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Volunteer to Teach English & Study Arabic in Germany
The Volunteer to Teach English and Study Arabic in Germany program provides you with the opportunity to volunteer with refugees, immigrants, and Germans in Halle (Saale) while studying the Arabic language and practicing it with native speakers from Syria, Sudan, and Palestine. While volunteering, you will also become familiar with the Arabic and German cultures as you live daily life in the city. ...
The Volunteer to Teach English and Study Arabic in Germany program provides you with the opportunity to volunteer with refugees, immigrants, and Germans in Halle (Saale) while studying the Arabic language and practicing it with native speakers from Syria, Sudan, and Palestine. While volunteering, you will also become familiar with the Arabic and German cultures as you live daily life in the city. Volunteers in Germany will meet many new people, internationals, and locals alike. You will engage in community and educational activities throughout your stay, interacting and working with refugees—many of whom are Syrians. We welcome participants all year round, with program durations ranging from 1-12 weeks. This volunteer program is open to applicants who would like to help community me...
Program Highlights
Learn creative teaching techniques and wisely planning English classes to achieve the best results.
Participate in educational, social, and community activities—all intended to provide a space where locals, refugees, and program participants can meet and get to know one another.
Experience the hospitality of Arabs and the Arabic culture by being a part of the Excellence Center’s activities.
Enjoy a three-day weekend, from Friday to Sunday, which is free for exploring beautiful Halle and traveling to other places in Germany.
Live with a German or refugee host family and build a relationship with them, as well as share daily breakfasts at the Center with the EC community.
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Quick Details
- Halle, Germany
- American
- European
- Canadian
- Australian
- South African
Awards



Program Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
An interesting experience
August 26, 2023by: Aliyah Khan - United KingdomProgram: Volunteer to Teach English & Study Arabic in GermanyMy accommodation was about a 15 minute tram ride away in Neustadt. It was a tiny student apartment which was designed to be for 1 person, however there were 2 of us staying in it. We did find the apartment in a tragically unclean state and spent the Sunday we arrived cleaning it. I did let Rafat know and he was prompt in organising a cleaner to come the next day to give it a once over. The fridge in the apartment had a ring of black mould, which meant I couldn't keep any unsealed food in there. I also found some mould in my pillow. I do think the centre should provide photos etc of the accommodation, so that volunteers can have a choice of finding their own place in the city. What was also incredibly concerning was the lack of any safeguarding procedures at The Excellence Centre. There was nothing in place to protect the young students that come through. I really hope this changes in the future in line with German law. I would also urge other future volunteers to ask for a breakdown of where the £300 per week actually goes as it seems a little extortionate for Halle and that you're paying so much to volunteer your own time. On the positive side- Ali was a fantastic arabic tutor- I learnt more from him than I did at S0AS classes in London. He and Muaz were also so welcoming and social with the other volunteers. Ali's family also made us fresh falafel one morning- best ever! The other volunteers were all from different places so it was a great experience meeting new people and getting to know them, everyone was very kind and we had some great times. The experience overall was amazing, it's truly the the people that make the place. I loved teaching the students I had for the 3 weeks I was there, one of whom gave me some delicious Syrian coffee before I left.



Two weeks of teaching and studying
April 28, 2023by: Uli N - GermanyProgram: Volunteer to Teach English & Study Arabic in GermanyI spent two weeks teaching German and studying Arabic at the Excellence Center. (I would have taught English as well, but there were enough other volunteers at the time.) Everyone at the centre is really nice and friendly. Even though there was a significant age gap between the other short-term volunteers/students (all of them 19 or 20 years old) and me, everybody was happy to chat about this and that. Also Salma, Nargis and Ali, who work at the centre long term, were incredibly welcoming and created good vibes. I taught a lovely Syrian lady every day, an almost complete beginner, and it was very rewarding to see her use the simple words and sentences we covered. As all the regular Arabic teachers were busy or away, Nargis (herself an intern) became my Arabic teacher. She was extremely helpful and patient and I got a lot of speaking practice (always my main concern when I take lessons). My suggestion for the centre would be improved communication in organising stuff, like having a staff handbook with the basics about who is who and how the centre is run, and giving teachers more info about their prospective students before their first lesson. I liked the fact that everyone gives presentations once in a while (about teaching methods, about themselves, and Salma about the situation of refugees in Halle) and found it really interesting to listen to them. Halle itself is a nice, not overwhelmingly large city, which makes it easy to get around, with great cafés and beautiful architecture in the centre. Thanks, danke and shukran everyone!

A great time at the Excellence Center
March 23, 2023by: Rosa Strange - United KingdomProgram: Volunteer to Teach English & Study Arabic in GermanyI can’t emphasise enough how glad I am that I decided to come to the Excellence Center. It was a step out of my comfort zone, but definitely worth the experience. I stayed in Halle for 4 weeks, teaching English and studying Arabic, and I can honestly say it has been one of the most interesting, fulfilling, and educational experiences of my life. The atmosphere at the Center is really relaxed and friendly, with the lovely staff making an effort to ensure that your entire experience in Halle is enjoyable, as well as looking out for your well being and helping out if you have problems. They don’t feel like your employees, teachers or colleagues, but like your friends. We all made and ate breakfast together every morning. In my last week at the Center it was the beginning of Ramadan, and I was invited to eat Iftar with the other volunteers and staff. Halle probably isn’t the first city you’d think of visiting if you came to Germany, but there’s lots of friendly people here and it’s easy to visit bigger cities like Leipzig and Berlin on the train for a day trip. I found that the lack of tourists and English speakers made it a great place to practise speaking German, which is something you don’t get in most major German cities. It also has a large Arabic speaking community, so I ended up hearing lots of Arabic being spoken: at the Center, around the city, and when spending time with people I met at the Center, who often had Arabic as a first language. This was super useful for immersion and for practising what I’d learnt in classes. This immersion continued where I was living, as I stayed with a Syrian host family, who spoke the same dialect of Arabic which I was studying. They were also really lovely and I enjoyed talking to them. I don’t know if this is the case with all the host families, but I wasn’t offered food every evening, and often organised my own, which was fine, but is something that future volunteers might want to make sure they’re aware of. I taught 7 students English, mostly in one-to-one classes, and they ranged a lot in age and English ability. There’s no set course, so I decided with the students what to teach them and for how many hours per week. The students were all from countries other than Germany, and many were refugees, so it was really interesting talking to them about their experiences, and differences between their home countries, Germany and the UK. I think I probably learnt as much from them as they learnt from me. I also had one-to-one Arabic lessons with Muaz, who is both a brilliant teacher and a really friendly guy. We had traditional classroom-style lessons, but would also go into town to visit Arabic shops and restaurants, which was a good way of practising spoken Arabic in a real-life context. I spent lots of my free time with the other volunteers at the Center, as well as with other local young people from Halle, who I met through Center staff and students. We went out in Halle in the evenings, and also visited other cities in the area on the weekends. I met so many different people, from different countries and with different life stories to me, and formed friendships which I’m sure will continue into the future. Coming to the Excellence Center is not just studying at a language school, but a cultural and social experience, which you don’t come across often in your life. I really enjoyed my time here and would definitely recommend the program for anyone who wants to do something useful with their English skills, learn about new languages and cultures, meet some great people, or just do something a bit different for a few weeks. I can’t thank the Excellence Center enough for the great experiences I’ve had over the last month!



Program Details
Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know
Locations
- Halle, Germany
Types and Subjects
- Languages
- Arabic
- Causes
- Community Centers
- Community Development
Availability
Years Offered: 2020, 2021, Year Round, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- 5-8 Weeks
- 9-12 Weeks
- Summer
Age Requirement
Age Requirement Varies
Guidelines
- American
- European
- Canadian
- Australian
Cost per week
Accommodation Options
- Apartment/Flat
- Dormitory
- Group living
- Guest House
Qualifications & Experience
- English
Language Skills Required
- Any/All Education Levels Accepted
Accepted Education Levels
Application Procedures
- Written Application
- Phone/Video Interview
- Online Application
Ready to Learn More?
The Volunteer to Teach English and Study Arabic in Germany program provides you with the opportunity to volunteer with refugees, immigrants, and Germans in Halle (Saale) while studying the Arabic language and practicing it with native speakers from Syria, Sudan, and Palestine. While volunteering, you will also become familiar with the Arabic and German cultures as you live daily life in the city. Volunteers in Germany will meet many new people, internationals, and locals alike. You will engage in community and educational activities throughout your stay, interacting and working with refugees—many of whom are Syrians. We welcome participants all year round, with program durations ranging from 1-12 weeks. This volunteer program is open to applicants who would like to help community me...

The Excellence Center in Europe

The Excellence Center in Europe
Ready to Learn More?
The Volunteer to Teach English and Study Arabic in Germany program provides you with the opportunity to volunteer with refugees, immigrants, and Germans in Halle (Saale) while studying the Arabic language and practicing it with native speakers from Syria, Sudan, and Palestine. While volunteering, you will also become familiar with the Arabic and German cultures as you live daily life in the city. Volunteers in Germany will meet many new people, internationals, and locals alike. You will engage in community and educational activities throughout your stay, interacting and working with refugees—many of whom are Syrians. We welcome participants all year round, with program durations ranging from 1-12 weeks. This volunteer program is open to applicants who would like to help community me...
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