This paper will explore the new routes New York University in Abu Dhabi is taking to forge a new learning philosophy that is based on combining learning and experience throughout the years student are on campus. I will look more specifically at the Arabic program at the Dhabi (NYUAD) which depends largely on an experiential learning pedagogy in all its language instruction offerings. We like to keep our students engaged and involved in new experiences while working to build their confidence in learning. One of the successful ways to reach this goal, NYUAD offers students a chance to travel regularly in the Middle East and North Africa region and learn Arabic while engaging with different communities and different language varieties. To assess the results of student learning during these immersion programs, we review student evaluations and assessment of their own personal and professional growth which, together with other forms of assessment, instructors are able to redesign or finetune programs to go in line with the learning processes we plan. We will also look at the degree to which awareness of geo-politics and culture and language play a role in student career choices, academic retention, and intercultural awareness and how the Arabic instructor community at NYUAD is involved with this process to empower and create more global citizens. . .