I joined the American Studies program two years ago, and I can say that it is an experience that broadened my perspective and added to my knowledge as a student of English Literature. Having taken several courses in politics, literature, history, orientalism and many other topics has given me an advantage of getting acquainted with different aspects of the American culture and community and connect them with our Palestinian community. Regarding the program’s academic policy, the program does not rely on memorization and written exams; on the contrary, it enhances the students’ abilities of writing essays, reports and strengthens their presentation skills. Furthermore, many round tables and online meetings with American students are regularly organized, and these extracurricular activities are very constructive because they enable us to share our thoughts and ideas as Palestinian students with American students and professors.

The first time I heard about the Minor in American Studies (MAS) was from a friend of mine. I read more about the program and asked students who already joined it about their experience ;they told me that it is one of a kind experience. They were right; it is different and really interesting ; its curriculum melds history literature and art. What makes it also special is that it focuses on students’ abilities through essays and presentations. It helped me in developing my public speaking skills, since we participated in The First American Studies Symposium; furthermore, there have been many round tables and video conferences that helped me shape my personality and concept about America and its relation to the Palestinian issue. Being a student in (MAS) is great because of the great teachers, great students and the great learning atmosphere. All these things made my experience enjoyable, informative and unforgettable.

Enrolling in the American studies minor was a turning point in my academic life. I got exposed to many cultures and ideas, and gained knowledge not only about the United States, but also about other regions and cultures. Not to mention the skills I acquired like critical thinking, communication, negotiation and cultural awareness. We have teachers with wealth of knowledge teaching us various topics and pushing us for the better; I personally have learned so many things from them and they definitely left a mark on me . We as students of the American Studies minor bond together, and share experiences and knowledge, and we hold great debates that engage all the students . This experience will remain unforgettable and I will always benefit from it.