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At the forefront of cross-cultural communication, the Marseille program integrates a rigorous academic setting with guided cultural experience outside the classroom. Ensuring a motivating interdisciplinary learning experience, French Practicum, the cornerstone of AUCP academics, brings together the curricular with the extracurricular, combining all-French classwork with experiential learning components including individual homestay, language partner, personal interest activity, and community service. Courses focus on French and Arabic language and civilization, Middle East area studies, immigration issues, inter-religious communication and cross-cultural mediation. On-site study in Tunisia in the Fall and Morocco in the Spring. |
POINTS OF VIEW
Upon arrival in France, I quickly realized that AUCP-Marseille is not your typical study abroad experience. The AUCP Marseille program fully immerses you in French and Arab culture. This experience can be challenging and even a little intimidating at times, but the five months I spent in Marseille proved to be invaluable.
As an aid worker in the Middle East, I often face these same types of challenges, and I have time and again relied on the foundation of cross-cultural understanding built at the AUCP to help achieve my goals. While in Iraq, for example, I found that demonstrating knowledge of Arab traditions and culture helped foster a mutual respect between myself and my Iraqi counterparts. Based on this respect, we are able to put all differences aside and work together.
Andrew M. AUCP Spring 06
George Washington University
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