E-mail: mfedoron@nd.edu
Language: Arabic
Location of Study: Amman, Jordan
Program of Study: Qasid Institute
Sponsors: CSLC, College of Arts and Letters
Blog URL: http://sites.nd.edu/sla2018/author/mfedoron/
A brief personal bio:
My name is Mark Fedoronko, and I am a rising junior studying accounting and international economics! I am originally from Long Island, New York and I live in Dunne Hall. At Notre Dame, I am an active member of the Band of the Fighting Irish. Additionally, I am a huge fan of anything involving food or cooking. Last summer I had the opportunity to take a course at Notre Dame’s center in Jerusalem. Ever since, I have been longing to return to the Middle East, and am incredibly excited to be in Jordan this summer!
Why this summer language abroad opportunity is important to me:
The Middle East has always fascinated me. Whether it is the tenuous political climate, the seemingly unbridled growth of Gulf oil states, or the strengthening of Arab-American trade relations, there are always political or economic events in the region. As a future businessman, I see a region ripe with economic opportunity. However, in order to do business in a manner that truly benefits both parties, one must have cultural sensitivity and language skills. The best way to bridge the gap between two cultures is through language. Since I began taking Arabic, I have dispelled a number of stereotypes about the Middle East. I hope to continue to build a personal bridge with the Middle East and its people this summer in Jordan.
What I hope to achieve as a result of this summer study abroad experience:
While one summer is a short time for language studies, I believe I can achieve a lot while in Amman. Arabic is difficult because the standardized, written form differs greatly from the spoken, dialectical form. Since coming to Notre Dame, I have taken four semesters of “fusha” – the standardized written form. While in Jordan, I hope to continue to expand my writing and reading skills in Modern Standard Arabic. Additionally, I hope to build a foundation of “amiya” – the spoken form of Arabic. In addition to learning both forms of Arabic, I hope to develop a greater understanding of the cultural framework in which the language is spoken. I am confident that I can achieve all of these goals and more while in Amman.
My specific learning goals for language and intercultural learning this summer:
1. By the end of the summer, I aim to be able to understand content from Al Jazeera – both videos and written articles – in Arabic. 2. By the end of the summer, I hope to be able to converse completely in Arabic with any given taxi driver I may have. 3. By the end of the summer, I hope to be able to read short stories written in Arabic. 4. By the end of the summer, I hope to listen to Arabic music and understand a majority of the lyrics to which I am listening.