It’s now the fastest-growing region for studying abroad in the world
We’re not talking about the popular destinations such as Spain or Italy. We’re talking about Arabic-speaking countries like Egypt and Jordan and local students are joining the trend.
One student of government at Franklin and Marshall College said she feels students are interested in getting their facts straight about that part of the world. To the average person, the Middle East is typically only known through short news reports.
Anna Oltman, a student who studied abroad in Egypt, said, “It was really hard at first. It was a big culture shock and I was very homesick.”
However, the Franklin and Marshall senior describes her semester in Cairo as “incredible” and necessary for a career in politics.
“Not having a concept of where they’re coming from, it was invaluable and I feel really changed by it,” said Oltman.
She had three semesters of Arabic under her belt, but said adjusting to the culture was still challenging.
“It’s not an easy place to be a woman and I think that was a really big adjustment for me,” she said.
Oltman told CBS 21 News that she came home with a much clearer understanding of how people in the Middle East live.
“This country has such an extreme incidence of poverty. People feel really hopeless.”
The number of students looking to better understand Arabic-speaking nations is growing exponentially, according to a 2010 report by the Institute of International Education.
The report shows that from 2002-07 the number of students studying in these countries increased sixfold.
“I think a lot of students are really fed up with the conflict. All students are really interested in getting their facts straight, experiencing culture firsthand,” said Oltman.
Franklin and Marshall said it has had its Arabic language program since 2008 and the program has seen steady growth.
The program is open to Millersville University students and area high school students, as well.