Beyond international tourism: Meaningful pedagogy in short-term study abroad in Jordan

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v2iForumEATLT2.1105

Keywords:

Cultural engagement, experiential learning, faculty-led, short-term study abroad programs (FLSTSA), pedagogy, urban spaces

Abstract

This paper explores the design, execution, and pedagogical impact of a short-term study abroad program in Jordan, focusing on the intersections of history, urbanity, and performance. Through site visits to Petra, Jerash, and Amman, students critically engaged with how antiquity informs contemporary urban development and cultural narratives. Using a mixed-methods approach—including participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and student surveys—we analyze the program’s evolution between its 2022 and 2024 iterations. We highlight three key pedagogical themes: creating a cohesive research-driven curriculum, moving beyond a “customer service” model of study abroad, and balancing classroom and fieldwork experiences. By centering local expertise, fostering intercultural engagement, and incorporating Arabic language study, the program challenges traditional study abroad paradigms. This paper contributes to broader discussions on short-term study abroad as a site of critical inquiry, demonstrating how carefully curated programs can cultivate meaningful, transformative learning experiences beyond tourism.

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Author Biographies

Marina Johnson, Stanford University

Marina Johnson recently graduated with her PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies from Stanford University. Prior to Stanford, Johnson received her MFA in Directing and taught at Beloit College. Johnson’s scholarship has appeared in The Jerusalem Quarterly, Theatre/Practice, TDR, Theatre Topics, Arab Stages, Milestones in Staging Contemporary Genders and Sexualities, Decolonizing Dramaturgies, and Women’s Innovations in Theatre, Dance, and Performance, Volume I.

Samer Al-Saber

Samer Al-Saber is a critical scholar, historian, director, and playwright, serving as Associate Professor at Williams College. His award-winning monograph, A Movement’s Promise, was published in 2026 by Stanford University Press. His scholarly work appears in Theatre Research International, Performance Paradigm, Critical Survey, Theatre Survey, and various edited volumes. He served as editor on Stories Under Occupation and Other Plays from Palestine (Seagull/U-Chicago), To The Good People of Gaza (Bloomsbury), and Arabs, Politics, and Performance (Routledge).

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Published

2026-06-16

How to Cite

Johnson, M., & Al-Saber, S. (2026). Beyond international tourism: Meaningful pedagogy in short-term study abroad in Jordan. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 2(ForumEATLT2), 43–62. https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v2iForumEATLT2.1105

Issue

2026: Education Abroad Teaching & Learning Toolbox, powered by The Forum on Education Abroad

Section

EA Teaching & Learning Toolbox - Case Studies

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Copyright (c) 2026 Marina Johnson, Samer Al-Saber

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.