROGRAM

The Language Center also offers tailored courses with private

instruction (individual or small group instruction) throughout

the year and upon request to those who cannot join the regular

program, to students or groups who want to take extra hours

of Arabic or to those who want to study Arabic for specific

purposes for shorter or longer periods of time.

With this option, students will tailor a course that corresponds

to their needs in terms of dates, times, and content. The focus

in these courses is on students’ individual needs. Students may

study standard or/and colloquial Arabic, media, politics,

diplomacy, business, culture or any other discipline in Arabic or

in English. The program costs USD 100 per hour per group

(note: A group consists of 1- 6 students). If the number of

students in a group exceeds 6 up to 16, additional USD 10 per

person will be added.

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In these tailored courses, we hire the best in the field to

guarantee a worthwhile experience with satisfactory and

guaranteed results.

Please contact us for more info or if you have any additional

questions.

THE QUARTER SYSTEM

To satisfy and accommodate all of our students’ needs, UJLC

will offer Arabic classes following the quarter system. Unlike

the regular semesters, which are typically 15-16 weeks in

length, quarters are 10 weeks in length including orientation

and final examinations, occurring in the fall, winter, spring and

summer. Students will study 20 hours per week with a total of

around 200 hours per semester. The textbook used in this

system is “Al-Kitaab fii Taallum al- Arabiyya”.

Please contact us for more info.

PREPARATION ENTRY EXAM AND PROGRAM

UJLC offers evening Arabic courses to students enrolled at UJ’s

various faculties and departments to improve their Arabic

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communication skills. The test places students into three

different categories based on the results of an entry placement

exam.

APPLICATION

Applying and registering for our programs is easy.

All incoming students can register in our programs without the

need of an acceptance letter. Students need to show up at the

time of the registration period with the following documents:

Application / registration form

Two passport size photos

Photocopy of passport (photo and entry stamp pages only)

Fees in cash (in USD or equivalent Jordanian Dinars JOD)

Students who need proof of enrollment can submit the

application via mail or email. All other students can register in

person before the designated deadline.

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To apply, please download and fully complete our application

form (found on our website) and bring it with the other

required documents during registration period.

FEES

Fall USD 1800 (Or equivalent JOD)

Spring USD 1800 (Or equivalent JOD)

Summer USD 1200 (Or equivalent JOD)

Tailored courses USD 100 per hour per group (Or equivalent

JOD). If the number of students in a group exceeds 6 up to 16,

additional USD 10 per person will be added.

Quarter semester USD 1600 (Or equivalent JOD)

Registration fee: USD 50 every semester.

ALL FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE (ISO)

Our staff members will make you feel like you are in your home

away from home. They will help you adapt to UJLC, UJ, and

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Jordan while making sure that you have a successful academic

and personal experience. They have helped thousands of

students from the first steps of learning to processing official

documents needed to settle in. We are dedicated to helping

international students thrive in the UJ community. Whatever

questions or concerns you have; we are here for you.

Our staff members are here to:

- Assist in the application/admission process.

- Assist in managing and coordinating the admission

services, providing information and advice relating to

courses offered, arranging interviews and placement tests

when required and processing individual enrolments for

fee-paying students.

- Assist with useful information concerning the visa process

and residential living.

- Assist in organizing students’ orientation and briefing

sessions.

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- Assist in promoting the ASOL program worldwide.

- Assist in keeping our international students informed on

current education and academic issues and services.

- Assist students in providing general information about

housing when available.

- Answer all students’ academic questions

ISO is open Sunday through Thursday from 8:00 until 16:00

Come and meet our friendly staff.

STUDENTS WILL ENJOY:

Library access

Sports facilities

Language partners

Cultural clubs

Wireless Internet connection at the Language Center premises

Computer lab

Listening labs

Weekly trips

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Basic health insurance at the UJ clinic

They may also make use of the following:

A post office

Two banks

ATM machines

Main restaurant and cafeterias

Mini shops

WHY CHOOSE UJLC?

- The University of Jordan campus is nestled on a beautiful

hill in the north-western part of the capital, Amman. It

provides an excellent opportunity for students enrolled in

the program to interact with students who are native Arabic

speakers in what is called the Language Partner Program

(LPP). Such interaction is vital for the acquisition of both

standard and colloquial Arabic due to the rich intellectual

life in Jordan.

- The campus is well secured and a safe place.

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- Courses are taught by highly qualified native speakers, who

are capable of creating a friendly learning environment.

Students are encouraged and expected to participate

actively in various academic and cultural activities.

- The Center also organizes weekly extra-curricular activities

including guided tours every Saturday to historical and

cultural sites in Jordan such as Petra, Jarash, the Dead Sea,

the Baptism site, Wadi Rum and many more.

- Other extra-curricular activities include: open days,

receptions, breakfast gatherings, field visits, guest

speakers, workshops, and graduation ceremonies.

- Classes at UJLC are small to meet individual needs.

- All classrooms are equipped with projectors, dish operated

TVs, and high quality audio systems.

- Students may enjoy inexpensive meals or sandwiches at the

UJ restaurant or cafeterias.

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- Spoken Jordanian is the closest to Modern Standard Arabic

(MSA) hence, students will learn and use both with ease.

- Students can be exempted from paying the residency

extension fees.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

LEVEL ONE

This level is designed for students with no prior knowledge of

Modern Standard Arabic. It will introduce the students to the

fundamentals of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and to the

culture of the Arab World. Students learn the 28 basic letters of

the Arabic alphabet.

Students will also learn the sound system, the writing system,

elementary grammar, vocabulary items, and language

constructions. The course also involves regular use of audio-

visual materials in Arabic. By the end of the course students will

be able to read and write using Arabic script. You will also learn

the correct pronunciation, learn to distinguish different sounds

in the language and verbally

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communicate on a basic level.

Students at this level have no real or minimum language skills

functionality. At this level, students will learn the basic

interactions. They will be able to give their identity, say

greetings, ask and answer basic questions, use vocabularies

they learn in real-life conversations.

Pronunciation at this level is carefully taught and correct

pronunciation is highly stressed as a tool to build confidence

and better speaking skills. They will be able to write words and

short sentences as part of dictation and from memory.

Students will also learn to connect speaking with writing.

Combining the two will ensure better speaking and writing skills

at this early stage. Writers at this level will be able to write short

and simple paragraphs about themselves, family, friends, and

the weather among other topics.

Topics covered in level one that fully integrate the four skills

include: Countries, Continents, Jordanian cities, Directions,

Seasons, Months, Days of the Week, Topography (river,

mountain, valley…), Geometric shapes (pyramid, circle…),

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Colors, Animals and birds, Plants (vegetable and fruits), Clothes,

The Human Body, Family, Transportation, Parts of a House,

Kitchenware, Drinks, Furniture, Office equipment, Numbers,

Calculation (+, -,=), Parts of a City, City facilities, Jobs/

employment, Verbs (past, present, imperative), Pronouns,

Grammatical gender, Singular and plural (masculine plural,

feminine plural, broken plural), Demonstrative pronouns,

Possessive pronouns, Nationalities, Adverbs (after, before,

under…), Adjectives, Using the dictionary, Sentence structure

and usage.

Students attend two hours of listening weekly in the linguistic

lab in addition to reading and writing (16 hours weekly) and

four hours of spoken Arabic weekly.

LEVEL TWO

This level is a continuation of elementary Arabic (level one). In

this class students will continue to work on both Standard

Arabic and Spoken Arabic (Levantine). The overall goal of this

course is for students to speak, read and write Arabic and

improve your listening skill. This class will continue introducing

students to the basic structures of both types of Arabic, to

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expand their vocabulary in key areas and use the vocabulary

they study to form sentences and describe what is happening

to you or around them. Specific functions to achieve include the

ability to: write and construct correct Arabic sentences, talk

with ease about yourself, food, hobbies, studies, likes and

dislikes, initiate conversations and understand what others say

when they speak at a normal pace using words and

constructions students have learned. They will also learn a

number of social formulae that will allow you to interact in a

more Arab- like manner. Culture will be an integral part of this

level and students will learn about Arab culture and habits as

they advance in the book.

Topics covered in level one that fully integrate the four skills

include: extended greetings and civilities, finding an apartment,

extending residency, touring downtown, at the restaurant, at

the doctor’s, at the mall, at the bank, at the library, a trip to a

Jordanian city, visiting a friend, broken plurals, demonstrative

pronouns, interrogative pronouns, negation, relative pronouns

and prepositions.




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LEVEL THREE

In this level students will be able to read Arabic texts,

understand them and express their general ideas. They will also

construct cohesively correct sentences describing items or

talking about different subjects, to actively employ

vocabularies in daily life. Speaking and reading are stressed

more in this level and a combination of standard Arabic and

spoken Arabic will boost students’ self-confidence and use of

the language. Culture topics molded in daily life situations

continue to be an integral part of this level. Students are

introduced to simple short stories and articles introducing new

literary genres serving the language skills taught at this level.

Such topics include: spending time, sports, reading a

newspaper, visiting places, writing about favorite topics,

listening to popular TV shows, introducing media items in

addition to group speaking sessions.




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LEVEL FOUR

Students at level are able to handle a variety of communicative

tasks. They are able to participate in most informal and formal

conversations on topics related to media, newspapers, school,

home, and leisure activities. They may also

speak about some topics such as: Employment, current events,

resources in the Arab world, democracy in Jordan, Arab

authors, education in Jordan, in addition to matters of public

and community interests.

Listening is in class and at the language lab is stressed in this

level. Learners using pre-learned vocabularies and structures

will be able to summarize and rephrase listening tasks. They will

also develop their silent reading skills and pinpoint main ideas

in texts written or recorded.

Introducing current events is a key component in this level.

Students will be able to read and analyze newspaper articles

through developing their media and journalism vocabulary and

constructions. As a result, and with ease, students will be able

to move smoothly between ideas and concepts. Language

components introduced include: verbal and nominal sentences,

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demonstrative pronouns, use verb conjugations properly to

serve speaking and written assignments.




LEVEL FIVE

Students at this level are able to handle with ease and

confidence a large number of communicative

tasks. They participate actively in most informal and formal

exchanges on a variety of concrete topics. Skills at this level

tend to

be combined and interwoven in order to relate relevant and

supporting facts in connected, paragraph-length discourse.

They can also understand communicative and descriptive texts.

These texts reflect and use the linguistic competence students

achieved so far and present the learner with the necessary tools

to identify the rich and diverse Arabic culture in which Arabic is

used. This level also builds and enhances students’ language

intuition. Students can predict the meaning of new words and

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string from context and perform linguistic task with substantial

flow.

Students at this level will use the four skills in a consistent and

coordinated way to use the language with more confidence and

produce well organized texts and thoughts.

Topics in this level include but are not limited to: Arabic society,

media, current events, debates, expressive writing, translation

and journalism.




LEVEL SIX

Students at level six perform all advanced-level tasks with

linguistic ease, confidence, and competence. They are

consistently able to explain in detail and narrate fully and

accurately in all time frames. In addition, they can provide a

structured argument to support their opinions.

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This level boosts students’ rhetoric through introducing

different literary texts. Students will enjoy in full frame the

beauty of the Arabic language. They will also analyze news

items and discuss with ease current and urgent events. This

level also introduces the students to famous and prominent

Arabic writers.

They can write summaries and reports of a factual nature. They

can also write extensively about topics relating to particular

interests and special areas of competence.

All four skills are integrated to enable the students to use the

language with confidence and ease. Critical thinking, speaking

and writing are of great importance at this level.




LEVEL SEVEN

In level seven, students can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics. They can also understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and

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recognize implicit meaning. They Analytical thinking is stressed at this level as students use the language skills they have developed to forge useful discussions about different topics.

They will also develop and use their writing skills in different genres. They will be asked to present reports, articles and essays on a wide array of topics. Students will also develop their media skills tools and will learn how to critically talk about and respond to a wide range of media reports. Functional syntax will be used and will serve the aforementioned skills and goals. Compiled and authentic teaching materials will be used at this level.




LEVEL EIGHT

In this high advanced level, students are expected to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular

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interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. They can also produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue. They can give extended warnings, suggestions, recommendations or advice. For example: give a detailed suggestion on how to solve a problem. They are able to write about a variety of topics with notable precision and detail. Students are expected to understand conventional narrative and descriptive texts, such as expanded descriptions of persons, places, and things, and narrations about past, present, and future events. The speech is predominantly in familiar target-language patterns. Listeners understand the main facts and many supporting details. Field visits, debates and guest speakers will serve the aforementioned skills and goals. Compiled and authentic teaching materials will be used at this level. Students attend two hours of listening weekly in the linguistic



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LEVEL NINE

In level nine, students can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions and can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, professional purposes and topics of community, national, or international interest making use of the Standard Spoken Arabic combination. They can also can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. They are consistently able to explain in detail and narrate fully and accurately in all time frames. In addition, they can handle the tasks pertaining to the advanced level across a variety of topics. They can provide a structured argument to support their opinions, and they may construct hypotheses as well. Students bat this stage simply can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. They can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation and express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

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Students can write about a variety of topics with significant precision and detail. They can handle informal and formal correspondence according to appropriate conventions. They can write summaries and reports of a factual nature. They can also write extensively about topics relating to particular interests and special areas of competence. Compiled and authentic teaching materials will be used at this level.




ASOL DIPLOMA

The Language Center at The University of Jordan is offering

“Teaching Arabic for Speakers of Other Languages” diploma

program to UJ students and individuals and groups from the

community at large.

The program aims at preparing and graduating its students to

be highly qualified professionals knowledgeable in the theories

and applications, ins and outs of the ASOL program.

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The diploma is a one-year program consisting of 8 courses (24

credit hours) in addition to the on-the-job training component.

More info and the study plan can be found on our website.

Teacher Training

Methods of Teaching ASOL

UJLC offers two teacher training programs: One is a long term

program of 120 training hours offered upon request, and

another of 40 training hours is offered every semester.

The two programs aim at providing the necessary tools to

prepare the trainees to become qualified Arabic instructors.

The two programs focus on the application side of

training making use of the expertise present at the UJLC.

Inquiries about this training program are welcome

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Weekly Trips

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UJLC organizes weekend trips to Jordan’s historical and

recreational sites to all of its students. These trips support the

academic view of the program and present the students with a

full view of the language and the country.

Creative Writing Award

Each year, the Language Center hosts the Creative Writing

Award (CWA) in Arabic and English. This contest aims at

discovering new talents and at presenting them to the

community. UJLC has a solid belief that the UJ body is full of

potential and creativity. The CWA honors talented students in

fields of poetry, short story, play, thought and acting.

Clubs

The Language Center also organizes clubs with the aim of

deepening cultural diversity and awareness. These clubs relate

to many topics and go in conjunction with the Arabic program’s

philosophy. These clubs include: Folkloric dancing,

conversation club, sports club, movies and many more.

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The Language Partner program (LPP)

Language partners are the perfect opportunity to practice

Arabic outside the classroom. Students will not only enjoy

practicing Arabic with peer UJ students but will also forge

valuable friendships that last beyond classrooms and borders.

The Language Partner program’s (LPP) main philosophy is for

students to exchange languages and experiences in less formal

settings.

GENERAL INFO

Amman is the capital and most populous city of Jordan and the

country's economic, political and cultural center. Situated in

north-central Jordan, Amman is the administrative and

economical center of the country. It has an estimated

population of 4,000,000 people.

Today, Amman is considered to be among the most liberal and

westernized Arab cities. It is a major tourist destination in the

region among Arab and foreign tourists.

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Amman's position on the mountains near the Mediterranean

climate zone places it under the semi-arid climate classification.

Summers are mildly hot and breezy; however, one or two heat

waves may occur during the summer. Spring is brief and warm,

where high temperatures reach 28 °C (82 °F). Spring usually

starts between April and May and last about a month. Around

the end of November is the period in which winter usually starts

and continues till March. Temperatures are usually around 17

°C (63 °F).

The city has several bus connections to other cities in Jordan,

as well as to major cities in neighboring countries. The city is

also served by service taxis. Internal transport is served by a

number of bus routes and taxis. Service taxis, which most often

operate on fixed routes, are readily available and inexpensive.

The two main bus and taxi stations are the North Station

connecting Amman with other Jordanian cities and the

Raghadan Central Bus Station near the Roman Amphitheatre in

the city center. Taxis are the most common way to get around

in Amman due to their high availability and inexpensive Fares.

Taxis use meters and the starting fare on the meter is JD 0.25

(around USD 0.35).

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UJ

Founded in 1962, the University of Jordan (UJ) is the oldest and

most prestigious university in Jordan. The university is

internationally recognized for its global outlook, progressive

thinking, and the diverse background of its students. UJ thrives

as both an instructional institution and as a research institution.

This academic excellence is evident in the classrooms of the

more than 1086 faculty members who deliver quality education

to more than 40,000 students each year.

UJ is an excellent choice for students interested in taking Arabic

Language courses, as well as courses instructed in English.

Campus life at UJ is rich and plentiful, and students will feel

right at home on UJ's sprawling campus. Students can spend

their time studying in the library, catching up with friends at a

coffee kiosk, or attending one of UJ's numerous educational

events- for there is never a dull day at UJ! The university has

strong ties to the local community, and greatly encourages

student involvement in service projects.

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If you have any questions or inquiries, please

do not hesitate to contact us.

www.ujlc.ju.edu.jo

Language Center

The University of Jordan

Amman 11942, Jordan

Email: [email protected]

Tel. : 00962 6 53 55 000, extension: 23709,

23701, 23704

Fax: (00962 6) 53 00 255

http://www.ujlc.ju.edu.jo/

mailto:[email protected]

Education

LEARN ARABIC NOW AT UJLC