1. How do I start the enrollment process?
Contact either our head office in Sana’a (language@ylcint.com) or your local representative (www.ylcint.com/htm/contactusnew.htm) and state your intended dates of study and any questions you may have. You can also fill out the student enrollment form online (www.ylcint.com/form.htm). You will receive a response shortly thereafter beginning your enrollment process.
2. What forms do I need to fill out to enroll?
You will receive the registration package from one of our representatives. The package includes: the Registration Form; Previous Arabic Experience; Student Agreement; Emergency Contact Form.
3. How do I send my enrollment forms?
Please fill out, scan, and email the enrollment forms as an attachment to your respective contact person. Please make sure that the attachment is saved as a jpeg, pdf, or tiff file that does not exceed 5mb. If you are dealing with a local representative, you may also send your original copy via regular mail. The representative will then scan and send the necessary forms to the head office. Please do not send your forms to the head office in Sana’a via regular mail as this may take very long.
4. What do I do after I send my enrollment forms?
You will receive confirmation of having received the form from your representative. When you receive the confirmation, you are registered for terms you stated in your form. If you have not received a confirmation within one week, please resend the forms as they may not have been received. Your representative will inform you of any further steps.
5. How do I guarantee my enrollment?
Your registration is not guaranteed until we receive your $500 or €500 deposit. This deposit will go towards your total payment, which is due no later than one month before the start of your studies
6. Why must I make a deposit?
We accept students on a first-come-first-serve basis. Your spot in the program is only guaranteed once we receive your initial $500 (€500) deposit. If you wish to save on bank transfer fees, you may make your full payment in one transaction, which would include your deposit and guarantee your spot in the program. This deposit includes a $200 (€200) non-refundable program payment. Should you decide to cancel your studies before arriving in Yemen, $200 (€200) will not be returned to you due to administrative fees.
7. What is the housing deposit?
The housing deposit is a separate deposit that is paid in addition to the total fee. The housing deposit is a $100 (€100) refundable deposit. This will be returned at the conclusion of your stay minus any charges for damages and outstanding account balances. There will be a $50 (€50) charge in case any student loses his/her key, which is deducted from your housing deposit. If you break the student agreement, you forfeit your housing deposit.
8. How do I make a payment?
All payments to the YLC need to be made via an international bank transfer to one of our two accounts. If you are paying in Euros, please transfer to our Berliner Bank account and if you are paying in USD, please transfer through the Citibank N.A. New York account. All transfer information is available on your registration form or you may ask your contact person at YLC.
For payments in USD please note that you are making an international bank transfer. Even though the initial bank is in New York, the recipient account is in Yemen.
9. When do I need to make my payment?
Your initial deposit is needed to guarantee your spot in the program and as such, we recommend that you make it as soon as possible. Your full payment is due no later than one month before your studies begin.
10. What if I am having problems with my payment?
Please double check the bank transfer information as it appears on your registration form.
For payments in USD please note that you are making an international bank transfer. Even though the initial bank is in New York, the recipient account is in Yemen.
Contact the YLC with any further problems.
11. Is there any other way to pay besides a bank transfer?
Unfortunately, we do not accept credit card or personal check payments through our head office in Yemen. American students can contact the main YCMES Office at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations for credit card and check payments. You may pay by way of a Western Union money transfer, which must be arranged via the main office in Sana’a.
12. How can I obtain a visa for Yemen?
You have two options: 1. You arrange the visa yourself, 2. We arrange your visa for you.
Option 1. If you arrange the visa yourself, you need to contact the Yemeni Embassy/ Consulate in the country where you reside. They will inform you of the process of obtaining a visa. Please note that you must apply for a student visa. If you need a letter stating your affiliation to YLC in order to obtain the student visa, your YLC contact will provide you with the letter.
Option 2. If you would like YLC to arrange your visa, we will need a copy of the picture page of your passport ( as well as any renewal pages) to process the visa. The cost of arranging the visa through us is $45 for US/Canadian/Australian citizens and €35 for EU citizens. (Please note that if you are not a citizen of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or a Western European Country, the process may take up to two weeks with additional fees). Please contact the head office in Sana’a with any specific concerns.
13. How do I receive my visa?
If you have organized your own visa through your local Yemeni Embassy / Consulate, they will advise you on how to retrieve your visa prior to your departure.
If you have organized your visa through YLC, you will be able to pick up your visa at Sana’a International Airport upon your arrival. When exiting the bus into the arrival hall, please proceed to the visa window located on your left-hand side as you enter the immigration hall. You will show them your passport and the officer will have the visa ready to place into your passport. Remember, the visa is already paid for, so you will not have to pay anything extra. After receiving your visa, you may then proceed through the normal customs and immigration line in the same hall before entering the baggage claim area.
14. Are there any restrictions on Yemeni visas?
You are unable to get a visa to Yemen if you are carrying an Israeli passport or have an Israeli stamp/visa in your passport. If you are coming to Yemen and have an Israeli stamp/visa, please apply for a new passport before trying to get a Yemeni visa. A Pakistani visa may also be problematic, but does not in and of itself prohibit a Yemeni visa from being issued.
Please note that if you are not a citizen of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or a Western European Country, the process may take up to two weeks with additional fees. Residents of Asian, African, Eastern European, Central American, and South American countries should check with their local Yemen Embassy / Consulate on further restrictions to obtaining a Yemeni visa.
If you are studying with the YLC for longer than your initial visa allows (usually between six weeks to three months, depending on the type of visa you originally received), you will be required to apply for a residency visa. The YLC will handle all visa fees and paperwork, but the student is responsible for paying and having an HIV test administered locally. An HIV-positive result will prohibit a residency visa from being issued and consequently, you will be asked to leave the country.
Please contact the head office in Sana’a with any specific visa concerns.
15. What type of visa do I receive through the YLC?
If you organize your visa through the YLC, you will receive a student visa. This allows one entry into the country. Should you plan to travel and return to your studies at YLC, the office in Sana’a will arrange an exit/re-entry visa for your travels. This is at an additional cost to the student. All EU-citizens should receive a visa good for three months. All non-EU citizens generally receive a one month visa.
16. Do I need a special visa for study terms longer than my initial visa at the YLC?
All American and non-EU residents arrive to Yemen on a one-month study visa. For any student studying between five to seven weeks, your initial visa and the two-week exit visa are sufficient for your stay. Students studying longer than seven weeks must take an HIV-blood test, scheduled by the administration, in order to extend their visas for the duration of their stay.
EU-nationals arrive on a three-month visa, and do not need extensions unless they are staying at the YCMES longer than this time period.
Note: The exception to the visa process if you are exiting and returning to Yemen, in which case you will need an exit visa prior to departing the country, and then purchase a new visa when you return.
17. Is an HIV test required for a Yemeni visa?
An HIV test is not required for students studying with the YLC for less than three months. Students studying for longer than three months must apply for a residency visa and are required to take an HIV test. This test cannot be administered prior to arrival in Yemen, as the Yemeni government does not accept any test results other than those from national health clinics. An HIV-positive result will prohibit a residency visa from being issued, and you will be asked to leave the country.
18. Does YLC arrange flights for students?
A roundtrip airline ticket is included in the regular package price for any students coming from America (New York, Washington DC, Boston, and Dayton) or Europe (Paris, London, Frankfurt, and Rome). A student may request airfare from any other city, which the YLC will try to accommodate with possible additional costs. A student should indicate on his/her registration form the desired dates of departure and return as well as the departure city. The YLC has a special agreement with Yemenia Airlines, which provides us with year-round discounted tickets and flexible tickets in case any student wishes to change their reservation or flight itinerary.
19. Can I arrange my own flight to Yemen?
While we encourage you to fly on a YLC-organized flight, a student may opt to arrange his/her own flight. The YLC head office will then deduct the cost of our ticket from your package price. Please check with your representative for a package price without the airfare. A student is then responsible for informing the YLC head office in Sana’a with their flight details, so we can ensure an airport pickup and that your room will be ready. The student is also required to plan their departure and return dates around the YLC term schedule.
20. How does the YLC arrange my ticket?
The departure city and dates of departure and return that you indicate on your registration form will be used to reserve your ticket. Once a reservation has been made under your name, the YLC will inform you of your flight itinerary to which you may make changes before the ticket is issued. After your full payment is received, the YLC issues your ticket.
21. How do I receive my ticket?
If you are flying from Rome, Frankfurt, Paris, or London, your tickets will be made available to you at the Yemenia check-in counters of the respective airports prior to checking in. The YLC will issue your ticket after it receives full payment. Once your ticket has been issued, the YLC will provide you with the contact information of the respective Yemenia Office along with your ticket reservation number. You are responsible for confirming that your ticket has been issued and that you will pick it up on your date of departure when you check-in. You may also request that the tickets be sent to your home having given at least two weeks notice.
If you are coming from the United States or any other location without a direct flight to Yemen, the ticket will be sent to your home. Once your full payment is received, the YLC will issue your ticket. Once your ticket has been issued, the YLC will provide you with the contact information of the nearest Yemenia Office along with your ticket reservation number. You are responsible for calling this office to confirm that your ticket has been issued and for providing it with the address to which you would like the ticket sent.
22. Can I make changes to my reservation?
You may request to make changes to the first leg of your journey (i.e. flying to Sana’a) at any time before your ticket has been issued. Once your ticket has been issued, changes may only be made to the return portion of your journey, which may incur additional fees. This is best done when you are already in Yemen. As long as destinations are not changed and the same class of seats as your initial reservation is available, changes may be made at a minimal fee or no extra charge to students. The YLC will do its best to accommodate a student’s requests, but cannot guarantee that they will be fulfilled.
23. What is my baggage allowance?
For flights from Europe you are allowed 30kg.
For flights from the USA and Canada, you are allowed two pieces of luggage of up to 50lbs each.
These figures are from May 2007, but are subject to change. Please check with your local Yemenia Office for updated weight limits.
24. Can I state my seat preferences?
The YLC cannot reserve your seat for you. You may call Yemenia yourself once you receive the reservation from YLC to state your preferences. Students whose initial flight is not with Yemenia must call the respective airline to state their seat preferences.
25. What if I cancel after paying the $500 (€500) deposit?
You will be refunded $300 (€300). $200 (€200) will be kept by the YLC to cover administrative fees.
26. What if I cancel after making the full payment before arriving in Sana’a?
If your ticket and visa have not been issued, you will be refunded all but $200 (€200) of your total payment.
If your ticket and visa have been issued, the cost of your ticket and visa processing fee will be deducted from the refund i.e. total payment minus ticket costs minus visa costs minus $200 (€200).
27. What if I cancel my studies after I arrive in Yemen?
A student must give a two-week written notification stating his/her early cancellation. Students will be refunded 50% on tuition, meals, and housing fees remaining after the two-week notice period. Any additional airfare fees that are a result of early cancellation are the responsibility of the student.
If a student cancels his/her studies at the YLC due to a medical emergency that requires him/her to leave the country, the YLC will refund the entire remaining balance. Other non-voluntary cancellations may also qualify for a full refund of the remaining balance.
During the special summer program for university students, early cancellations are non-refundable.
28. How many contact hours will I have in 5 weeks?
100 hours (4 hours per day, 5 days a week) in group classes. 50hours (2 hours per day, 5 days a week) in individual classes.
29. What is the focus of the Arabic Program at the YLC?
The program’s primary goal is to unlock a student’s tongue. The program is designed to get students speaking as soon as possible, whether you have had previous Arabic experience or not. In addition to speaking, reading and writing are emphasized and grammar topics are covered as they arise rather than as a separate entity. Please visit the Arabic language program’s website to get more information on our teaching philosophy and goals (www.ylcint.com/html/programdescription.htm).
30. How many students are in a class?
The group classes for Arabic are capped at eight students. Outside of the summer program, most classes have fewer than eight students.
31. What textbooks are used for classes?
The primary textbook used is the Al-Kitaab series. Beginning and Intermediate classes use part I & II, respectively, and Al-Kitaab III is rarely used for our Advanced classes. Many supplementary materials are used in addition to Al-Kitaab.
32. Do I have to purchase textbooks?
All supplementary materials are provided by the center for your classes, but you will need to either purchase the Al-Kitaab book from our library in Sana’a, or bring your own copy from home. We sell the book for $65. We sell the book at cost and are not profiting from its sale.
33. How are classes divided?
During the orientation at the beginning of the term, all students with previous Arabic study are required to take a placement exam. This includes an oral, written, and listening part, lasting about two hours. After the exams are corrected, students are placed into groups no larger than six per class. This is to ensure that students are placed at their appropriate level. During the first week of classes, if a teacher notices a student does not fit into the level of the class level, adjustments are made as necessary.
34. Can I transfer credit to my university?
University students wishing to obtain credit for their Arabic studies at YLC should first consult with the study abroad or registrar office at their home university. The YLC can provide the study abroad or registrar office with any documents requested, such as a letter of acceptance into our program or course syllabi. Upon completion of the Arabic program after the final examination, students wishing to receive university credit can request an official transcript in addition to their YLC certificate. The YLC does have agreements with many universities around the world, but it is the responsibility of the student to ensure transfer of credit.
35. Can I come between the term dates listed on the registration form and website?
Students may come on dates other than the ones listed during non-summer terms. Please contact YLC to arrange your studies. During the summer terms, it is not possible to come between term dates or for periods other than 5, 10, or 15-week study, unless the full term fee is paid. For example, a student wishing to come for 8 weeks during the summer must pay the full 10 week amount. However, these exceptions are subject to approval from the YLC head office in Sana’a.
36. What type of housing does YLC offer?
YLC offers single and shared rooms with shared bathrooms throughout the year. Single room accommodation is more expensive than shared room accommodation and should be requested ahead of time.
During non-summer terms, YLC also offers single rooms with private bathrooms, suites with kitchenettes and bathroom, as well as one apartment with a full kitchen and private bathroom.
During the summer terms, most all rooms are shared rooms and there are only a limited number of single rooms available, which need to be reserved well ahead of time. Additional housing may be rented outside of YLC facilities, but with similar standard of living to that found in the YLC.
37. Can I get a single room?
Single rooms are available throughout the year, but need to be reserved ahead of time. Especially during the summer months, single rooms must be reserved several months ahead of time.
38. Can guests stay over in my room?
Guests may only stay in our facilities if there are extra beds available that are not reserved for prospective students. If you are staying in a shared room and spaces are available, guests can stay in your room paying a set shared room nightly rate. Guests may also rent other rooms if space is available paying the standard rate for the room. For rates, please contact YLC.
39. Is alcohol allowed in the facilities?
Alcohol is prohibited in all YLC facilities. We also discourage students from drinking outside of the center, and do not allow any visible intoxication on our premises. Failure to comply with this rule can result in expulsion. Drinking alcohol is not a common practice in Yemen and it is badly looked upon in Yemeni society. Drunkenness in public is forbidden by law and can lead to arrest.
40. Is housing provided between terms?
If you are staying for the following term, housing between terms is included in your package price. If you request to stay extra days, before or after the term, you will have to pay for the extra nights and this is subject to availability.
41. What amenities are provided in a standard YLC room?
All rooms are furnished with a bed, desk, and closet for each student. Students are also provided with sheets, a pillow, and a towel. All rooms other than Bab As-Sabah have their own telephone. The telephone only enables students to make internal calls within the YLC. A student can open an account that enables him/her to make local and international phone calls.
42. How many roommates will I have?
Unless you pay for a single room, you will be housed in a shared room. Shared rooms range from doubles to quintuples, depending on the size of the room. Regardless of the number of roommates, each student is provided with his/her own desk and closet that can be locked.
43. How are rooms assigned?
Students are placed together in rooms based on a number of factors, including age, gender, and language. Students can request to be housed with a particular student. Although we cannot guarantee individual student housing requests, we try our best to accommodate them.
44. Are dormitories mixed-gender?
All YLC housing facilities are mixed-gender. Although we try to make each floor gender-specific, students should be prepared to share bathrooms and common spaces with members of the opposite sex.
45. How much money do I need to bring?
The amount of money you spend in Yemen is completely up to you and depends on your needs and interests. To have an idea of the cost of living in Yemen, the following is a list of prices for basic items: kebab (50YR – 200YR); 0.75cl water (35YR); meal (120YR – 1500YR); taxi (200YR – 500YR); bus (20YR – 40YR). (These prices were recorded in May 2007 and are subject to change.)
46. What is the exchange rate?
Current exchange rates:
€ 1 = 269YR
$ 1 = 198YR
These rates are subject to change. For up to date exchange rates please visit www.xe.com.
47. Should I bring traveler’s checks?
There are only a handful of places in Yemen where traveler’s checks can be exchanged. Very few establishments accept them and the exchange rate is never a good one. YLC recommends that you bring some cash and your ATM/Banking Card (MasterCard and Visa) which enables you to take money from your account via an ATM.
48. Can I use my credit card in Yemen?
Only high-end establishments allow you to pay by credit card. YLC recommends that you bring some cash and your ATM/Banking Card (MasterCard and Visa) which enables you to take money from your account via an ATM.
49. Is it safe to bring cash?
The crime rate in Sana’a is very low and one rarely hears of pick-pocketing crimes. If you decide to bring cash and do not feel comfortable leaving it in your room, you may store your money in our safe, from where you can retrieve it as needed at your convenience.
50. What should I wear as a foreign woman?
The majority of Yemeni women wear the Saudi Baltu, hijab, and niqab. It is a loosely-fitting piece of black clothing that covers every part of the woman’s body other than her eyes. While there is no need for a female student to wear the baltu, we ask all of our female students to respect Yemeni culture by dressing conservatively. It is always advisable to wear loose-fitting and non-revealing clothing when walking outside of the YLC facilities. Some female students choose to wear a head scarf, but this is not required and most choose not to wear it. It is most important not to expose your skin (other than hands, feet, and face) and to wear clothes that do not accentuate your breasts and behind. If you do not have any clothes that fit this description, you may buy them upon arrival in Yemen.
51. What should I wear as a man?
The dress-code for men is much less strict than it is for women. However, YLC does not allow its male students to wear shorts outside of the center and encourages them to wear long-sleeved shirts.
52. Is it safe to travel in Yemen?
Travel to some areas of the country is restricted by the central government out of concern for the safety of tourists. However, the majority of the country is open and accessible by public transportation. You will encounter several checkpoints while traveling in Yemen, but with a travel document from the Yemen Language Center you should not have any problem passing through.
53. What are travel permits?
Travel permits are issued by the Tourist Police and are needed in addition to travel documents to visit certain locations in Yemen. These locations change from time to time depending on the perceived threat to foreigners determined by the central government. Currently, two popular areas where a travel permit is needed are Shihara and Ma’rib.
54. How can I get a travel permit?
Any travel permits needed can be arranged by the Yemen Language Center. To assist with arranging a travel permit and travel documents, we request that students fill out an Independent Student Travel form, stating their intended travel with contact information in case of emergency. The form will have to be filled out at least two days prior to any travel outside of Sana’a.
55. Can the center arrange travel for me?
The Yemen Language Center has an internal travel agency called Abu Yunis. Abu Yunis is registered with the Ministry of Tourism, and therefore, is able to receive discounted travel and produce travel documents. Abu Yunis only serves YLC-affiliated guests and students. Most students decide to take advantage of this service, although students are still free to arrange their own travel. Students arranging travel independently of the YKC are still required to fill out an Independent Student Travel form for our records.
56. What trips are included in the package for study at YLC?
Every five weeks, the YLC arranges two day trips outside of Sana’a. These are included in the package price. Our most common destinations offered every five weeks are Manakha in the Haraz Mountains and Thulla, Kowkaban, and Shibam just north of Sana’a. These trips take place on Fridays when there are no classes at the center.
During the summer terms, we also offer a 4-day excursion to Ma’rib and Hadhramout. This is included in the summer package price, with hotel and meal costs included.57. How hot does it get in the summer?
Sana’a is located at over 2000 meters above sea level, and therefore does not get very hot in the summer compared to Yemen’s lowlands. The air is very dry and the average temperatures are as follows:
June July August September
27ºC/ 81ºF 28ºC/ 82ºF 26ºC/ 79ºF 26ºC/ 79ºF
58. How cold is the winter in Sana’a?
Although Yemen is located on the Arabian Peninsula, winter can get chilly. There is a stark contract between day and night temperatures and the average given below is for day time temperatures. During winter nights, temperatures can drop down to 0ºC/ 32ºF. Average day time temperatures are:
December January February March
21ºC/ 70ºF 22ºC/ 72ºF 24ºC/ 75ºF 25ºC/ 77ºF
59. What sort of plugs are in use in Yemen?
Throughout Yemen, the three-pronged British system is used. It is very easy and cheap to find electric converters and adapters in Sana’a.
60. What voltage is used?
220V.
61. Can I bring my laptop?
The YLC encourages students to bring their laptops. Students that live in the Main Building and the Guesthouse, have 24h wireless internet service, to which they can connect from their rooms.
62. Does the center provide access to the internet?
The YLC provides all students with 24h access to the internet. The main computer lab is located on the ground floor of the Main Building and has 11 computers. There are four more computers with internet access in the Guesthouse. Students that live in the Main Building and the Guesthouse, have 24h wireless internet service, to which they can connect from their rooms.
63. How widespread is the internet in Yemen?
Internet cafes are mushrooming in all of Yemen’s large cities. However, villages and smaller towns do not yet offer internet cafes.
64. What vaccinations are recommended when visiting Yemen?
If you are staying in Yemen for five weeks or less, the recommended vaccinations are for diphtheria, hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, and yellow fever. Some health officials recommend malaria pills if traveling to coastal regions in Yemen.
If you are staying for over five months, the additional vaccinations recommended are tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and rabies. It is always best to consult your physician when planning a trip abroad.
65. Are there modern health facilities in Yemen?
The Saudi-German hospital opened in June 2006 near the Sana’a International Airport with modern, clean facilities. We recommend all of our students to use this hospital in case of illness or emergency, and have had very good reports from students on the quality of healthcare. The YLC has an agreement with the Saudi-German hospital, which offers our students a 25% discount off services.
66. What happens if I get sick?
YLC staff is always on call in case of any student illness or emergency. We provide students with transportation to and from the hospital and any further assistance needed. Students are responsible for their hospital and medication expenses.
67. Is health insurance provided?
The YLC does not provide health insurance for its students. It is recommended for a student to check with their current provider whether he/she is covered while in Yemen. Temporary travel insurance can be bought via many insurance providers. Full-time university students should check with STA Travel for discounted travel insurance.
68. Do I need to bring my own medicine?
If you are on any specific, doctor-prescribed medication, it is wisest to have enough supplies for the duration of your stay. Pharmacies stock both generic medicines and widely used prescription drugs i.e. penicillin, insulin, and antibiotics.
69. Is Yemen safe?
Throughout its 17 year history and over 8,000 students, the YLC has not experienced a single incident of a threat or danger to one of its students. Students often comment on how Yemen is misrepresented in the media in terms of security.
We advise all students to check their country’s travel advisory to Yemen. When reading it, please remember that these advisories are politically driven and are written in a manner that seeks to lessen your country’s accountability for you. It is always good to compare Yemen’s travel advisory with other countries that you may have visited or know more about.
70. What is security like at the YLC?
All YLC facilities are accessible only by a locked gate, with 24-hour guard access. The YLC maintains a close relationship with the foreign embassies in Sana’a, the national Yemeni Political Security, and the Yemeni government.
71. Do I need to register with my Embassy in Yemen?
While you are not required to register, the YLC recommends that all students register with their embassies, especially if staying for an extended period of time.
72. What kinds of meals are included in the meal plan?
Having purchased the meal plan, you are provided with breakfast and lunch, five days per week (Saturday – Wednesday). Breakfast is served from 7am – 8am and usually consists of bread, jam, cheese, as well as beans, eggs, yoghurt or fruit. Lunch is served at noon (or according to your class schedule during the summer). Lunch is a mixture of Yemeni and Western foods that always consists of a vegetable dish, rice or potatoes, meat or fish as well as soups, salads and fruit.
73. Is there a vegetarian option at the center?
While there is no specific vegetarian dish prepared, students are always provided with a choice of non-meat dishes. However, please understand that due to the limited selection of foods in Yemen, we are not able to provide specifically vegetarian meals. If you are particular about your diet, there are student kitchens in each of our housing facilities.
74. What are my food options outside the YLC?
Many students make use of the student kitchens in their housing facilities for dinner and weekend meals. There are also plenty of restaurants and other eating options within walking distance from the center. The main meal in Yemen is lunch; hence, dinner options are limited.
75. Are meals provided between terms?
Meals outside of term dates are not included in the student package price. During these breaks, student kitchens remain open.76. Is it safe to study in Yemen as a foreign woman?
The majority of our students are female (around 60%). There are no specific dangers that a female student faces here, and we have not experienced incidents of physical harm to female students. However, verbal harassment is more common, often stemming from curiosity and the stereotypes of foreign women promoted by advertisements and movies.
77. Are female students often harassed?
Even though many female students experience some form of harassment, rarely does it affect their overall attitude towards Yemen. It generally consists of verbal comments and stares, most often stemming from curiosity and the stereotypes of western women promoted by advertisements and movies. Physical harassment rarely happens. Female students with previous travel to Morocco or Egypt often report less harassment here in Yemen. For prospective female students who are concerned about what treatment to expect, we suggest that you contact a previous female student through our website.
78. Are feminine products available in Yemen?
Most feminine hygiene products are readily available in Yemen, but tampons are not available.
79. Can I bring my mobile phone?
Students studying for longer terms often decide to get a mobile phone. Yemen mobile companies use SIM cards, so if you are bringing your phone from home, it must be SIM-enabled and unlocked for a new number. New and used mobiles are also available in Yemen. To obtain a Yemeni number, you just have to buy a local SIM card and place it in your phone.
80. How do I call internationally from Yemen?
There are several ways to call home while you are in Yemen. The cheapest is with a voice-over-internet program (i.e. Skype) using our internet connection. Due to the overwhelming amount of bandwidth this takes, Skyping is not allowed during office hours of 8am-8pm and is not always reliable. You may also use your room’s telephone to make international calls after having unlocked it with a $50 deposit. International calling centers are readily available throughout the city.
81. Can I send and receive mail while in Yemen?
The post office is within walking distance from the YLC. The Yemeni postal service is quite reliable for sending packages, letters, and postcards. You can also receive mail during your stay by using the following address:
Your Name
c/o The Yemen Language Center
P.O. Box 3671
Sana’a, The Republic of Yemen
82. Are there age limits to study at YLC?
The YLC accepts any student over the age of 18 as long as they are physically and mentally able to study in Yemen. We have had elderly students before, but rarely take students under 18 unless under special circumstances and with parental approval.
83. What if I am Jewish?
The YLC has hosted many Jewish students in the past and their religious orientation has never posed a problem. However, we do caution Jewish students from sharing their religious views with Yemenis, especially outside of the center. Unfortunately, a dislike for Israel is associated with Judaism, and as a result, Jewish students may encounter anti-Jewish sentiments during their stay.
84. What if I’m a gay student?
The YLC does not discriminate based on someone’s sexual orientation. However, homosexuality is illegal in Yemen, and we, therefore, caution a student from being open about this in Yemen. Though a student may feel comfortable being open about their sexual orientation with fellow foreign students, he/she should realize that Yemenis will not have the same attitude towards homosexuality. Since homosexuality is such a taboo subject in Yemen, rarely are gay students identified or harassed due to their sexual orientation.