Program Reviews

This was my first study abroad trip and it was honestly a life changing experience. Not only did I get to experience wonders like the Sahara desert and the Atlas Mountains but also the struggle rural Morocco faces in terms of healthcare accessibility. I would recommend this trip to those who want to volunteer and make a difference, however big or small, with tons of sightseeing in between. This trip was unforgettable.

This is a trip that I will remember for the rest of my life. I learned so much about myself, Morocco and its culture, and my own country and its place in different world affairs. So many different activities were packed into 10 days. From camel riding in the desert, to helping at rural medical clinics, to exploring some of the beautiful cities in Morocco, it was all so incredible. Ali and MCAS as a whole were so accommodating and helpful. I would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone thinking about traveling to Morocco! I already can't wait to go back next year!

I am a 19 year old student at the University of Florida and have never been out of the United States. I was really inspired to go abroad and volunteer and my parents were naturally tentative. Through a mutual friend we found MCAS and I was able to volunteer in an orphanage with disabled children- I've always loved kids and I am pre-med but this was the most hands on and rewarding experience I've ever had. Morocco was a perfect place for me to go because it had the perfect amount of culture shock. My host family spoke English and were so welcoming- I loved them! I arrived very nervous about what the trip would hold and left very in love with Morocco, the children, all of my new friends, and the experience! The program directors helped me with everything from meeting other volunteers to planning trips and always made me feel very comfortable. They had an office close to my work space and I was able to visit often and ask as many questions as I wanted. I would highly recommend going through MCAS and enjoying everything Morocco has to offer.

My review will be a little different as I did not follow a whole program but just one introductionary lesson in Arabic. With a group of 16 law students we visited Morocco and firtst of all Rabat. The language course was a great start of our trip. We received a very warm welcome and had a wonderful break on the rooftop, overseeing Rabat while having tea. MCAS gave us just the right information, language wise but also cultural, food and safety-wise, to have the best stay.
We did one course in MSA and one course in Darija. It was a little bit long so we stopped before we had done everything but it was more than enough to get an idea of arabic and most were able to say a few things. Our, very calm, teacher has taught us quite a lot within such a short period of time.

I would recommend MCAS to everyone!

So this is the second time I've come back to MCAS after being here this time last year. The fact that I have returned to the same place speaks volumes in itself. I previously volunteered in an orphanage but this year have volunteered in a kindergarten and learned Modern Standard Arabic also. The experience was like no other. Living the culture and learning the language has no comparison when doing so in such a setting. My teacher was incredible and very very patient and even within a short three week period, I am able to hold a conversation (albeit broken!) in Arabic. Staying in a riad with the other volunteers is a key part of the experience as you get to live the full Moroccan lifestyle and sample their delicious food. There are many places to visit in addition to Rabat and the staff are extremely helpful in aiding travelling plans as well as everything else. I genuinely have no complaints about MCAS and am already planning my next trip in the autumn! :)

Volunteering abroad or having this internship was life changing. I got to explore a completely new culture by living with a host family and also by working at a local orphanage. I had the opportunity to travel with other students and one of the best experiences was traveling to the dessert and exploring Morocco with my roomate. I now have friends all over the world and I learned to appreciate my life a lot more back in America. Living in Morocco was one of the best experiences I have ever had.

I had been wanting to study Arabic for a number of years but could never find the right institute, neither in the UK nor abroad that would provide the flexibility to accommodate my timescales around my work commitments. Luckily recently a google search brought up MCAS which seemed flexible so I sent off an email enquiry. I received a speedy and very helpful response from the programme director Ali Bensebaa, with clear pricing and flexibility to accommodate my timescales so I decided to sign up for one-to-one lessons. Despite having a positive feeling, I wasn't sure what to expect as I was a complete beginner, had no idea where to start and in my mind I always feared one-to-one lessons would be boring. But when I arrived at MCAS I was pleasantly surprised by the nature and teaching style of teacher Abdsalam (aka Siba). Abdsalam is an extremely calm, competent and very humble teacher, with an excellent sense of humour and brilliant teaching style and structure that could take you from a complete beginner to advanced levels with a step-by-step approach. By the end of the first day, I was over the nerves of trying to learn Arabic in a one-to-one setting and infact I became very keen and enthusiastic - all thanks to the teacher! I enjoyed the lessons and learning so much that I have now been twice in two months for week longs lessons. Abdsalam is a fabulous teacher who can keep you interested and motivated in the lessons with his fantastic teaching style, sense of humour and encouragement. If I could take 6 months off work I would spend that time with MCAS and I am sure with the help and support MCAS provide I could become a fluent Arabic speaker in that time if not sooner! Overall fabulous experience with MCAS, with excellent teaching, friendly atmosphere, help and support always on hand even when it comes to accommodation, phone top-ups, best places to eat, sightseeing etc. Well done & Thank you MCAS! :O)

Along with my two housemates and Jihane we went to explore Meknes. We had a great time visiting the local town of Ifrane. A friend of a friend drove us around and we made it back to Mekness to meet up with Jihane. The food we ate with Jihane's family was incredible. They were wonderful hosts and gave us all a good impression of the Moroccan people. My two housemates and I enjoyed exploring Meknes with Jihane who knew all there was to know.

I have been studying the Arabic language (MSA) for 5 years now, but until when I attended the classes of MCAS with Abdelsalem I did know that I can use it for serious conversations. Through his patience and his methodology to force me out of comfort zone and try and express complexed concepts, we managed to talk about politics and religion, education and movies. Apart from the language improvement I have been really lucky to meet him and Ali, because their company and support is really precious... I am back in September ... and Rabat is a great place to spend time

Even though at first I was a little bit scared, I was alone in a new country with a totally different culture and lifestyle, without knowing any darija word, it turned out to be one of the best experience ever. Ali, the director, is punctual and professional and Jihane, my teacher, she was not just a teacher, but a dear friend as well. Both of them always available for any kind of problem, they made me feel at home! I would like to come back as soon as I can ;)