AFP Innovations

Many prospective students ask what differentiates our Flagship program from traditional Arabic programs. We thought we’d share with you the reasons for our success, but the fact that undergraduate students transfer here specifically to join our program, and that some even decline offers from Ivy League schools just to come here, should be proof enough. Here is just some of what we offer:

• A wide range of courses – Arabic at all levels and in-depth content courses
• A focus on both Standard and Colloquial Arabic (Egyptian and Syrian)
• The largest tenured Arabic faculty in the country
• Student centered classes, a high teacher-to-student ratio, and more teaching hours than most other programs
• One-to-one tutors and teaching assistants from around the Middle East, to help our students succeed
• A dynamic events calendar with talks, films, dinners, trips and hands-on activities
• A flexible program that accepts beginners with multiple entry points
• Internships for our students, providing them opportunities to help in our K-12 program, assist with media production, conduct Arabic language focused research, and more!

Partners

The Arabic Flagship Program collaborates with various organizations within UT and nationally, as well as with other accredited colleges and universities both nationally and abroad in Damascus. Here is a listing of some of our key partners:

The Language Flagship

The Language Flagship leads the nation in designing, supporting, and implementing a new paradigm for advanced language education. Through an innovative partnership among the federal government, education, and business, The Language Flagship seeks to graduate students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of fluency in one of many languages critical to U.S. competitiveness and security.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) is the only national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. ACTFL is an individual membership organization of more than 9,000 foreign language educators and administrators from elementary through graduate education, as well as government and industry.

Middle Eastern Studies at The University of Texas at Austin

The Middle Eastern Studies program at the University of Texas at Austin consists of two entities that work closely together the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and the Department of Middle Eastern Studies. The Center for Middle Eastern Studies, established in 1960, is one of the largest and most respected National Resource Centers designated by the United States Department of Education under the Title VI Strategic Area Studies program. The Department of Middle Eastern Studies houses faculty specializing in Middle Eastern cultures and languages. The Department offers specialized academic programs at all levels in Arabic Studies, Hebrew Studies, Islamic Studies, Persian Studies, and Turkish Studies.

Alexandria University, Egypt

The AFP collaborates with the Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL) Center at Alexandria University in Egypt for our study abroad program. The study abroad program in Alexandria is administered by the American Councils for International Education in partnership with The Alexandria University’s TAFL Center. The Center provides the faculty and facilities needed to achieve our goal of graduating students with superior proficiency.

Damascus University, Syria

The AFP collaborates with the Arabic Language Center at Damascus University in Syria for our summer and year-long study abroad programs. The program is administered in conjunction with the American Councils for International Education.

University of Michigan

The University of Texas at Austin collaborates closely with faculty and staff in the Near East Studies Department and the Flagship program at The University of Michigan through a Diffusion of Innovation Partnership. The Near East Studies Department offers several programs of study at the B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. levels, covering Near Eastern languages, literatures, civilizations, linguistics, history, Ancient studies, Biblical studies, Egyptology, Medieval Islamic history and Islamic studies.

Oklahoma University

The University of Texas at Austin collaborates closely with faculty and staff at Oklahoma's Flagship program, through a Diffusion of Innovation Partnership. The University of Oklahoma also offers a growing curriculum in Arabic language and culture.

University of California Davis

The University of Texas at Austin most recently joined with the University of California Davis through a Diffusion of Innovation Partnership. The major in Middle East/South Asia Studies at UC Davis offers a comparative understanding of the Middle East and South Asia regions that have been integrally linked for centuries by trade, migration, exchange of scientific, mathematical, political and philosophical ideas, religion, literature and art.