Arabic Language Schools in Germany

I wasn't sure what to expect with the Excellence Centre but I felt so welcomed as soon as I arrived. Rafat is wonderful, considerate, proudly Palestinian, and treats everyone like family. I loved getting to know him and hearing about Palestine. Rafat would also make breakfast for everyone every morning, it was very homey. Muaz was my teacher for intensive Arabic, as a result, I spent around 3 hours a day with him for 5 days a week and became very fond of him. He's known for being very funny, but he is also very very compassionate, and as a refugee from Syria incredibly strong. I learned more in 2 weeks with him than I had for an entire year of studying Arabic. I can't really put into words how incredible he is at teaching, he has a gift for it, and the 3-hour classes always felt like 5 minutes. There were times when I used to sit beside the heater because it was warm and he would come sit next to me on the floor and teach me there, no questions asked. Another time when I wanted to try cooking Ful, so he came early in the morning and taught me Arabic whilst cooking with me. He would also always offer to make me tea which is really sweet. The classes are tailored around you. Everyone who works here is so lovely, and I'm going to struggle to find a teacher like Muaz again. The classes aren't like being in school/university, they are a lot more relaxed and personal, and the time goes by quickly. We took a class going around Halle and meeting Muaz's friend's shop who speaks Arabic and is very funny, we also took a class whilst touring around Leipzig, which was a lot of fun. Rafat also takes everyone out to dinner the day someone is leaving, we went to a beautiful Yemeni restaurant that is hidden away and you can't find it online. I was really sad to leave the Excellence Centre, I've made so many core memories there.

I wasn't sure what to expect with the Excellence Centre but I felt so welcomed as soon as I arrived. Rafat is wonderful, considerate, proudly Palestinian, treats everyone like family. I loved getting to know him and hearing about Palestine. Rafat would also make breakfast for everyone every morning, it was very homey. Muaz was my teacher for intensive arabic, as a result I spent around 3hours a day with him for 5 days a week and became very fond of him. He's known for being very funny, but he is also very very compassionate, and as a refugee from Syria incredibly strong. I learnt more in 2 weeks with him than I had for an entire year of studying Arabic. I can't really put into words how incredible he is at teaching, he has a gift for it, and the 3 hour classes always felt like 5 minutes. There were times where I used to sit besides the heater because it was warm and he would come sit next to me on the floor and teach me there, no questions asked. Another time where I wanted to try cooking Ful, so he came early in the morning and taught me Arabic whilst cooking with me. He would also always offer to make me tea which is really sweet. The classes are tailored around you. Everyone who works here is so lovely, and I'm going to struggle to find a teacher like Muaz again. The classes aren't like being in school/university, they are a lot more relaxed and personal; the time goes by quick. We took a class going around Halle and meeting Muaz's friend's shop who speaks Arabic and is very funny, we also took a class whilst touring around Leipzig, which was a lot of fun. Rafat also takes everyone out to dinner the day someone is leaving, we went to a beautiful Yemeni restaurant that is hidden away and you can't find online. I was really sad to leave the Excellence Centre, I've made so many core memories there.

I didn't know what to expect when I arrived at the ECE. I have studied abroad before, and while my previous experience was incredible, I was worried nothing could top it. I was wrong. It was everything I wanted and more. I stayed for five weeks, which unfortunately flew by much too fast. The Arabic language instruction was perfect, as the classes were small enough to accommodate my level. Every single member of the staff was incredibly kind. Rafat makes great choices in his staff. Breakfast every morning was amazing. Healthy and delicious. My teachers were not just my teachers; they quickly became my friends. They introduced me to the community in Halle, and I made even more friends. I became especially close to my teacher, Ali, and I have made a lifelong friend with him. To end my review, I must say, TRY SHAWARMA. It is one of the best dishes ever created.

Spending three months at the Excellence Center was an incredibly enriching experience. From the moment I arrived in Halle, I was struck by the warm and inclusive atmosphere that the center fosters. The combination of cultural exchange, language learning, and community involvement made this journey both educational and personally fulfilling. Immersive Language Learning: The Arabic language course was one of the standout aspects of my time at the center. The instructors were highly skilled and genuinely passionate about teaching. The immersive approach, which extended beyond the classroom, helped me quickly grasp the language and gain confidence in my speaking abilities. Initially, I found it nerve-wracking to speak with locals, but the patience shown by everyone—from my teachers to the local community—eased my fears. Over time, I became much more comfortable conversing in Arabic and even started looking forward to practicing with native speakers. Supportive Community and Personal Growth: The sense of community at the Excellence Center is truly special. The staff and fellow participants were always ready to offer support, whether it was related to language learning, volunteering projects, or simply adjusting to life in Halle. The friendships I formed during my stay were another highlight—I met people from all over the world, and together, we shared experiences, supported each other, and grew both linguistically and personally. Final Thoughts: My time at the Excellence Center was an eye-opening and transformative journey. The combination of language learning and cultural exchange provided me with invaluable skills and perspectives. I left with a greater appreciation for cultural diversity, stronger language abilities, and lasting memories. If you’re looking for an experience that will challenge and inspire you, I highly recommend the Excellence Center.

I spent 8 weeks at the Excellence Centre in Halle. It was my second summer doing an "Arabic Intensive" course. Last summer I was at the University of Wisconsin in Madison: two Arabic intensives, two very different summers. In Madison, the setting was academic: grades, exams, and hours spent at the campus library. In Halle, the setting was full of life. I went to the Excellence Centre to learn Arabic and am so grateful I did. At the Excellence Centre, Arabic is taken out of the textbooks. It's given life, it becomes full of colours, history, and emotions. It's in Halle that I felt, rather than merely knew, why I was learning Arabic. We did use a textbook to learn the grammar and studied the vocab sheets. But, and that's when I learned the most, we also translated songs, played games, made breakfast, and wrote love letters. We carefully listened to Muaz telling us about Al-Andalus, asked him to repeat himself when we got lost in the history or the Arabic. We went to the zoo, museums, coffee shops, and Arab restaurants. We travelled to Leipzig and Berlin. Muaz made Arabic fun, interesting, and beautiful. The Arabic I will learn after the Centre will have its roots in Halle. At the Excellence Centre, I felt welcomed and encouraged to be part of a community. I have met such caring and brilliant people. Thank you for everything.

I participated in a 7 week intensive study of Levantine Arabic at the Excellence Center in Halle, Germany. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life. As an Arab-American, it felt in many ways to be a deep dive into my identity. My father spoke Arabic to me growing up but I always responded in English and never learned to read or write. Upon learning the alphabet and all of the forms of each letter, piecing together basic words and sentences (through writing and reading) was a deeply meaningful privilege. I loved learning the Arabic language, it felt like slowly working towards solving a puzzle. I love the inherent artistic qualities of the language which allow for individual creativity in writing and ease with constructing poetic phrases with double meanings and the like. My teacher Muaz created a rich learning environment filled with numerous methods to cement classroom concepts such as studying Arabic songs, delivering comical presentations, acting in everyday scenarios and ordering food from local restaurants in Arabic. Furthermore, I particularly liked the well-rounded education we received because there were many opportunities to learn about Arab and Levantine history, culture, food, customs, and music to name a few. I believe that this circular style of teaching encouraged a more lively learning environment because we could see the practicality of the language in real-life scenarios instead of just rote memorization from a textbook (though there was some of this traditional style learning as well). As for the center itself, I became very fond of Rafat Shantir’s innovative idea to bring together people from all over the globe in a highly participatory and communal manner. If you sign up for language study (Arabic or German) you will have ample opportunities to meet local Germans and/or Arab immigrants/refugees, and you will become part of the Excellence Center global community. There are many activities such as weekly soccer games, social outings, visits to neighboring cities and chances to interact with others at the center, most notably the daily delicious group breakfasts which I always looked forward to. If you haven’t finalized your decision yet, as I hadn’t in spring of 2024, I encourage you to go ahead and apply. It was truly one of my favorite life experiences where I met some amazing people, got to experience a small German town with delicious food, parks/green spaces, cultural events and made some life-long friendships. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Rafat, Muaz, Ali and all of the other employees, volunteers and others I met and interacted with at the center!

The Center is absolutely a lovely experience which I would recommend to anyone interested in learning Arabic! I had two teachers during my 5 weeks in Halle who were both very enthusiastic and helpful. Class size was small which meant that instruction could be tailored to our interests and needs in learning. Cultural education is also mixed in beautifully with lessons in etymology, translating songs and poems, and restaurant visits. Outside of class, the Center also has an amazing community feeling from the very first day. There were a lot of opportunities to hang out with the other amazing students and volunteers including breakfast every weekday, cafe visits, park hangouts, and weekend trips. Overall, this is absolutely an amazing opportunity both for learning language and culture and to meet an amazing international community. I have had a wonderful summer and definitely plan to return!

Doing the Intensive Arabic Program in Halle is getting inspired via stories, poetry and songs by teachers who enjoy sharing their passion for the Arabic language and culture. It’s going from the feeling of gluing little words together and hoping it makes sense to having actual (even if still small) conversations in Arabic. It’s getting encouraged to continue exploring and learning. And this in a welcoming and accepting environment.

I came to the center to study Arabic intensively for 12 weeks, 3 hours a day. This is the most intense program of study possible, which I did because I wanted to learn as much Arabic as I could as quickly as possible. While I studied Arabic in college in the US, I had not studied it at all in more than 6 years and had forgotten most of what I learned. In three months I went from barely being able to form complete sentences in Arabic to speaking at a higher level than I ever did in college. In short, 3 months at the Excellence Center improved my Arabic more than 2.5 years at a university. This was possible because the instruction you receive at the Excellence Center is either one-on-one or with only a few other students. As a result, you spend much more time speaking directly with your teacher, and therefore have much more time to practice your language skills in a practical environment. In addition to being skilled teachers, the teachers are all friendly and contribute to a pleasant and welcoming environment around the center. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to improve their Arabic skills quickly.

Hello everyone! I hope that you are doing well. I definitely enjoyed my stay at the Excellence Center! The atmosphere was very welcoming, the staff and volunteers nice and my Arabic teacher amazing! The lessons were fun and very helpful. The city is beautiful and we visited it with one of the staff. They are many Arabic speakers in Halle, which helps focus and learn the language. We also went to the nice city of Leipzig. I truly recommend you to study or volunteer there! Best wishes from Switzerland, Joëlle

My four week intensive Arabic experience with the Excellence Centre in Europe has been wonderful. All aspects contributed to an enriching journey. The teaching has been first class -- I went from knowing nothing about Arabic to being able to hold smalltalk. In four weeks, I've learnt to conjugate simple tenses well enough to speak about the present, past, future, and desired actions. Of course, I can read and write it just as well. If you are a beginner like me, you will be taught with a tight lesson plan and materials if you ask for it. You can also request for a more target-focus approach -- going directly to whatever specific objectives you have. The friends have been amazing too. For example, we went together on weekend trips to Berlin, Paris, and Prague. 3/3 weekends passed in great fun and discovery, so it wasn't bad at all. It was pretty diverse. In the group we have current college students, pre-uni gap-year students, recent and mid-recent graduates too. Most people here speak some German, so it'd be helpful to request to have a lesson or two at the beginning of your session to be for German. (I can attest to the rigour of the German coursework too -- after an hour, I could compose sentences with adjectives and prepositions about the present and the future/desire.) The host family was very welcoming. l hung out with them right away, even with limited language capabilities, we talked about history, international relations, religion, and personal lives. Accomodation for me was a whole room to myself. I would recommend. Though I didn't cook much, the kitchen was available to use.

I had a great time here at the EC Halle. I really wanted to improve the colloquial arabic language that I already knew. And I did. It is not always easy to find courses of levantine arabic, but I found it here and I do not regret. I got a very good teacher using very inventive and diversified tools in all of his lessons. The level as well was very good and adapted to me and I did a lot of progresses. This all in a very nice atmosphere during the classes and at the Center in general. I recommend it for sure for anyone wanting to learn good and well. The city too is not too big and not too small, we could go out easily to get together with the other students, and we could meet many arabic speakers on the streets to speak to them and practice what we had learned during the lessons.

This was my second trip to the Excellence Centre, the first being my 2 week visit to the Excellence centre in Palestine, and it was so good I decided to come back and spend 4 weeks in Halle on the colloquial Arabic course. Our teacher Muaz was amazing, and my speaking and listening Arabic improved immensely. The centre is like a family environment, where everyone is friendly and supportive and you feel really well looked after. I will definitely plan a return trip to continue my Arabic studies with this wonderful group and organisation.

The best way to describe The Excellence Center is “Family”. After spending 3 weeks in Halle, I genuinely feel like I have a home away from home. The staff, volunteers, and teachers do everything in their power to create an environment of comfortability and love. They go above and beyond to make your stay unforgettable and genuine. While having an unbelievable amount of fun, I also learned an immense amount of Arabic. I participated in the intensive Arabic program with one of the best teachers (in any subject) that I have ever had. Muaz is not only a master of language, but he is a master of teaching. My Arabic lessons were versatile, engaging, immersive, and much more (I could go on forever about how amazing my Arabic teacher/lessons were). I now feel significantly more confident in my Arabic speaking, writing, reading, and listening. The large population of Arabic speakers in Halle also helps you fully immerse yourself in the Arabic language (the Arabic learning doesn’t stop after the lessons!). I could not imagine having a better experience with my language learning. The Excellence Center is an amazing place, full of likeminded people. The staff is qualified and experts at what they do. I recommend The Excellence Center to anyone and everyone who is looking to learn rapidly while having the time of their life!

As an educator, researcher, and native speaker of the Maltese language, I have always had an interest in studying Arabic because it helps me better understand the origins of my mother tongue and allows me to make linguistic comparisons between these two Semitic languages. Having studied Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) for years, I felt the urge to practice what I had learnt in class through an immersion experience in a real Arab community. I learnt about The Excellence Center in Europe, which is located in the middle of the German city of Halle (Saale), a city that is home to many migrants, including Arabs. Such an environment offers a great opportunity for Arab language learners to immerse in both the Arabic language and culture while remaining within a European country. I completed intensive training—which was tailor-made for my needs—in the Levantine Arabic dialect (Shami). The professional but flexible methods used during this training impressed me. The approach included one-on-one classroom instruction from a native Lebanese speaker; however, it also included several opportunities for real-life practice, such as communicating with Arabic restaurant staff, discussing various topics with Arab nationals, watching and discussing short Syrian and Lebanese films with native Levantine speakers. I opted to live with a host family, sharing an apartment with an Arab national. This gave me first-hand experience receiving a warm welcome as a guest in an Arab community. I also received a warm welcome from Mr Rafat Shamir, one of the centre’s co-founders, who addresses the specific needs of every student at the centre. Every morning, learners and staff members have breakfast together in the Arabic way—a great way for people of different nationalities to share experiences and start the day. My experience at the centre was enriching and fruitful. What’s my next step? Who knows? Perhaps a full immersion course at the Excellence Center’s facility in Hebron, Palestine. Dr Charles Daniel Saliba, PhD (Sheffield, UK) www.charlesdanielsaliba.com 19 May 2023 This experience was funded by the Erasmus accreditation in the field of education at Sir M. A. Refalo Sixth Form, An Institute for Further Education, located in Victoria, Gozo, Malta.

The instruction I received in the intensive Arabic course was great and all the lessons were 1 on 1 so I really made progress! For those studying Arabic here though you live in Neustadt which is good for practicing arabic but is quite a bit further than where the german students. You have to take the tram which can be quite unreliable! The accommodation in Neustadt was also a bit run down but my flatmate was very lovely and helped me practice my Arabic! Overall though the teaching is fantastic for the price you pay and it was a huge boost to my arabic, both my teachers Salma and Moaz were great and I will most likely return to study Arabic another time!

I would certainly recommend The Excellence Center to anyone interested in learning or teaching language. The staff consists of a wonderful group of people who are incredibly intelligent, fun, and motivated to help you reach your goals. A daily morning breakfast offers a chance to connect with other students and staff in a way that facilitates an atmosphere of warmth. I never realized how little I use my voice or how much of an introvert I am until I tried learning a new language at the age of 43. My tutor was incredibly patient with me. The course challenged me in ways I didn’t anticipate, but she always made herself available for assistance and encouraged me every step of the way. I will always be grateful for her time and her effort. This is a special place that’s worthy of your consideration.

I had taken a 10 week Arabic course in the US before coming to this program. These 5 weeks were transformative for my ability to actually converse with people and be able to speak. I am so much more comfortable speaking and even gave a 10 minute presentation as a 'final'. My teacher Muaz was really great. Every day we would spend time talking and when I did not know a word it became part of my vocabulary to study. He also exposed me to many other Arabic speaking people so I could practice with different accents and ways of speaking. He was so amazing and I am really sad that the program is already over. In addition to Muaz, the entire center is run by the best people who are so incredibly caring. It was a pleasure to be a part of the family and community at the center!

I'm really grateful for my experience at the Excellence Center. My classes with the intensive program were amazing thanks to my teacher Muaz. Muaz felt more like a family member and a friend than a teacher. He takes his students to the Arabic shops and restaurants to meet his friends and practice Arabic. There was always a variety of activities in class and the classes were really interactive. We translated songs, played games, reviewed homework, role-played, walked around the city and in shops to practice words, practiced reading and did writing exercises. Besides that we had interesting conversations about different topics and cultures. My teacher introduced "mate" to me and taught me how to make make. I learned a lot. I also felt comfortable during class because my teacher is patient, super friendly and he always wants to help even after class. We started the days at the center with breakfast together and there is a weekly dinner. It feels like one big family. The people of the center are super friendly and respectful.

The purpose of my visit was primarily to study Arabic, but also to gain exposure to the local community in Halle. The Excellence Center offered the opportunity to fulfill both aspects. I learned colloquial Levantine Arabic from Abeer. I have studied Arabic previously but what set our lessons apart was the unique take of the study materials. I learnt unusual and funny phrases, which really stick in your head – “the birds in my stomach are chirping”, anyone? It put an interesting spin on daily conversation topics, keeping us from going over the same mundane phrases that are usually parroted in language lessons. Even those who were not my teacher made effort to help where they could.The sheer amount of content we covered was surprising. Unlike most other volunteers, I was not staying with a host family so spending time with Abeer and her family was very fulfilling. I was also able to build a relationship with the other volunteers. The atmosphere at the Center was always welcoming and lively. From (friendly?) debates during our breakfasts together to an afternoon football match (captain of the winning team right here) and cooking lunch for each other, we had many opportunities to get to know one another. I also had my own student I was teaching English to. It’s crazy to think how, amongst other things, refugees are often depicted in media as highly dependent. I think everyone I met in Halle was highly proficient in at least two (more commonly, three or more) languages and working towards their respective goals. The Excellence Center too, run by the community and for the community, functions towards helping people reach their potential in German society. As for Halle itself, it is generally pleasant and quiet. There's enough to keep busy on the weekend, including museums and places to eat. It is also easy to travel to and from Berlin, which I took advantage of. But it’s essential to plan your time carefully – everywhere closes early in this country. What threw me off slightly was the predominance of both Arabic and German language use. By the end of my trip, I have found myself mixing the handful I know of both languages (ليش windig???). Special shoutout to EC's Radwan for helping me on the evening I arrived.