<p>Has anyone here had experience with this program? I've been PMing a few people who have, and it seems really great!</p>
<p>What is this program? What do you do there?</p>
<p>Do you have a link to a website?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.exchanges.state.gov/NSLI/%5B/url%5D">http://www.exchanges.state.gov/NSLI/</a></p>
<p>It's a program for students interested in learning a "critical language". (Arabic, Chinese, etc.)</p>
<p>How do you enter one of these programs? How does it work?</p>
<p>You have to apply.</p>
<p>I don't know much about this program. I just thought it looked interesting.</p>
<p>PM aot2007. He or she has been to Egypt with this program.</p>
<p>are high school students allowed to apply?</p>
<p>Yes. ...</p>
<p>as jonathan1 said, i went to egypt this summer as part of the SLI. it was an absolutely amazing experience, and best of all, it was completely paid for by the state department.</p>
<p>it's a very long and vigorous application process, but if you're selected, definitely worth it! i didn't hear about the program until april of last spring, and the app was due in may. i know that the state dept is trying to renew the program again since it was so successful, but i wouldn't expect any definite news until next spring.</p>
<p>if you want any more specific info, feel free to PM me. i really hope other students will get an opportunity to do this!</p>
<p>aot2007 -- who did you go to to Egypt with? AFS? I ask because my son, Justin. also went to Egypt this summer through the scholarship the state department had. He had a fantastic time and is going to try and go back again this summer to improve his Arabic!</p>
<p>Do you guys recommend any books to study Arabic/? I LOVE the language, but I don't know any of it yet.</p>
<p>I am teaching myself Arabic, and I have used Very Simple Arabic Script by James Peters (ISBN: 1900988313) which is a great introduction to Arabic letters. Many other books I tried are so confusing! This one introduces the letters slowly so you can take it one chunk at a time. Afterwards, I would suggest Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds by Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, Abbas Al-Tonsi, Mahmoud Al-Batal, Abbas Al-Tonsi (ISBN: 1589011023), to make sure that you really got the letters together and to start learning Modern Standard or Egyptian Arabic (you get to choose which Arabic you want to use on the accompanying DVD). Alif Baa is used in most colleges in the first Arabic course so you will be getting a head start if you continue with Arabic in college.</p>
<p>Good luck!
Shifra</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>