Language Internships: HSE University–St Petersburg Students Share Their Experience of Morocco

Full Immersion: How Studies Abroad Are Organised 

In the fourth year, students of Middle Eastern studies can go on a year- or semester-long internship or join short-term programmes or summer language courses. Before the trip, under the guidance of professors, each student creates their personal curriculum which includes specialised courses—from history and art to international relations and politics. The language internship is fully built into the educational process. Students attend some courses delivered at HSE University–St Petersburg in an online format, sit exams, and prepare term papers. 

The geographic scope of internships is constantly expanding. In recent years, students of Middle Eastern studies have frequently chosen the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Morocco. 

Studies in Morocco: Educational Approach and Language Practice  

Fourth-year students of the Department of Middle Eastern and African Studies studied in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. For Anna Grishina, the internship was a dream come true. According to her, when training specialists, HSE University–St Petersburg pays special attention to grammar, which gave her an advantage in mastering the programme in Morocco. 'In Rabat, they focus on developing speaking skills, the ability to express your opinion orally or in writing. At the educational building, we mostly spoke Arabic. On Thursdays, they organised a 'Language Cafe' for everyone where we could talk to the locals and have a cup of traditional Moroccan tea.' Ivan Monastirli studied the language with a focus on the local dialect, darja: 'Learning the dialect in the country is like a fairytale. Besides, by the third year, we know the standard Arabic language quite well.' Timofei Gladysh studied standard Arabic at the language school and mastered the dialect by talking to native speakers in person: 'At first, it was difficult for me to understand oral speech, but Moroccans are very friendly and sociable, especially when they see a foreigner speaking their language—it quickly breaks all the language barriers.'

Morocco Through Students' Eyes: Culture, People, Impressions 

Apart from studies, the students were actively exploring culture and the country's daily life, travelling to different cities and visiting the sights of Morocco. 

'I lived in the old Medina, in a very beautiful old house located right at the market. As I cooked only for myself, I didn't need many groceries. I often went to the same shop and said: "I need just one..." They laughed and gave it to me for free,' shares Ivan Monastirli. 

Anna Grishina highlighted that Morocco was a very democratic and open country that was comfortable to live in. 'I didn't count how many new acquaintances I'd made. We celebrated holidays together, roamed about Rabat, and organised our own football matches. I even decided to show them the cartoon Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin Zmey, which was translated by the students of our department, and my friends really liked it!' says the student of the Department of Middle Eastern and African Studies. 

After classes, Valeriia Novikova went surfing in the Atlantic Ocean. She said it helped her to maintain a healthy balance between intellectual and physical load. She also visited museums and art venues and explored ancient monuments. 

'It's pretty interesting to see how the names of people we heard about during lectures on the history of the countries in the Middle East are woven into the city space. On a daily basis, I saw familiar names of rulers, scientists, and political figures alongside completely unfamiliar ones. In that case, I looked up some information and learned even more about the country and its history,' says Valeriia Novikova. 

Travelling around Morocco: cities, sights, lifehacks 

The students didn't limit themselves to Rabat and actively explored different regions of the country. Together with other participants of the language internship, Anna Grishina and Valeriia Novikova visited Casablanca, Tangier, Salé, the Chefchaouen (the 'Blue City' famous for its blue Medina), Fort Rottembourg (a military fortress built by German engineer Walter Rottenburg in 1902), Cap Spartel (a cape to the West of Tangier, the most north-western point of the African continent), and Fez, the spiritual centre of the Muslim West. 

'We wake up in the morning and, before the terrible dry heat, go to eat bissara—Moroccan soup made of grated peas with lots of olive oil and garlic seasoning. Then, we go through the waking Medina of Fez. Its monumentality immediately catches the eye—several floors, lots of wood, and large buildings. Our goal is the madrasa al-Qarawiyyin founded in 859. The madrasa is considered to be the oldest continuously operating Muslim educational centre and is officially part of the educational system of the Kingdom of Morocco. For several hours, we hide in the shade to wait for the scorching sun to pass. In the late afternoon, we can go to the Medina again and head to the Marinid Tombs near the old city. We meet the sunset on a hill and recall the course on the Medieval history of the Middle East!' say the students about their trip to Fez. 

Valeriia Novikova recommends hiking in Chefchaouen near the village of Akchour: 'A bonus route for a morning walk—go up to the Spanish mosque; on the way you can see whether the 'Blue City' is indeed blue or not'. The HSE University–St Petersburg student also visited the Yves Saint Laurent Museum dedicated to the Algerian native who found inspiration in the diversified Maghreb culture. 'People say that Yves Saint Laurent was so in love with Marrakesh that he came here every year in June and December for several weeks to design and prepare his collections for the show. For him, Marrakesh was a source of new ideas, especially in terms of colour palette. The place, where the fashion designer lived and worked, has become a museum with a wonderful cactus garden by Pierre Bergé, a film library, a book shop, and a villa. This is where he was buried.'

After completing his studies, Ivan Monastirli stayed for another two weeks to travel around Morocco. 'A major plus is the nature, as well as the opportunity to live by the ocean and enjoy fresh vegetables, fruit, and seafood. Morocco is a country of contrasts: there are high mountains, the ocean, the Sahara, and the green North'. 

A Life-Changing Experience

The students underscored that the internship in Morocco was an important experience not only for improving language skills but also for personal growth.

'When it was time to pack my suitcase and go back home, many people I met were sad and even cried as we had become friends and didn't want to part. The time flew by,' says Anna Grishina.

'I think I came back a different person. In particular, everything in my career has changed: now, I see more opportunities where I can implement my knowledge and work,' sums up Ivan Monastirli.