How I did it: Spent 5 months in Damascus and travelled around Syria.  I made the effort to not speak English for periods.  ie. no speaking English (even with foreigners) for a week / a month.  Sometimes I appeared rude, but I was there for language immersion, not to swap tourist stories with other english speakers.    

Lessons & tips: Learn as much Arabic as possible before getting there.  

Resources: Internet forums.  

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Sep 26, 2009, 07:05PM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers