1. -
[Qasid: 1. a way that is smooth and direct;
.
travel that is straight, easy, pleasant;
2. an individual who strives forward
with a particular intention.]
THE QASID INSTITUTE
2006-2007
C L A S S I C A L A R A B I C F O R T H E M O D E R N AG E
A M M A N, J O R DA N

2. “I went to Qasid seeking something very specific—private tutorials in speaking and reading
classical Arabic. The entre experience exceeded my every expectation
— R. DAVID COOLIDGE, GRADUATE STUDENT, DEPT. OF RELIGION, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
(Private study in Classical Texts and Speaking Skills)
A Unique
Institute
THE WORD qasid is used to describe a way and a medley of colorful flowers, the villa’s
that is direct and smooth, and this is the way we classrooms overlook one of the many famed
believe the Arabic language should be taught. gorges of this ancient city.
The Qasid Institute has quietly developed a
reputation as the leading private institute in Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access for
the Middle East for Arabic language learning. students, spacious study and lounge rooms, a
A comprehensive curriculum taught over five modest outdoor canopy that affords shade on a
distinct levels takes a student from the proper sunny day, and the sound of sheep being herded
pronunciation of letters to a level of mastery: to and fro—these contrasts of old and new,
Graduating students who have applied East and West, pastoral and wired-in, offer a
themselves will find understanding an all- promising backdrop to a rich and rewarding
Arabic university course to be within reach, educational experience for students selected
and translating general texts to be manageable. to enroll in the program.
Our graduate-level modules prepare advanced
students to teach Arabic, research in a variety
“From over 30 years of experience in Jordan,
of disciplines, deliver lectures, and work
I have found that the Qasid Institute in Amman
comfortably in all-Arabic professional,
is probably the most qualified and professional
academic, or NGO-related environments.
language institute in Jordan teaching Arabic
The term qasid is also used to describe an to foreign students, scholars or professionals.
individual who strives forward with a direct, The quality of its core program at all levels; the
specific intention, and is a dictionary-perfect academic standing of its teachers and lecturers;
definition for the kind of student that Qasid and, the care and support the Institute staff
attracts. Designed mainly for university-level devote to their students—certainly to the
students and time-starved professionals, Qasid Commission’s Fulbright grantees—are, by far,
students include consulate officers, young without comparison. Evaluations from current
professionals, Fulbright researchers, full-time and previous Fulbright students attest to the
mothers, medical doctors, FLAS recipients, intensity of the study program and the significant
and Ivy League graduates, and hail from nearly improvement in their Arabic language proficiency.”
two dozen countries, including the United Alain McNamara
States, Britain, Canada, Malaysia, Australia, Executive Director, The Fulbright Program
Indonesia, Sweden, Finland, South Africa, (Jordanian-American Commission for Educational
Pakistan, India, and Ireland. Exchange (JACEE)
The Institute is spaciously housed in an
oversized villa in the peaceful residential
neighborhood of Kharabsheh, West Amman.
Dotted along its perimeter by a scenic garden
of apple blossom, olive, and tangerine trees

3. “I have studied elsewhere in the Middle East and through the university setting,
and by far, my most positive experience was with Qasid”
—AMINAH MUSA, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY SCIENCE, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (Level 4)
Theory
& Methodology
Experienced instructors have commented sacrificing detail. Proficiency is taught
that English-speaking students studying through a methodical combination of
Arabic on their own tend to overdo grammar reading, listening, writing, and conversation
and leave conversational, listening, and exercises. Our instructors have several
writing skills underdeveloped, resulting in decades of experience teaching Arabic to non-
large gaps in language acquisition; after years native speakers, and will work with students
of study, a student may know the intricacies to fill the embarrassing gaps that remain in
of i’rab (grammatical inflection), but not have their language acquisition.
enough practiced vocabulary to read a simple
novel or converse comfortably for more than
a few minutes.
The Qasid Institute’s methodology rejects this
one-dimensional approach, and through our
relatively unique “Sciences/Skills Department
Split” emphasizes well-roundedness without

4. “I’ve never been a part of a learning program that was so unified and true in its vision…the most inspiring
and humble teachers I have ever known … it is because of Qasid that I want to put Arabic at the forefront
of my studies for the rest of my life”
—SARAH RASHID, COMPARATIVE LITERATURE, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (Level 4)
An Innovative
Approach
One of the unique features of Qasid’s method- As a result, we split our program into two
ology is our sciences/skills department split. departments, devoting half of the core
There is an ongoing debate at institutes that program’s class hours to pure Arabic applica-
asks, “Which is better—to learn by being tion with one of Qasid’s native-Arab instruc-
thrown into the target language—cold, or to tors, and the remaining half with one of our
speed the process by learning in one’s own native English-speaking grammar specialists.
primary language?” Because of this clarity of focus and division-
of-labor, courses move along at a brisk pace,
Here, we’ve blended the best of both making it possible to make significant strides
approaches after making a somewhat obvious in a short period of time.
observation: Some aspects of Arabic, such
as grammar, morphology, and rhetoric are
conceptual and therefore deal primarily with
understanding. Other aspects, such as listening,
reading, writing, and speaking, are practical
and involve application.

5. “Qasid’s approach blends two worlds, providing a curriculum for non-native students and then graduating
those students to the level at which they can independently access classical texts. In this way I feel Qasid
is at the forefront of Arabic language instruction …”
—AIYUB PALMER, M.A. EDUCATION, CAL STATE FULLERTON (Level 5)
Sciences
Department
Grammar, morphology, and rhetoric are
foundational for an accurate understanding
of texts both basic and complex that form the
“Islamic Canon,” principally and foremost
among them the Qur’an itself. Depending on
a student’s level, s/he will be exposed to an
application-intensive treatment of classical
texts such as the well-known Ajurrumiyya, the
Azhariyya, and others. An in-depth treatment
of rhetoric is under-taken in Level 4. Level 5
students and beyond will be exposed to sever-
al graduate-level modules whose grammatical
subtleties would prove formidable to many
native-born Arabs.
Skills
Department
One of the infirmities of the grammar-only
approach taken by some is the lack of practice
with the core skills that are, in many respects,
the “true” benchmarks of a student’s profi-
ciency in a language: listening, reading, writ- “The resources and opportunities available to
ing, and speaking. By splitting skills from students in Qasid are unique and unparalleled.
sciences, and insuring that each class rarely The school is a hub of intellectual curiosity, integrity,
exceeds six to eight, students have no place to and perseverance which is unmatched elsewhere in
“run and hide” when it comes time to practice the Middle East. Qasid’s inimitability lies in its
what they’ve learned conceptually through the straightforward but comprehensive approach to
sciences department. Through creative exer- teaching Arabic. With a sincere and dedicated staff,
cises that are sometimes light-hearted but vibrant and supportive community, knowledgeable
always rigorous, students begin to achieve and committed student body, Qasid ranks vastly
comfort in applying what they know—a criti- superior and well ahead of its competitors in all
cal step towards achieving linguistic mobility. respects. There is simply no other institution that is
Application texts here include media selec- able to combine so many different elements into
tions and classical and modern literature teaching Arabic so enjoyably and effectively.”
across numerous genres. Danny Kalash,
University of Michigan

6. “I am in awe of this program”
—AMER HAMID, MICROSOFT CORPORATION, PROGRAM MANAGER (Level 5)
“I would highly recommend the program”
—RAHEELA MANIAR, PH.D. CANDIDATE, UCLA (Level 5)
A Well-Crafted
Curriculum
Core Program Advanced Modules
Qasid’s core curriculum is comprised of Students who have achieved intermediate-
an unprecedented 900 hours of teaching advanced fluency through our Core Program
instruction, divided into five levels of 180 hours and want to continue a deep exploration of the
each. The first four levels are foundational language, learn how to teach Arabic, or focus
in that they focus on “linguistic mobility”, on using their language skills to unlock, review,
i.e. equipping a student with the necessary and translate texts will find a home at Qasid.
skills in grammar, morphology, and rhetoric Advanced modules are numerous; among the
(nahw, sarf, and balagha), and to excel in the most popular are Islamic history, Teaching
reading, understanding, analysis, translation, Arabic Grammar and Morphology to non-Native
and interpretation of texts; there is a similar Speakers, and Advanced Classical Texts. In
focus on skills development of the “Classic 4” addition, Qasid has provided advanced training
(listening, reading, speaking, writing), neces- to many graduate students and professors
sary for high-intermediate fluency in functional seeking to hone their language or research
Arabic. skills, or require support for complex research
projects. Our full and part-time faculty members
Level 5 represents a unique milestone in the include some of the top scholars in the imme-
student’s Arabic development—a transition diate region in Islamic and Middle Eastern
from learning the language to using it as a tool Studies.
to access both classical and contemporary texts.
The Level 5 syllabus is comprised of rotating
special studies modules focusing on both
classical and academic subject matter. Among
University Credit
these mini-modules (usually each two-weeks Qasid students have received both funding and
in length) taught in the past are Tafsir , Poetry credit from numerous universities, including
(pre-Islamic and classical), Psychology, Literary Yale, Cambridge, Princeton, University of
Criticism, Islamic History, Sociology, Prophetic Pennsylvania, Duke, the University of Chicago,
History, Speech Presentation ( Khutba ), and University of Michigan, and UCLA. At the end of
Terminology of Sacred Law and Hadith. The a student’s tenure, official transcripts are sent
books are identical to those used by native-Arab to the respective departments to be used for
university students at Aal-al-Bayt University, itself credit, funding, or placement.
evidence of the advanced level reached by Qasid
students who graduate from our Core Program. In addition to our unique curriculum, standard
university coursework (such as the al-Kitaab
series) is readily taught through special
modules. Students returning to their universities
consistently score high on challenge/placement
exams.

7. “The incorporation of religious texts and the rigorous study of classical works
were highlights of my experience”
—SULMA BADRUDDUJA, M.A. CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY (Level 5)
• ‘Ijaza in Qur’an
Supplementary All our recitation teachers have a chain of
Classes transmission back to the Prophet himself
(God bless him and give him peace).
Even the most diligent of students will • ‘Amiya
get exhausted if intense learning is not Local Jordanian dialect-based conversation
complimented by something light. For this course—with bi-monthly local trips to the
reason, we offer to students elective courses hospital, park, University, etc.
to help instill and nurture a sense of Arab and
Islamic culture, history, and civilization. • Oral Skills
Among the elective courses that have been Conversation, Tajwid , Reading Unvowelled
offered in the past are: Script
• Modern Literary Arabic • Calligraphy
• Newspaper Fluency • Arabic in the Qur’an
• Al-Kitaab Intensive Courses
For detailed information about our academic schedule, application process and deadlines,
private tutoring, or corporate/group arrangements, kindly contact us at info@qasid.com
or visit us at www.qasid.com

8. “Qasid is the best program for classical Arabic anywhere. It is in a class by itself”
—DR. JOSEPH LUMBARD, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CLASSICAL ISLAM, BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
(Private study in Advanced Grammar)
The Qasid Team
book on questions pertaining to Sacred paper columnist, he is at home with
Administration Law is currently being prepared for
publication.
both the written and spoken word. His
entrepreneurial interests have led him
One complaint from students to share a founding role in a half-dozen
Osama Alshurafa companies, including Andalusian Arts,
studying at Arabic institutes in
Osama graduated from California State Website.com, Aqeel Consulting, and
the Middle East is that differen- University, Long Beach, with a double Qasid, where he presently serves as a
ces in professional expecta- major in Biomedical and Electrical member of the Board.
tions and cultural assumptions Engineering. He began his professional
career as a circuit design engineer at Sohail Nakhooda
sometimes lead to misunders- Boeing Satellite Systems in El Segundo, Studied Government at the London
tandings. Unless an adminis- and later worked at AxiomTek Technolo- School of Economics and Christian
tration knows how to handle gies and Newport Electronics. At the Theology at the Angelicum, Vatican,
latter two, Osama switched his and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in
such difficulties with grace, focus from design to training and Theological and Philosophical Herme-
the impact on a student’s sales. Charismatic and well-spoken, neutics. He has a parallel expertise in
education—and entire stay in he represented AxiomTek at numerous graphic design, having placed as a
tradeshows and was responsible for final-ist in the 2002 British Book Design
a place far from home—can be
training all of its new sales engineers. and Production Awards. Sohail was one
irreparably marred. He was promoted to overseeing the of the co-founders of Islamica Magazine
entire Mid-West region of the US, in his student days at LSE, and played a
Our administration includes Mexico, and Florida. Osama came to critical role in reviving the magazine in
professionals who hail from the Amman in 2006, and presently serves its present-day format. He currently
London School of Economics, as Qasid’s General Manager. serves as its Editor-in-Chief, and is a
member of Qasid’s Board of Directors.
Columbia University, and Ehab Notarangelo
Harvard Law School. They Brings with him nearly a decade of
teaching and administrative experience
bring their experience at these
institutions to Qasid’s class-
from both the International British
Institute and the prestigious al-Bashayer
Faculty
rooms. Each student is School in Cairo. At the latter he worked
An “experienced teacher”
closely with a team of American and
considered a vital member of means different things to dif-
Egyptian teachers, and spearheaded
an Arabic-learning community, a number of key projects at the school. ferent people, but at Qasid it
and is treated accordingly. He traveled around the world before means one thing: uncompro-
settling with his family in Amman some
Ashraf Muneeb - Director years ago, where in addition to his work mising excellence. Nearly all
After completing his studies at Cairo as a member of Qasid’s Board of Direc- of our instructors have either
University and AUC, he went on to tors, is in the process of publishing a completed or are on track
serve as Project Director for private short memoir.
to complete an advanced
engineering firms in Cairo, where he
managed multi-million dollar contracts Mohamed Marei graduate degree, and full-time
involving projects with Bechtel. He took Graduated with high honors in Philoso- instructors go through a
a brief hiatus from his management phy from UCLA and received a Juris
rigorous training module.
roles when he headed to Syria, where he Doctorate from Harvard Law School;
excelled at Fath Academy. He returned to worked briefly as a strategy consultant Learning a new language
the world of management with a short for the Boston Consulting Group before requires an environment that
consulting project with Qasid, and was being awarded a Fulbright fellowship to is hospitable, safe, and encoura-
consequently asked to take the helm. research trade relations between Jordan
Along with his wife, Hedaya Hartford, and the US. A National Champion in ging, and the expertise of a par-
he has published a legal forms booklet; a Speech & Debate and a published news- ticular teacher is shown more

9. “… absolutely the best language-instructor I've ever come across”
—ATIF KHAN, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL, MORGAN STANLEY (Level 1)
vividly when responding to a entrance exam. He is a solid researcher exercise workbooks used by interme-
with an uncanny ability to access, anal- diate and advanced students in the
struggling student with cross-
yze, and summarize classical texts, Sciences Department.
cultural sensitivity, patience and serving as a manuscript consultant
creativity, than when discussing to numerous publishing houses and Mohamed Abu Shu‘la
the finer points of grammar. private institutes in the Middle East. Before coming to Qasid, Ustadh
Thoroughly grounded in both tradi- Mohamed earned his advanced degree
Fortunately, our instructors are tional Islamic scholarship and modern at Aal al-Bayt in Classical Legal Theory,
adept at both. teaching methods, he provides the and several certificates in education,
“capstone” experience for students at curriculum development, and teach-
Faisal Matadar - Director of Academics the highest skills levels of Qasid’s core ing Arabic as a foreign language. His
Studied Religion at the George program, taking them through modules experience teaching at various academic
Washington University. After develop- that include Literary Criticism, Tafsir, levels—university, high school, and
ing an early love of languages through Poetry, Sociology, and Terminology of elementary school—has made him
formal studies of both Latin and Sacred Law and Hadith. U. Ahmed is especially adept at relating to students
Spanish, Ustadh Faisal went on to equally at home with Qasid’s mid-level of diverse abilities and backgrounds.
devote his energies to the Arabic lan- students, where his charismatic lecture U. Mohamed’s interdisciplinary back-
guage, studying under scholars from al- style has made him an institute favorite. ground and wide-reading in philosophy,
Azhar University. He went on to serve as art, religion, and cultural studies makes
a Lecturer in Arabic at George Washing- Sohail Hanif his class discussions particularly lively.
ton, as well as teaching private classes After graduating from Imperial College At Qasid, he spends most of his teaching
at Georgetown, Howard University, and in London, Ustadh Sohail moved to hours with Level 3 and 4 students—
other venues in the Washington area. Amman to continue his in-depth study those transitioning from intermediate
His studies in Arabic and the Islamic of the traditional Islamic sciences, with to advanced proficiency.
sciences have taken him throughout the a particular focus on grammar and
morphology. Over the years, he earned a Amir al-Shaikh
Middle East, including Mauritania, the
reputation as the top student of Shaykh Ustadh Amir brings to Qasid nearly a
Emirates, and Egypt. He presently serves
Ali Hani, considered to be a veritable decade of experience teaching Arabic
as Qasid’s Director of Academics and
scholar of classical Arabic. U. Sohail and Islamic studies. Fluent in five lan-
teaches in both the Sciences and Skills
has studied the traditional grammar guages, he has earned a diploma from
departments.
texts, including Qatr al-Nada, and major the University of Jordan in Teaching
Khaled Abu Amsha sections of Shudhur al-Dhahab, and Arabic to Non-Native Speakers. He has
International Islamic Univeristy, the Mutammima. He has developed also been awarded a formal certificate
Malaysia, M.A. in Teaching Arabic to countless techniques for bringing in Qur’anic recitation from the Amman
Non-Native Speakers. He has nearly a to life critically important medieval branch of the Muslim World League.
decade of experience teaching Arabic in grammar texts such as the Ajurrumiyya U. Amir spends his days at Qasid doing
Malaysia, Saudia Arabia, and Jordan. and the Azhariyya using modern tea- triple-duty—teaching the core classes
Ustadh Khalid served as the editor of the ching methods. U. Sohail was one of as well as two supple-mentary modules,
Arabic section of IIUM’s post-graduate the pioneers of the Surah Yusuf Project conversation skills and Qur’anic
journal before returning to Amman, in Qasid’s Level 2 Sciences course. recitation. His second-degree black-belt
where he was rated by students as the is appropriately contrasted by his love
top Arabic instructor at the University of Faraz Khan of poetry, having both written and
Jordan’s Language Institute. He has lead After graduating with honors from performed a number of short pieces.
numerous teacher-training seminars, the University of Texas, Austin and
and is an author of several articles about graduate work in the sciences, Ustadh Nidal Abu Saninah
second-language acquisition. U. Khaled Faraz came to Qasid to focus on gram- Ustadh Nidal Abu Saninah is one of
has a particular gift teaching Qasid’s mar and morphology. A stand-out the leading vocal artists in Jordan. After
beginning-level students, helping them student, he went on to be the top earning traditional authorizations in the
develop a strong foundation and con- graduate of his class, thereafter earning art of Qur’anic recitation, religious
fidence in their ability to learn. His M.A. an teaching assistantship offer. He odes, and chorale meter, he devoted over
dissertation focused on the methods excelled as a teacher as he did as a a decade to teaching the vocal sciences.
of teaching Arabic in historic Andalusia student, and was promoted to a full He has performed over 100 times on the
and their significance for present-day teaching position. U. Faraz is a naturally popular Hayat FM radio station, and
instructors. gifted instructor with a knack for won a number of recitation and vocal
simplifying difficult concepts. He has competitions throughout Jordan. He
Ahmed Snobar developed several of Qasid’s supple- currently teaches the duff (frame drum
University of Jordan, M.A. in Hadith mentary modules, and is one of the key that is popular in the Middle East),
Sciences. Ustadh Ahmad graduated first members of curriculum development. traditional chant, and Qur’anic
in his class in the Master’s program, and Along with U. Sohail and U. Faisal, U. recitation.
placed second in the nation for the Ph.D. Faraz is responsible for the practical

10. “The mix of students, the background of the teachers and the Islamic surroundings, made Qasid ideal …”
—FAISAL KHAN, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, BAKER & MCKENZIE (Level 2)
An Ideal
Location
Many scholars of Arabic have noted that often-helpful crutch—just in case words from a
the Jordanian dialect is among the closest to particular lesson slip their minds. Jordan has a
Classical Arabic ( fusha ), making Amman rich Arab and Islamic heritage, and the natural
an ideal setting for learning—or perfecting— hospitality of the Jordanian people will be the
one’s Arabic. Language learning requires source of many endearing memories.
practice, and lots of it. For this reason, regard-
less of how many years of formal study a student The Institute itself is within walking distance of
has had, a several-month immersion in an Sheikh Nuh Keller’s Shadhili Zawiya and a brisk
Arabic-rich setting is critical for intermediate/ stroll away from Masjid al-Nur. Other sciences
advanced mastery of the language. are taught privately by bilingual and Arab-
speaking scholars and students in the neighbor-
At the same time, English is the second language hood, together creating a learning and living
of choice for many residents of Amman, environment that is among the best in the world
meaning that in dealings with cab drivers, for those interested in the traditional sciences.
shopkeepers, and others, beginners have an

11. “I strongly recommend Qasid to any who share my desire for immersion …
and pursuit of top-notch Arabic instruction”
—ZAAKIR YOONAS, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (Level 2)
Land of the
Prophets
For those who haven’t had the opportunity
to travel to the Middle East, it is worth noting
that Jordan is considered part of Sham (or “the
Levant”), an area for which the Prophet (God
bless him and give him peace) made special
prayers. Its physical location is also referred
to in the Qur’an as part of the Holy Land, and
those who have walked its valleys and hilltops
are following in the footsteps of the Prophets
(God bless them and give them peace).
We provide to each incoming student a visually
compelling series of informational brochures
that detail Jordan’s historical sites, including
Tracing Islam in Jordan, Destination Jordan, Eco-
Jordan , and the Jordan Visitor’s Guide .
A few of the landmarks that students in the
past have visited:
Wadi Rum (Absolutely stunning landscapes—
ideal for camping; adventurous souls can stay
overnight with local Bedouins deep in the heart Yarmouk (one of the central battles of early
of the desert); Islamic history was fought here);
The Prophet’s Tree (Famous tree near which Ajloun (Site of Salahadin’s famous castle built
the Prophet (God bless him and give him at the time of the Crusaders);
peace) met the monk Bahira and later the monk
Nestor); Cave of the Seven Sleepers (Site of the well-
known Qur’anic and Biblical story);
Tombs and meeting-areas of the Prophets and
the Companions (Among whom are: Harun, Red Sea (Aqaba—coastal city reputed for its
Shu’ayb, Dawud, Sulaiman, Nuh, Lut, Yahya, resort-like setting)
Ayub, Abu Ubaida, Mu’ad Ibn Jabal—Peace and
blessings upon them all);
Petra (The famous “Red-rose city” depicted in
Indiana Jones);

12. “I loved my days there … People are constantly asking about the program”
—HADIA MUBARAK, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY (Level 1)
Facilities
The Institute is spaciously housed in an over-
sized villa in the peaceful residential neighbor-
hood of Kharabsheh, West Amman. Dotted
along its perimeter by a scenic garden of apple
blossom, olive, and tangerine trees and a med-
ley of colorful flowers, the villa’s classrooms
overlook one of the many famed gorges of this
ancient city.
The Qasid garden provides an ideal place to
relax in between classes or for a quick lunch.
Roof-top access provides a view of far-away
downtown Amman from one side, and of the
aforementioned valley-gorge from the other.
Inside, nearly 500 square meters of classrooms,
staff workspace, and gathering quarters deco-
rated with Egyptian woollen kilims and an
abundance of vibrant plants create a comfort-
able academic atmosphere. There are separate
study/relaxing rooms for both men and
women, Wi-Fi internet access, and a small
kitchenette that serves as a drop-off point for
lunch delivery. Our library boasts hundreds of
classical Arabic texts, as well as a number of
English-based titles on Arabic language acqui-
sition. Classes are conducted in classrooms
each bearing the name of one of the histori-
cally-significant centers of learning in Islamic
history (Cairo, Istanbul, Baghdad, Damascus,
etc.); custom-made wood tables are U and L-
shaped ideal for discussion.

13. “Excellent on every count”
—AHMED KHANANI, PH.D. CANDIDATE, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (Level 1)
Food
& Housing
During the session, lunch is delivered to
Qasid on all teaching days. Students place
their orders in the morning with our Office
Manager, and pick it up from our in-house
kitchenette at the specified time for lunch.
Food selection is rich, and the menu includes
both local diet (rotisserie chicken & rice,
shawarma, shish tawook, and a great deal
more) and (occasionally) ethnic variety (Thai,
Chinese, American, Pakistani) for those who
miss home. A handful of the western families
in the neighborhood cater health-conscious
meals, which are sometimes included in the
menu rotation. Students can enjoy their lunch
meal on the rooftop overlooking the gorge, in
the midst of olive trees and flowers in our gar-
den, or under the shade of the canopy-gazebo.
Times for breakfast and dinner normally fall
outside the open-hours of the Institute; dur- Large apartments with 3–5 single, private
ing orientation, staff share recommendations rooms (ideal for single students);
of what is available through supermarket
shopping, catering, and nearby restaurants. Sharing with current US/UK/Canadian resi-
dents of Kharabsheh (a second option for sin-
With respect to housing, the Qasid staff will gle students)
find suitable housing based on the stated
preferences indicated by each student on For full details about estimated costs of hous-
his/her admission application. Housing is ing, food, and miscellaneous living expenses,
normally within walking distance of Qasid or please inquire at info@qasidonline.com
within a 3–5 minute cab ride. Among the
options available:
Private apartments (ideal for couples or small
groups travelling together)

14. “… concern for each and every student, and a nurturing atmosphere … I am convinced that Qasid's love and
reverence for the Arabic language combined with the excellence, humility, and sincerity of the teachers and
staff provides … the perfect environment”
—SADAF SHAUKAT, M.A. CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR (Level 5)
Health
& Safety
Many Middle Eastern countries are undergoing cy requirements in the US/UK/Canada, so most
seismic changes that are political, economic, are bilingual. Equipment is first-rate, and care
and social in nature. Despite recent headlines, is provided at a fraction of the cost. Those with
Jordan has largely been shielded from these children should rest assured that hospitals and
upheavals, and Amman, the capital city where child care is on the whole excellent; a list of
Qasid is located, has experienced a great deal pediatricians and other specialists is provided
of growth. It is large enough to offer most of during orientation. Almost all of the ubiqui-
the creature-comforts that students from the tously-used prescription drugs or a generic
West take for granted, but small enough to alternative are available in Amman, though we
remain manageable and safe. A beginning recommend that admitted students bring any
student will find the overall environment in items that are absolutely crucial to well-being.
Amman to be far more familiar and suitable
for purposes of living and learning than other
major cities in the Middle East.
The West Amman neighborhood of Kharab-
sheh in particular is family-oriented and friend-
ly. Westerners have lived in this neighborhood
for well over a decade, so the sight of students
from abroad is a familiar one.
A bus-ride orientation of Amman helps every-
one get their bearing and locate important
shopping centers without having to wander
off too far from home. ADSL Internet stalls at
Qasid with web-cam capabilities make keeping
in touch easy and inexpensive. Cell phone call-
ing plans are made available upon arrival at
nominal cost to students who are interested,
and optional Internet telephony (for homes
that are equipped for it) provide yet another
means of speaking directly with friends and
loved ones for pennies a minute.
Jordan’s health services are considered to be
among the best in the Middle East; citizens
from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Egypt regularly
come to Jordan for health care. Many of the
country’s doctors completed part their residen-

15. “Qasid was an incredible experience. I have never had better teachers who cared so much about my advancement
in Arabic. The way Arabic grammar is usually taught never worked for me. I never really understood grammar until
I came to Qasid. Qasid’s students, teachers, and methodology taught me more Arabic in less than a year than any
other Arabic course has taught me.”
— URSULA JESSEE, FULBRIGHT FELLOW (Level 4)
Qasid Students
At-a-Glance
Universities represented
Harvard (Undergraduate & Graduate Schools)
Georgetown
Yale
University of Pennsylvania
UC Berkeley
UCLA
Cambridge
London School of Economics
School of Oriental and African Studies
Wharton School of Business
University of Chicago
Princeton
Duke
Employers of past students include
United Nations
Microsoft Corporation
US State Department
Baker & McKenzie (Law firm)
Boston Consulting Group
USAID “The summer I spent at Qasid was the first time
Skadden, Arps (Law firm) I had been in the Middle East, as well as the first
US Marine Corps. time I studied Arabic intensely. Everything I
Islamica Magazine experienced at Qasid made me want to repeat
Morgan Stanley (Investment Banking) both of these experiences … The teachers were
American University of Cairo extremely knowledgeable, energetic and
encouraging, making it both rewarding and fun
Organizations / Groups represented to dedicate much of one’s time to studying a
Royal Court of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan frequently frustrating language. Perhaps most
Fulbright Office (Amman, Jordan) impressive, however, was the individual attention
Indonesian Embassy (Amman, Jordan) I received as a student at Qasid, which seeks to
Australian Embassy (Amman, Jordan) create a unique curriculum for each student …
Qasid is an institution sincerely dedicated to
teaching and instilling a love of Arabic into its
students, and I look forward to returning”
Zack Hill
University of Chicago

16. “When I decided to spend a summer abroad to learn Arabic I considered several programs
throughout the Middle East. After doing research and speaking with friends I identified
Qasid as the place to be. Reflecting back on my experience I can say it was one of the best
decisions of my life. I was in the presence of dedicated students, outstanding faculty, and
a blessed community. This fusion of excellence greatly enhanced my Arabic learning,
enabled me to forge lasting friendships, and has inspired me to continue learning this
beautiful language.” — Amir Memon, Wharton School of Business
QA S I D I N S T I T U T E F O R C L A S S I C A L A R A B I C
P.O. Box 961329, Amman 11196, Jordan
Tel: +962 6 515 4364; Fax: +962 6 515 4352
Email: info@qasid.com; www.qasid.com