A Jordanian (with Palestinian background, who had grown-up in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) suggested to me that I could study Arabic in Saudi Arabia (KSA) – for free!
However, I had already met a Korean, who had moved from KSA, who was then studying at the Arab Community College (ACC) in Amman. On a hill opposite the hospital – a boring place, which is as effective as the Language Centre of Jordan University except that you get what you pay for (whereas at UJLC you pay way more for what you gain – if anything).
As usual, the smart students are the ones who had already studied elsewhere or who already knew some colloquial Arabic. The rest of the students simply stagnate and end-up repeating levels (so no real cost-saving here). I also knew a few Chinese students who had already studied at the UJLC, but they still could not (or would not) speak Arabic so no benefit on that front either.
As for the Korean, he started off as intermediate and came alone (like myself) and was forced to communicate (in Arabic) with those who knew no English. Most of the students at ACC were from the country-side in South-Eastern Europe, southern Russia and the ex-Soviet states, and (unfortunately for them, but fortunately for me) did not learn English effectively while they were at school (unlike in UJLC where most of the students already knew basic English and would rather practice improving this with those of us who were from England).
When asked why he had left Saudi, the Korean described KSA as a harsh place. In fact, as well as learning Arabic, he was also interested in getting married in Jordan and, luckily (but unfortunately luck might not help him when dealing with nationalism), at least some of the girls, studying Korean, at the University of Jordan wanted to practice speaking with him.
He also asked me if it was easier to get married in Egypt. By that time, I’d only lived in Alexandria, which was not very different to Jordan (in terms of final outcome) so was unsure what to say to him. Too bad I didn’t speak to him after Cairo (see below).
Arabian Misadventures 