JIRAN جيران

The Student Issue

University Arabic students have limited opportunities to learn and converse in colloquial Arabic

The Family Issue

Recently arrived refugee and immigrant families face linguistic, cultural, and social obstacles when they join their new communities in the US

جيران / Jiran

Jiran (جيران) pairs college Arabic students with recently arrived Arabic-speaking families for a summer of language and cultural exchange focused on connecting families with their new community

Jiran (جيران) is a summer language program that pairs intermediate and advanced Arabic students with underserved Arabic-speaking families in New Britain, Connecticut. Jiran is a program focused on Arabic language learning and intercultural competence development. The program allows student participants to progress in Arabic, access Arabic speakers from places they cannot study abroad (Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, etc), and experientially learn about challenges facing Arabic-speaking families new to the US.