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According to reports by the Institute of International Education more and more American students are choosing  study abroad destinations in the Middle East.  While there are still a lot of students spending a semester in the UK, France and Italy, over the last 10 years destinations like Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have become increasingly popular.  Since 2002 the number of American students that went to study in a Middle Eastern country is up six-fold.   This increase is due in part to the Critical Language Scholarship, a government initiative started in 2006, to encourage students to learn Arabic and 12 other languages spoken in Middle Eastern countries.

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Students who have decided to study abroad in places like Beirut and Cairo say that they came to the Middle East because they wanted to learn about Muslim culture and to understand the conflicts that exist today.  Many students feel that a study abroad experience in the Middle East is more relevant in today´s building of international relationships and policies, and believe that their experience studying in the Middle East will help them secure important internships and jobs after college.

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Reference New York Times

Tags: Critical Language Scholarship, Institute of International Education, Study Abroad, The Middle East