CULTURAL IMMERSION ACTIVITIES

Experience the culture

Moroccan culture is an intricate mélange of Amazigh (Berber), North African, Arab, and Mediterranean culture. From Gnawa music to hooded djllabas, from couscous to Moroccan hammams, there is so much to learn about and explore! That’s why Qalam offers various activities to enhance the cultural immersion experience.

 

Hands-on workshops 

One way to both practice the Arabic language and experience Moroccan culture is through Qalam’s workshops. Working with the culture hands-on allows students to learn using all their senses, retaining the Arabic vocabulary they learn in a more direct way. Offered in a variety of subjects, these workshops introduce students to many different parts of Moroccan and Arab culture.  

 

Arabic Calligraphy workshops 

Arabic calligraphy is an art that dates back centuries. As meaningful as it is beautiful, calligraphy allows students to get a closer look at the Arabic language and participate in an ancient tradition. All levels of Arabic students are welcome to join the workshops. | More details about the Calligraphy Program. >>

 

Cooking Workshops 

Cooking workshops allow students to learn to cook Moroccan, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern dishes, all while improving their Arabic language skills. Students particularly enjoy this workshop, which introduces them to Moroccan spices and smells that they remember well after their time at Qalam wa Lawh. | Learn more about Cooking Workshops >>

 

Arabic Art Lessons 

Qalam also offers different types of Arabic art lessons. Depending on the interest of the students, Qalam holds workshops with traditional oud players, Moroccan dancers, and various types of painters and artists from across the North African region. All lessons are free to Qalam students. 

 

In-town cultural Excursions 

As a city for studying abroad, Rabat has so much to offer. With Qalam’s cultural excursions, students can discover historical sites, visit artisan shops, and see all of Rabat’s picturesque features. Students may take excursions with their class, join school-wide excursions, or visit sites as part of their academic clubs. (More information below.) 

 

Chellah 

Located along the edge of Rabat’s Bouregreg River, Chellah is one of the most popular destinations in Rabat. Chellah holds both ruins from the Roman Empire during its conquest in Rabat and the ruins of a 12th century mosque. Surrounded by a spacious garden, these ruins are not something students want to miss. 

 

Kasbah of the Oudayas 

Another one of the famous Rabat sites, the Kasbah of the Oudayas sits at the corner of the Bouregreg River and the Atlantic Ocean. With gorgeous views of Rabat, its sister city Salé, and the ocean, the Kasbah also has an Andalusian garden, a café with mint tea and Moroccan cookies, and a beautiful neighborhood to explore. 

 

Hassan Tower and Mohammed V Mausoleum 

The Sultan of Morocco in the 1200s commanded his workers to start construction on the largest mosque in the world. When he died, however, construction stopped, and all that’s left today are the base pillars and what would have become the tallest minaret in the world at the time. The complex sat abandoned until the 1960s, when the kingdom began building a mausoleum that currently holds the last two kings of Morocco and their brothers. Today, students and tourists come from all over the world to see these two beautiful structures.

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Mohammed VI Museum 

The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern Art is centrally-located in the heart of Rabat. After opening in 2014, the Museum has become an important host of Moroccan and African culture and art in Rabat. 

 

Exotic Gardens of Bouknadel 

Only a fifteen-minute drive from Qalam wa Lawh Center, the Exotic Gardens of Bouknadel are an impressive sight. Originally created as the personal gardens of a French lawyer living in Morocco, the gardens are now open the public. Because different sections of the garden include different types of plants from all over the world, the garden is open and blooming year-round. 

 

The Oulja Artisanal Complex 

The Oulja Complex is located across the river in the city of Salé. Students can find all sorts of artisanal pottery, speak with the artists and vendors to learn about the creation process, and even try their hand at pottery-making themselves! 

 

Weekend Trips 

The chance to experience the rich diversity of Moroccan cities is one of the most rewarding aspects of studying Arabic in Morocco.  From Qalam wa Lawh’s central location in the Moroccan capital, all the major sites of the country are within easy reach.  Qalam wa Lawh organizes weekend trips to the following destinations: 

(Trips are either two-days, one-night or three-days, two-nights. Personalized trips can also be arranged.) 

 

Fes 

Only about a two to three-hour drive from Rabat, Fes is one of the ancient imperial cities of Morocco. Fes is home to the largest medina in the kingdom, which is also the world’s largest urban car-free zone and a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

 

Meknes 

Not far from Fes is the city of Meknes, another UNESCO World Heritage site. While slightly smaller than Fes, Meknes is also brimming with culture, and only about a 40-minute drive from the ruins of the Roman city Volubilis (Walili or وليلي in Arabic). 

 

Marrakesh 

Perhaps the most touristic city in Morocco, Marrakesh is home to some of the kingdom’s most famous sites. Jamaa El Fna Squre, the Marjorelle Gardens, the Koutoubia Mosque, and multiple palaces provide plenty of things to do when traveling in the Red City. 

 

Casablanca 

Casablanca, of Humphrey Bogart movie fame, is only about an hour away from Rabat. The bustling, modern city is the largest in Morocco, with a population of almost 4 million. The coastal Hassan II Mosque, which can hold 80,000 people praying inside and another 20,000 on the grounds,

is a must-see in Casablanca. 

 

Sahara Desert 

What study abroad experience in Morocco would be complete without a trip to the Sahara Desert? This journey is longer than most other Qalam trips, but it is completely worth it! Complete with camel rides, traditional Moroccan music around a campfire, and star-gazing, this trip is sure to be a memorable adventure. 

 

Essaouira 

A laid-back coastal city, Essaouira is only 3 hours west of Marrakesh. With a grand citadel and harbor scene, this windy city is also the host of the famous Gnawa Music Festival each year. The Festival brings in musicians of different genres from all over the world to play with traditional Moroccan musicians. 

 

Tangier 

Tangier is on the northern tip of Morocco, only 14 km across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain. Tangier was the favorite vacation spot of many great writers and artists, including William Burroughs, Allen Ginsburg, and Jack Kerouac. Even Winston Churchill visited some of the Tangier cafes overlooking the view across the water to Spain! 

 

Chefchaouen 

Called the Blue City, this charming town nestled in the Rif Mountains is famous for its all-blue decorations. Potted plants, rooftops, fountains, even entire buildings are painted blue! Chefchaouen’s small-town feel and welcoming atmosphere makes this a favorite among Qalam students.