The course Languages, Economics and Institutions of Asia and North Africa with curriculum LIPEA offers the opportunity to study deeply the Arabic language along with laws, history, political economy and geography of SOME Arab countries. Per se, the main courses are interesting but they aren’t structured and linked to each other. As a student, I had the perception of knowing many things yet very few. It seems like professors are interested in their own courses and they don’t really care about the program students are following. On the same line, the university doesn’t provide job opportunities for young professionals having studied Arabic and the Arab country’s fields. On the contrary, there are many programs to study abroad and have the opportunity to live in Arab countries mainly on your expenses if we consider the overseas program, and reimbursement of costs given to you in the semester following the trip.

I started my master’s degree in Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at Ca’ the Foscari University of Venice in 2018. I chose the University of Venice because it is first-rate and leading institution regarding MENA studies and I was sure it could give me the chance to attend excellent courses. There, I chiefly focused my studies on contemporary history, politics, and economies of the Middle East and North African region, along with language and translation courses. I am really thankful for my experience in Venice since I got to study and live in a vibrant and multicultural environment that has enriched me and made me even more resilient and eager to know.

I loved the professionality of every person I met and the specificity of each teaching. Also I liked the atmosphere of the entire University: Ca Foscari is a very old community and its name can link the University and students in It with the most of the cointries in Europe and the World

Living and studying in a city like Venice has been a wonderful opportunity for me that has had an all-around impact on my life experience. Once I passed the entrance test and had the approval of my parents in being able to live in that austere but also docile Venice, I began my journey that lasted 5 years and a few months. The course I have chosen (for the three-year degree “Languages and Literature of Asia and Mediterranean Africa and for the Master’s Degree” Languages, Economies and Institutions of Asia and Mediterranean Africa) is usually attended by a few people, maximum of About 50, so you almost feel like you’re in a high school classroom and that confidential atmosphere immediately forms which can also have negative implications. The teachings of the course are really interesting, exciting and complex therefore they require constant commitment and perpetual dedication. Language courses start at the basic level therefore it is not necessary to have previous knowledge; they consist of a grammar module for each year (language grammar) and a conversation module with a native speaker. At the end of the three-year period, unfortunately, or fortunately, one acquires the knowledge of a vocabulary which is rather broad and sectorial but which for the purposes of daily linguistic usefulness is scarce. As for the ancillary exams of the course, you can choose, also based on the languages chosen, and all are worth 6 credits. The master’s course I have chosen is a specialization in the three-year course. It is a continuation of the three-year course, it is in effect an in-depth study and specification of the language course. The language teaching is always composed in the same system (module and language) and in the module part there is a lot of focus on translation while the language part with the mother tongue focuses on various current issues and conversation in the language is practised. . As for the professors, I can only give a personal opinion that some people will not share. Depending on the type of course chosen and on the basis of one’s propensity at that time in life there were times when I would have preferred to do something else rather than listen to those irritating voices. Other times, however, I hoped that the lesson would never end because the passion and dedication of some professors are so fascinating and captivating that it overwhelms you and makes you fall in love with the subject. In my personal opinion, the university experience was formative, I learned to leave out the superfluous, not to take it too personally if something did not succeed as I wanted and above all that the people you meet always have an impact on your personal journey and that this always enriches.

– Program focused on Middle Eastern Affairs and Arabic Language that provided me with the right tools to achieve a global knowledge about the Region
– Professors are helpful, well-prepared and I will be grateful forever for what they have taught me
– Great international opportunities both for studying and for working.

Apart from the city, which can offer a lot artistically and culturally speaking, unfortunately, I didn’t find Ca’ Foscari University as valid as I thought it would be. The program I enrolled in, was not structured in a useful way. Most of the classes did not dig specifically into the matters and some of them were very similar to each other. Furthermore, I was also disappointed in the teaching of the Arabic Language, again the classes were very similar and sometimes disorganized in the program that was offered.

The location is amazing, some of the buildings are ancient and full of history, even though the administration of university is planning to sell several of them, fact that I personally find horrible. apart from that there is a wide range of languages to chose among, from Arabic to Chinese, Russian and Serb-croatian for example. I studied Arabic, and my overall experience was good, mostly thanks to the mother tongue professors, that really made the difference. I hope they will change the Arabic book in use, because it is awful, disorganised and not practical.

I studied languages but the quality level is not good. The city is very nice and you can get good experience there. Anyway, how they teach Arabic language and culture is not good and I will not suggest to people to follow those classes.