The English-Arabic Language Exchange Program:
A USAID Funded Project.
Banaat Connect
To help foster a cross cultural and linguistic educational initiative as part of 'Hopes for Women in Education', a not-for-profit NGO in Jordan, "Banaat Connect" (Girls Connect) was established. The English Language Learning Program in Jerash (Gaza) Camp, Jordan will bring together female university students studying Arabic in the United States with underserved female refugee women and girls for online, real-time language exchange sessions in both Arabic and English.
By working directly with Arabic Language Departments of study in American Universities, 'Banaat Connect' will offer a unique language exchange opportunity for both female Arabic Language students in the US and female English Language students in Jerash (Gaza) Camp.
Each week, American-Arab language partners will connect via Voice over IP (VOIP) to speak in English and Arabic. Participants will speak in colloquial American English and Levantine 'Amiyya' Arabic for each session in order to improve both participants' conversational skills in their target foreign language. Each hour will be conducted entirely in the designated target language, ensuring total language immersion for both female participants. During each session, students will discuss important cultural topics relevant to their respective experiences as global citizens and learners of a new language, expanding their cultural awareness and cross-linguistic communication skills.
Why sign up to banaat connect?
Create Mutual Understanding
Connecting women from Jordan and the United States to help create a positive connection and understanding of cultures through language exchange, benefitting female university students across the US and underserved female refugee communities in Jordan.
Technology Bridge
By using technology to bridge a language-exchange relationship between women globally, Banaat Connect helps promote positive uses of computer skills and advanced technological facilitation in the refugee camps in Jordan.
Global Dialogues
We understand the important role global conversations can have to expanding a cultural exchange between any community. Through facilitated and organized dialogues through Banaat Connect, students around the world will be able to use their voice and language to help advance each other to expand their knowledge and learn new things about each other.
Get notified when we launch.
We are currently working on building the system to help women in the Jerash (Gaza) refugee camp learn English and foster new relationships and friendships along the way. Connect with us and become a pioneer in learning Arabic while also teaching English through our language-exchange program: Banaat Connect.