Yale College, Linguistics, Class of 2017, NSLI-Y Program, Summer 2011 and Academic Year 2012-2013 

There is no better place to study Arabic than the CLC. Not only will your command of the Arabic language remarkably improve under the guidance of the most skilled, dedicated, and enthusiastic language teachers I have ever met, but you will also have the benefit of becoming a part of the vibrant and supportive CLC family. The communicative approach used in the language classrooms ensures that students learn and retain new vocabulary and grammatical constructions at the same time as they are gaining a deep understanding of Moroccan society and culture. As an alum of both the summer intensive program and the academic year program, I owe virtually all of my ability in Arabic to the wonderful teachers at the CLC, who prepared me so well for both further Arabic study and continued work in Morocco.

Georgia State University, CLC Arabic Student 2010

Never having been to Morocco and not having studied Arabic in years, I was nervous about studying at the CLC for so long. Those feelings were immediately eased when I met the staff and people I now call friends. They were honest, sincere, and treated me a returning family member. The entire staff took a vested interest in my learning. I never felt alone or abandoned in my work. I am still touched by the kindness and desire of the entire staff to share not only Arabic but also their culture and families. I’ve made relationships that have enhanced my life just as my Arabic. I have a stronger urge to improve my Arabic than ever before and cannot wait to go back to the CLC to help do so.

US Naval Academy

I could never have imagined that I would learn so much Arabic in only five weeks. The intensity with which I was taught Arabic is unparalleled. My beginner class was instructed in, and I spoke, only Modern Standard Arabic; because of this we were able to cover a remarkable seven chapters in the five weeks I was in Morocco. My instructors were the best I’ve ever had in any subject area. Their passion for not only teaching us students Arabic but also for teaching us about their culture is amazing and inspiring. My teachers were more than just that; they became trusted friends, opening up about their lives and families, recommending delicious restaurants, and even fixing my camera when it broke.    My home stay family was awesome.  I had an older sister and two younger brothers as well as a mom and dad; I was also paired with another American student. I learned a bit about how to cook Moroccan-style from my mom and sister, and my siblings helped me with my homework almost every night. I had such great times with them! I will always look back fondly on my memories of Morocco. Based on my experiences with those associated with the CLC, I highly recommend this institution to anyone wishing to learn or improve upon their Arabic language skills.

Jonathan Edwards College, Yale University

There are a myriad of Arabic language programs out there for students looking to learn a year’s worth during their summer – but what makes Arabic instruction at the CLC truly exceptional is not only its unique pedagogical philosophy but even more so the excellent quality and professionalism of the teachers who practice it. I first came to the CLC with one year of university level beginning Arabic and found myself advancing rapidly beyond that as we embarked on Mr. Zoubairi’s whirlwind of an intensive program.

The instructors used a holistic approach to teaching language that not only focuses on building grammatical understanding but also improving confidence in listening and speaking in particular. My teachers served not only as resources in and out of class for the Arabic language, but also for Moroccan religion, culture, and history. They were experienced in the unique challenges of teaching Arabic to Westerners as a second language and were always attentive to our needs, patient, and most of all very encouraging in class – often going to comical lengths to help make sure we understood vocabulary and concepts. The program itself was well-structured, yet open and flexible to the changing needs and critiques of students resulting in an overall highly rigorous yet rewarding experience. Throughout the course of my stay in Marrakech, my teachers became more than just mere educators, but friends and mentors. I am ever-grateful to have had the opportunity to learn at the feet of such dedicated, passionate, and intelligent people.

Head of Business Analysis at AIG Express (Africa Internet Group), HEC Paris MBA Graduate

NSLI-Y Year Program 2012-2013

Saybrook College, Yale University (Class of 2017) / Prospective Political Science or Modern Middle Eastern Studies Major

The Arabic classes I received from my teachers at the CLC were by far the best language instruction I have ever received. All the CLC teachers are up to date on best practices in foreign language education. As a result, class is always both a highly effective environment for learning Arabic as well as an incredibly enjoyable one. The teachers always made class a fun, and found myself making enormous strides in my Arabic without ever feeling overwhelmed because of the excellent support I received. Over the course of my seven months at the CLC, I went from barely knowing the alphabet to writing a research paper in Arabic. Not only did I learn a lot of Arabic, I also learned a lot about Moroccan culture. The CLC does a great job of providing activities and field trips to allow the students to get to know Marrakech better, from an insane city-wide scavenger hunt to historic tours of the city. Additionally, the teachers seamlessly weave discussions of culture into lessons about grammar and vocabulary. Indeed, the discussion-based nature of the class was one of my favorite components; most Arabic programs focus almost exclusively on reading and writing skills, but at the CLC I learned not only to read and write Arabic but also to be able to speak confidently in Fus7a, while also learning a lot about Morocco in the process.

Cornell University '12 / Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

"Several weeks studying Moroccan Arabic with an experienced, kind teacher at the CLC helped me immensely this year with my research. Because the CLC teaches this local dialect in addition to standard Arabic, it gave me the language skills necessary to help solidify friendships with my Moroccan peers. I look forward to taking Modern Standard Arabic there this fall, and to more good times in Morocco, inshallah!"

Yale University 2011

"When I think of my experience studying Modern Standard Arabic at the CLC, the first words that come to mind are professional, methodical, and effective. At the time that I started, my Arabic was at an intermediate level, but dormant after a two year break from my studies. Within one week, I'd recovered my former level, and within two weeks, progressed faster than I did as an undergraduate at Columbia University. This progress can be attributed to the personalization and rigorousness of the lessons, as well as the inspirational motivation of my teacher."

Northwestern University 2014 / Theatre and French

Darija (Moroccan Dialectal Arabic) instruction at the CLC was essential to the success of my research, my communication skills, and my understanding of Moroccan culture. Thanks to the tailored instruction and fervent encouragement of three fantastic teachers, I grew from a very elementary level in Darija to conversational and confident in almost any situation over 8 months. Beyond the quality of instruction, the CLC opened itself as a second home to me and I often spent time there outside of classes. It will be one of my first visits when I return to Morocco.