The opportunities for global learning at UMD are endless. Founded in 1994, the Boren Awards provide funding for students studying languages in regions critical to U.S. national security. Meet Amaya Greenberg ‘25, current Boren scholar studying Arabic in Morocco for the next year.
1. Share how you first discovered the Boren Awards. What drew you to the program, and why did you decide to apply?
I first discovered the Boren program through my Arabic professor Peter Glanville. When I was expressing my concerns about my capstone year funding, he suggested I apply to the Boren Awards as a way to jumpstart my career while also ensuring I can complete my capstone year without worries about finances. This program fitted my current and future goals because I completed a double major in political science and Arabic and Boren provides me with the opportunity to tie both majors together in a career.
2. What are you most looking forward to when you arrive in Morocco? Will you be staying with a host family or in an apartment?
Upon my arrival to Morocco, I and one other UMD student lived with a host family for the summer. However, we have been enjoying the experience so much because of the ability to constantly improve our Arabic outside the classroom, so we have decided to stay with them for the entirety of the year.
3. What interests you most about Arabic studies and culture? When did this interest begin?
My interest in Arabic began in middle school when I had an Egyptian friend start to teach me how to read and write the Arabic alphabet. This fascination continued and grew with me and when deciding on colleges, I only applied to ones that offered an Arabic language program. After meeting the professors and classmates at UMD my passion and love for the culture grew exponentially and I knew I wanted to further my education abroad.
4. Before your Boren Award, you served as an intern with the Alhadaf Institute in Jordan. How did you adapt to life in Jordan, and what cross-cultural skills did you learn that will be helpful in Morocco?
My experience in Jordan was the reason I decided to continue with my studies in Morocco because it was such a fantastic time. While the culture was different and took time to adjust to, the CET [] program was incredible in preparing us for the life changes and supported us during the transition. Overall, the one skill I came back with and took with me to Morocco was the ability to adapt totally. To not live in a country like an American, but watch and observe and learn how to live like a Jordanian, Moroccan, etc…
5. The Boren Awards are focused around countries that are critical to national security. How will this time abroad in Morocco inform your future career?
When it comes to future careers centered around critical regions and languages, Morocco remains an excellent choice to study Arabic. The sheer linguistic diversity alone makes it unique in comparison to the Middle East and North Africa region because every day I hear Moroccan Darija, French, Fusha, Tamazight (a Berber language), and other languages due to the location of Morocco. I am currently taking advantage of this and studying Tamazight in addition to Fusha, Darija, and masri because of how unique and uncommon this opportunity is. When it is time for me to enter the workforce I can come prepared with fluency and expertise in multiple dialects in and outside of the Arabic languages giving me a unique, competitive edge.
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Are you interested in becoming a Boren Scholar? Connect with UMD’s National Scholarships Office today.