Learn Arabic in Palestine – Intensive Language Courses

I spent nine weeks at the Excellence Center learning colloquial Arabic. I enjoyed the classes a lot and My teacher Duha was very supportive. There was a great mix of content and activities and I improved a lot in the time I was there. Marwa and Osama do an outstanding job of running the center as well. They were always there when I needed anything, and I had a great time joining in on cooking classes, field trips, Iftar dinners during Ramadan, and Eid celebrations. Hebron is a very safe place to visit as well, so if you're concerned at all about this, don't be!

My name is Alex and I am British. I am 38 and worked as a lawyer doing human rights for ten years before taking a career break. I spent two months doing an intensive Arabic course (four hours a day) at the Excellence Center. The Arabic classes were brilliant. My teacher, Saja, was brilliant! I was a complete beginner and the amount of material we covered in two months was incredible. I will spend at least six months after this just going over what I have learned already to consolidate! I learned so much and I have gained confidence in reading, writing and speaking. Saja was very kind, patient, and knowledgeable. And I think she also knows more about the English language than I do! She was able to pitch her teaching to my level and was very encouraging. I couldn’t have asked for better quality teaching. In winter there are fewer students at the center compared to summer, and so most of the time my classes were 1:1. I was not expecting so much individual attention. I think being here is the best way to learn Arabic as you have the opportunity to practice all the time. In addition to my Arabic classes every day, I was regularly invited to join other volunteers for trips around Hebron, for example to see the Old City and meet with local activists. It was very educational. I learned all about life in the city for Palestinians, what it is like to live under occupation, and how people find ways to live and enjoy their lives as much as possible, despite the limitations imposed. We visited the parts of the city that are controlled by the Israeli army, and I was invited into a number of family homes for dinner. I witnessed a lot of resilience and resistance by Palestinians in Hebron, which was very inspiring. At weekends, on Fridays and Saturdays, I went on trips to visit other parts of the West Bank, such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, the Dead Sea, and Nablus. People cannot move freely in the West Bank due to the military control imposed by Israel. I experienced just a small piece of this - long delays at checkpoints as soldiers check cars and interrogate drivers, closed checkpoints, and as a result lots of traffic jams. I had the opportunity to see quite a lot whilst I was here, but you cannot make plans in the same way that you can in a country with freedom of movement. You have to be flexible depending on the situation and the day. The environment at the center is really positive. It is like a big family. The staff are all welcoming and kind, and it is interesting to meet the other internationals who come to Hebron from all around the world. Every morning you eat breakfast together and there is a lot of tea and coffee all day! It is a social place and I have made deep and lasting friendships. Whenever I am in Palestine (and I definitely want to come back!) I will come back to Hebron to visit and learn more Arabic. I arrived in Hebron just before the ceasefire deal was made in Gaza. There was an escalation in military incursions by Israel into the West Bank following this, particularly in the North of the West Bank. There were incidents in the South too - for example raids by soldiers in refugee camps in the South and shootings. Although I always personally felt safe as an international, I will be honest and say it is not easy to witness what is happening in the West Bank. I am fortunate and privileged to be born in a country that is at peace and I have not experienced the instability of living in a country where the situation can change rapidly. I would encourage people to come to the West Bank and experience this because you will develop your empathy and understanding of what life is like for Palestinians here. It is extremely unlikely that something will happen to an international in the West Bank, because we are much safer than anyone else, but I would say you need to have psychological resilience to do this. Witnessing such intense oppression is emotionally and psychologically challenging. And it is important to be challenged sometimes. The learning curve is high and I will be processing what I have learned for a long time. I have absolutely no regrets about going, and I am committed to returning and doing what I can for Palestinians’ freedom. There have also been many beautiful experiences being in Palestine. Everyone talks about the hospitality culture for a good reason! Palestinians are so kind, so generous, and so friendly. I have been fed so much food! The food is incredibly delicious and you feel the warmth of the people’s generosity. When you walk down the street in Hebron, people come up and talk to you all the time and ask you where you are from, wanting to talk and make friends with you. I have been so moved by the warmth of the culture in Hebron. This is the reason I feel so strongly about doing whatever is in my power to be a good friend and ally to Palestine. The faith, beauty, and kindness of the Palestinians is truly inspiring.

If you have fears or worries or concerns; trust me, I know, that was me. But my positive experience with the center began before I arrived- the staff at the center were always responsive and understanding of the questions I had via WhatsApp and it was reassuring to go over everything with them before I even arrived. Their flexibility and willingness to accommodate was a sign of things to come and a reoccurring theme of my experience in Hebron. With regards to the center itself and your daily routine, its always fun. There is something new to do everyday and if something strikes your fancy, those at the center are always willing to try and fit it in. The Arabic lessons themselves were great, and again, always flexible. You know how you learn and should have input in your own teaching, and the Arabic teachers are here are always responsive to that. Want to focus on grammar? No problem. Maybe you're more interested in particular vocab? No stress. I even got sick at one point and we moved my lessons around. If you're interested in visiting Palestine and the center, do it. You won't regret it.

I studied arabic in Hebron with the Excellence Center for 2 weeks. I took the intesive arabic class, where I had class three hours a day. It was a great experience to take intensive arabic classes while being immersed in the language. I am a beginner arabic learner, and my two weeks of class gave me confidence in speaking and inspired me to continue my arabic studies. Everyone who worked at the center, the other students, and my host family were all incredibly welcoming and friendly and made me feel at home. I came her alone and it was easy to meet people. While staying in Hebron, I traveled with other students to Tel Aviv and Bethlehem on the weekend. I would definitely recommend this program for anyone interested in Palestine and the arabic language.

My name is Jason. I live in the United States, studied as an undergraduate in religion and my graduate degree is in rabbinics. These past four weeks I have been participating in the super-intensive Arabic program here in Al-Khalil. From the time I applied for the program, I was welcomed warmly into the Excellence Center family. Planning my time here was easy and smooth, as were the directions for how to arrive at the Center in the Eyn Sara neighborhood of Hebron. When I arrived over three weeks ago, I was greeted effusively by fellow students; clearly the Center sets a culture of welcome and kindness for its student that is paradigmatic of the Palestinian culture of hospitality I have experienced in the past, but have experienced deeply and consistently these past few weeks. My Arabic lessons were—as the program is called—super-intensive. My teacher, Duha, did a great job balancing between her lesson plans and the questions that my classmate and I had. Classes include grammar, speaking and listening, vocabulary, and writing exercises. The Environment of the Center is very positive and kind, a home away from home for those of us from abroad studying there and, it seems, for local Palestinian students who take part in the Center’s programs as well. Most of my fellow students have been doing significant volunteer work, internships, or research, and it was clear that the administration of the Center has made wonderful connections to people in the larger community in Al Khalil and beyond. Some of the wonderful experiences we had as a group were learning how to make stuffed grape leaves at the peak of the grape leaves season, being hosted by a large local family, who welcomed the entire foreign student body into their home for dinner, and seeing the old city and the Tomb of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque with local high schoolers as our guides. While I was here, I also traveled to Bethlehem and to Ramallah. While I had been to Bethlehem a few times before, this was my first time in Ramallah, and it was interesting and powerful to tour and compare the museums in each city. Some people ask about safety here in Hebron. Long before I arrived, I had a sense that I was being hosted by people who cared deeply about the safety of every student and volunteer, and wanted to make sure I was always making good choices to be as safe as possible. Walking around the city at various hours has been quite comfortable for me and part of the pleasure of living here has been the walk to and from our apartment, greeting and being greeted by various shopkeepers, kids in the neighborhood, and enjoying the sights and smells of street food—from pastries in the morning to corn at night. I suppose when I think about different places I have lived over the years, this feels like one of the safest. During this past month, I have spent most of my time in the City of Hebron and other cities, but the last time I was here, I enjoyed some time on the Palestinian heritage trail, which I recommend highly. My time here now is has been in the season of spring turning to summer, and while you can feel the intensity of the sun during much of the day, I have enjoyed noticing the contrast between the warmth of the day and the cooler nights, often with their gentle winds. The Palestinian hospitality I imagined before I arrived has been met and surpassed at every turn, from people taking an interest in me to cafes encouraging fellow students and I to park ourselves at a table, drink a frozen passion fruit drink or mint lemonade, and study (or relax) for hours. I am already sad that my time here is coming to an end soon and I hope to return as a volunteer and, with the help of the Excellence Center, inshallah, find ways to help support and strengthen Palestinian society.

We visited the old town of AlKhalil with our best man who explained everything about the actual situation. My arabic lessons were very nice and funny as well with my teacher. I learned to write and ready and many other things. The Staff is very nice and friendly and they help you with everything you need. Th Palestinian people are amazing and i found my second family here, most of the time I spent with the locals, so I know very well how they are, best people. It is safe and you dont have to worry about anything. The food is amazing. Cant wait to come back, i reccomend it to everyone

Here is some feedback for you! I came to Hebron to study amiya Arabic commencing 1st of January 2023 for 2 weeks, as a taster session in advance of planning a longer trip next year for myself and my husband. I had three hours of lessons every morning at the centre from Sunday to Thursday with Mahmoud, one of the teachers at the centre. The lessons were tailored specifically to what I needed and my level; and they were excellent... Mahmoud was very engaging and provided a good blend of local dialect, some MSA at my request, colloquial expressions and useful phrases. I feel that my spoken Arabic has definitely improved since I've been here in just 2 weeks and when I come back for longer, I feel it will make a huge difference to my understanding. The experience has been enriched by some excursions organised by the centre; notably to a refugee centre which was both extremely informative and uncomfortable in terms of the plight of the Palestinians, however these experiences are crucial in understanding the lived experience of those who are here. I travelled in winter when Hebron is cold, and I would recommend people travelling here to dress comfortably and for cold weather. Many of the buildings are not centrally heated, using small heaters instead and so I packed a hot water bottle and it was invaluable! At all times I have felt safe travelling in Palestine both on my own as a woman and with the group, and the initial trepidations I had before travelling here was assuaged shortly after arriving. People are extremely kind and helpful if you have any issues. Staying with a host family has been an incredibly warm experience where no problem is too great and you are part of the family immediately. On this trip I have largely stayed around the Hebron area, but in future trips I plan to travel more widely and see more of this amazing country. The Palestinians are hospitable and welcoming, the food is amazing, and my impressions post-visit are very positive. I would encourage anybody considering a trip to Palestine to go for it! Much of what we read in the news about Palestine is biased and so I would counsel people to see the country for themselves. Anybody with an interest in learning more about the culture, the history and human rights situation in Palestine, or learning Arabic should utilise the Excellence Centre as they are set up for facilitating these experiences.

My name is Hattie Langdon, I am from the UK and I participated in the Intensive Arabic Programme. I really enjoyed my Arabic lessons with Maryum, they were a lot of fun and I learnt a lot for 1 month of studying. I have learnt the fundamentals of reading and writing and I can hold a basic conversation on a range of topics. I would highly recommend the excellence centre for students like me, who have never studied Arabic before. The environment at the centre is bustling, with a lot of people from all over the world and lots to do. Everyone has been incredibly kind and welcoming. Alongside my Arabic course I have also been taken on tours to the old city of Hebron, AL Fawwar Refugee Camp as well as meeting some local artists. On the weekends I got the chance to visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jerrico, Ramallah and Nablus. My favourite trips has been to Jerrico to visit the dead sea and hike Wadi Qelt. I have also had the opportunity to live with two different local families who have been amazingly generous and have made me feel at home in Hebron. Living with local families has allowed me to practice and improve my Arabic every evening. I also join them for dinner in the evenings which has meant I have had the privilege of trying many local cuisines. Despite tensions in Palestine, I have always felt safe on trips with the Excellence Centre. Palestine has been a truly beautiful country to visit with amazing food and the kindest people. The people I have met here is what will stick with me the most. Their generosity and the stories they are happy to share has really amazed me and I am leaving Palestine much more informed on it’s history and current political situation.

I am Suzan, 33, from Belgium and a language teacher myself. I took a two weeks intensive Arabic class at the Excellence Center in Hebron. My teacher Maryam was great. We were just two students and both of us wanted the same: to practice and improve conversation skills in Levantine Arabic. Maryam did a wonderful job facilitating that, providing us with plentiful opportunities to speak and talk with each other. In Hebron I lived with a host family that was very friendly and generous. They invited me and my roommates several times for dinner, to sit in the garden or just to talk. I felt very safe in Hebron. I walked the streets alone during the day and at night and it was completely safe. Palestinian people are also very willing to help when you get lost or have a question. During my weekends I visited Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem. It was amazing to see other parts of Palestine. I was only in Palestine for a short time but it was a great experience. I talked to many Palestinians and learned a lot about their lives and how they live under Israeli occupation. I would definitely recommend studying Arabic at the Excellence Center. And I hope to be back in Palestine sooner than later, inshallah.

My name is William and I am from Canada. I spent one month at the Excellence Center doing the intensive Arabic program. This meant that for three and a half hours a day, from 08.30 to 12.00 I had lessons on 3miyyeh Arabic. I was in a group with one other boy who was at my level, and once he left it was essentially one-on-one lessons. I have found the lessons very helpful, as not only are we in the middle east but also the teachers know a lot on the subject and were always eager to supply words and materials outside the course. Inside the Center was a wonderful environment because everyone is there for similar reasons. It was a good environment to study, or even simply sit in the sun and talk about hat adventures we had been on. After lessons I would often tag along with the other programs, and most often this meant going to refugee camps or visiting humanitarian groups inside of Hebron. Not only would we get lectures on a wide range of topics from experts, but also would have opportunities to go on trips around the West Bank. Most notably, we went on a trip to the Mar Saba Monastery as well as to Bethlehem. These more ‘fun’ trips were great for building up friendships with other students, with whom I am keeping in touch with after I leave. On the weekends there is also easy access to the rest of the West Bank and Jordan by means of the service system. Jerusalem is only an hour away, and it’s not uncommon for people to arrange travel together. I personally went to Ramallah, Nablus, and Jerusalem with other students and had a wonderful time. Hebron is a noisy but peaceful city. It doesn’t have quite the charm that Jerusalem or Bethlehem has, but because tourists are much more uncommon the people are welcoming and always eager to help. It’s not uncommon to be walking along the street when someone starts talking to you, then after a few hours you get invited to a wedding or some other function. Hebron is also quite a safe city, relatively speaking. While the traffic here is certainly dubious, I have never once felt in danger in H1, and even H2 is relatively safe so long as you handle yourself well. I very strongly recommend the intensive Arabic program here at the Center to almost anyone, and I have had nothing but good experiences.

I found the Excellence Center on the internet and after reading the reviews of other students and volunteers, I chose to come here or two weeks for the Intensive Arabic in the Laventine/Shaami accent. I've been to Jerusalem before so I knew what to expect at the airport. After couple of hours of wait and a few questions, I was given 1 month Israeli visa (a separate piece of paper and not a passport stamp). Getting from the airport to Hebron (via Damascus Gate) was easy and cheap in a shared taxi. When I arrived in the Excellence Center, I was greeted by Usama and Marwa who welcomed me and took me to my accommodation which was about 30 mins walk from the center. I had the option of getting taxi but I really enjoyed the daily walk to and from the center. I was in a class with two other students who were at similar level - one from Spain and another from Italy. We had all studied Fusha before and were attempting to learn to speak in Aamiyah. The lessons were well structured and all teaching was in Aamiyah Arabic. While it was difficult at first, our teacher really helped us slowly progress. We practiced speaking, writing, listening and writing. By the end of the first week, I started to get more comfortable with the accent and felt confident enough to try speaking with the local shopkeepers and kids around the Excellence Center. I would highly recommend the Arabic program. There is only so much one can learn in 2 weeks and I wish I was able to stay longer. Before I came to Hebron, everyone was concerned about my safety. Besides the Arabic, I visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem's apartheid wall, Biteer Valley, Refugee camp, Dar Sara Monastery near the Dead sea, Old Hebron market and Ibrahimi Masjid (areas under Israeli control). At no point did I ever feel unsafe or uneasy. As long as I showed my passport and visa, I was able to go through various checkpoints without issue. Everyone at the Excellence Center is extremely friendly and helpful. I cannot thank Usama enough for personally helping me with some charitable activities that I had requested privately. Marwa also randomly invited me to her house for tea and sometimes for dinner. If you're looking for Arabic program you will not be disappointed with the teaching here.

My knowledge of Arabic was limited to the basics before I came to Hebron. I had taken language classes for two semesters in college and wanted to learn the spoken language. I decided to take the intensive course with 20 hours of classes per week. I learned a lot during the two weeks at the center. My teacher was great and taught me a lot of new things. She used creative teaching methods and sometimes in the afternoon instead of going to the classroom we went to a coffee shop or sat down at the soccer field close to the center. Not only my teacher, but also the rest of the team at the center was great. The atmosphere there is very pleasant. The center organized several excursions: we visited the old town, a weaving mill and went hiking near Bethlehem for a day. During the two weeks I lived with a host family. I lived on one floor of the house with another student. We played with the children, talked with the adults and were able to improve our Arabic easily. The family also took us to visit relatives, showed us culinary highlights and the best places in the city. Their hospitality was amazing! We even got to spend the holidays with them and kept meeting new parts of the family. Hebron is a bustling city. People are very welcoming. You often hear them shouting "Welcome to Palestine!" They are also incredibly helpful. We lived just outside the center and took the bus sometimes. The bus drivers always took the time to make sure we were on the right bus and got to our destination. At no time did I feel unsafe. In the city, people want to talk to you from time to time. They are usually interested about where you are from and what you are doing in Hebron. I never felt uncomfortable at any time. I enjoyed my stay very much and will definitely come back to Hebron!

My name is Elisha. I am from the United States and have a degree in English and Intercultural Studies. I participated in the Intensive Arabic program at the Excellence Center. During my time at the center I was able to enjoy time with other participants and staff over breakfast, join a tour around the old city of Hebron, and go on a trip to explore a monastery and spring near Bethlehem with the Excellence Center community. My time in Arabic classes was very enjoyable and challenged me to use new vocabulary and communicate useful information about daily life and my experiences. My teacher went at a great pace throughout the lessons and had fun activities planned to help us learn and practice. The environment at the center was welcoming and warm. Everyone was willing to sit and chat and ask questions about each other as well as help with any questions about the program or life in Hebron. Living with a host family was an amazing and unforgettable experience. There's nothing like learning and experiencing a culture and language with locals, and my host family was incredibly welcoming and generous, inviting us to join in their family life and activities and showing us around the city. The people in general were very welcoming and willing to help with directions and finding things around the city. Although Palestinian food is delicious and the landscapes are beautiful, I think the part I enjoyed most about being in Palestine was the people. I enjoyed their openness and welcoming spirit and spending evenings chatting with the host family out on the balcony, grabbing a juice or tea at their favorite cafes, or playing games with the young children and grandchildren in the home. I am thankful to have experienced even a short time in Palestine and will remember the kindness and hospitality I received. I would definitely recommend the Arabic program at the center because it was very helpful to be immersed in the language in class, around the city, and with the host family. Being able to learn about the history and culture of the people was also incredibly valuable, and wish I could have stayed longer.

My name is Vicky and I am Costa Rican-American. I studied International Studies at American University in Washington, DC, and I specialized in environmental sustainability and peace and conflict resolution. I also studied Arabic for three years in college, but I wanted to come to the Excellence Center to practice the language more and learn the Palestinian dialect in the Intensive Arabic Program. I spent a month at the Excellence Center. I chose to come to Palestine because I wanted to support the Palestinian people and their freedom from occupation and I love Palestinian culture, like Elia Suleiman’s films, writing from Mahmoud Darwish and Ghassan Kanafani, and dabke. I travelled to Palestine four years ago but I only spent two weeks in Nablus and Jerusalem, and I wanted to return to make deeper connections with the people and the country. At the Excellence Center, I took three hours of Arabic lessons five days a week. Although I had previously studied Modern Standard Arabic for three years in university, I realized that I did not have much practice speaking in the dialect. After a month of practice with my teacher every day, I feel much more confident in my ability to hold conversations with people on a variety of topics. The staff, teachers, and volunteers at the Center foster a welcoming environment, especially as we gather together for breakfast, have coffee together throughout the day, and often have conversations about complex topics outside of class. Sometimes after my lessons, I joined the other students and volunteers on tours to the Old City, the Ibrahimi Mosque, the Hirbawi Kufiya factory, Hebron University, and the National Association of Human Rights Defenders. Outside of the Center, I travelled with a group of volunteers to Nablus, where we stayed in a cultural center at Balata refugee camp. I also travelled with some volunteers to Ramallah one weekend, and we visited the Yasser Arafat Museum. I enjoyed living with my host family, speaking Arabic with them, helping the children practice English, and trying traditional foods like warak diwali and molokhia with rice. We celebrated family members' birthdays together. The family home has a beautiful garden, and sometimes I would go home in the afternoon to study Arabic in the garden, but sometimes all of the children would come to our section of the house and it could be hard to focus on work. But most of all, the family is very sweet and generous. Even though I will be in Ramallah next month, my host mom invited me to return in two weeks for Eid al-Adha, and I am looking forward to spending this special holiday with them. When I first came to Palestine four years ago, my first impression was that people are so kind and willing to help you even if they hardly know you. Now, my impression is the same, and this is what I liked most about Palestine and why I wanted to return. There have been several times where I speak to someone I hardly know, and they invite me to their homes for coffee or dinner. I feel very safe in Palestine, maybe even safer than I do in the United States or at home in San José, Costa Rica. One of my favorite memories about Palestine occurred a few days ago, when I was walking alone through the Old City and I saw an old woman sitting in front of her shop where she sold traditional tatreez embroidery. By coincidence, I realized I had met her three years ago in Washington, DC when I worked at a magazine on Middle East affairs, and she had been invited to sell her products there in DC. She invited me to drink tea, and we began to speak in Arabic about the occupation, the situation in the Old City, and how her organization supports women in the villages near Hebron, giving them an opportunity to sell their beautiful, handmade products. It was a memorable experience. I could understand the conversation in Arabic, despite the complicated topics, and I learned so much from her. In spite of violent occupation, the Palestinian culture and identity is alive and beating, and I have an immense respect for everyone in Hebron and Palestine. I recommend the Excellence Center, especially to those who want to join the Intensive Arabic Program. Thank you!

The Excellence Center is a great place for anyone looking to improve their Arabic, gain cultural exposure, and learn more about the political situation in Palestine. After 2 weeks there, I advanced in Arabic more than I expected and felt part of the Excellence Center family! This is a wonderful opportunity for those needing flexibility. You can go as little as one week, and you can choose your exact start and end dates. It's great for people with full-time jobs who can't take off a whole semester.

My time at the Excellence Center was a fantastic intellectual, intercultural and social journey. Every week day (Sunday to Thursday) I had 3,5 hours of Arabic class with the extremely knowledgeable and pedagogically apt Doha as my teacher. Not only did Doha help me drastically improve my Palestinian dialect Arabic skills, she also was always able to teach me grammatical concepts and words in a fun and motivating way. She also adapted the class teaching plan according my needs whenever necessary. In addition to being a great teacher, Doha - and also her sister Saja who is also a teacher at the Excellence Center - conversed with me a lot in our free time at the school and thus introduced me to colloquial expressions, jokes and everyday language. The other staff at the Excellence Center was also always very helpful when I needed any specific information about Hebron or its surrounding (e.g. when I needed to get to Dura, a town next to Hebron), and even more great companions during my 1-month stay at the Excellence Center. Moreover the stories Anas and Ibrahim told me about their everyday life were exceedingly interesting and pertinent to my work as a doctoral researcher on Palestine. The center managers, Osama and Marwa, were also always willing to compromise and accommodate my needs regarding my living situation. Contrary to what you may hear from Western media, Hebron is actually a very safe and fun city to live in (in H1 area). There are many cafes and pastry shops that are open all day and long into the night. The food is among the best I've ever had. I was in Hebron during 2 weeks of Ramadan and must say that the Muslim month of fasting quite changes the city`s vibe. Restaurants and most stores are closed all day and life only awakes in the night. It is a interesting cultural experience for sure, but if you are keen on experiencing the culinary culture of Khalil to its fullest you might want to reconsider whether you want to come during Ramadan. Overall, the hospitality in Khalil is amazing. There were many times I was just invited for coffee or cocktails *(non-alcoholic ones) by strangers and I was also invited to a couple of Iftar dinners which were great fun. The Palestinian hospitality is unparalleled by anything I have seen elsewhere in the world. Last, if you really want 24/7 Arabic exposure, I recommend you see if you can stay with a host family, as I was staying in a shared apartment with other foreigners which limited my exposure to Arabic in the evenings. Moreover, I traveled to Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho, which was all very easy because the West Bank is not very big. And before I forget, it is quite cold in March.

I have been messing about with Arabic for several years now. I spent three weeks on the intensive Arabic course at the Excellence Centre, and to my delight, my Arabic has improved enormously. I can communicate at last ! The Excellence Centre provides language classes, accommodation, volunteering and recreational activities. Everything can be tailored to your needs : the language learners and the volunteers I met at the Centre came from a variety of backgrounds and age groups, each of us having a different life experience and varying levels of Arabic. Everyone had a personalised programme according to their interests. This flexibility is one of the strengths of the Excellence Centre. The people of Hebron are very welcoming indeed. Tourists and foreign language students are never harassed in the streets, on the contrary, we are greeted in the friendliest manner possible. You can spend time in Hebron immersing yourself in language and culture, barely coming into contact with the political situation. For those interested in Human Rights and the problems of the Occupation, there is ample opportunity to dig deeper and to engage in solidarity actions. Again, the Excellence Centre offers a range of activities, after that, its all up to you ! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here, discovering a fascinating city while improving my language skills. Just one word of warning to future students : if you come in the winter, bring plenty of warm clothes ! Alison aged 48, from France.

My name is Olivia. I’m a nursing student from California. I came to Palestine to participate in the intensive Arabic language program. I studied in Hebron 5 days a week for 3 weeks. I came to Palestine knowing little more than the Arabic alphabet but now I’m leaving with a solid foundation in many aspects of the language. I’ve built up tons of vocabulary and developed enough of an understanding of Arabic grammar to read and write simple paragraphs, as well as have short conversations with Palestinians. My teachers Ibrahim and Marwa were wonderful! They incorporated many different methods of teaching into their practice so that every day was a little different and always stayed engaging. They were patient as I stumbled through learning new and unfamiliar sounds, endlessly funny yet always respectful, and very open-minded and receptive to my questions. The rest of the staff at the Center are really encouraging with the Arabic students as well. People were always greeting me in Arabic and willing to chat when I wanted practice speaking. Three weeks is not a lot of time to learn any language, and Arabic is a very rich language, so I plan to return to Palestine next year to continue my studies. When I do so, I will definitely be returning to the Excellence Center. While I was here I also participated in a few activities with other students and staff from the Center. We received a tour of the Municipality of Hebron and got the opportunity to ask questions about the City. We also went to see the village of Susya to learn about the way of life and the people there. Their history and struggle was heartbreaking but incredibly important for me to see. As a nursing student, I came with an interest in learning about the Medical system in Palestine, so I also got the opportunity to shadow a nurse at a Women’s clinic in Hebron for a day. Even despite the language barrier I learned a ton in that day and was actually put to work helping to chart and take patient’s weights and heights. I also got the chance to meet the families of many people who work at the Center. The staff and teachers invited us all out for dinner, arguila, and walks through the Old City frequently during my stay. Every meal was shared with warm people, hot tea, and endless laughter. I also learned how to cook a few Palestinian dishes with my host Marwa and her family. I stayed in Marwa’s home for 3 weeks with another student from the program. Marwa was so accommodating and made me feel at home with her family. We cooked together, shopped together, and she helped me with my studies in the evenings. Some of my favorite moments in Palestine were spent laughing with her in her home. She has a great sense of humor, and she’s sharp, witty, and sassy! My notebook is full of little quips and phrases that I learned from Marwa which got me joking around and teasing with the locals quickly. In addition to Hebron, I also traveled to Ramallah and Bethlehem on my weekends. Traveling between cities was not too difficult for me and I never felt threatened or unsafe. The presence of the IDF throughout Palestine is an undeniable reality, but traveling as a foreigner and carrying an American passport, many of the daily obstacles that Palestinians endure were not applicable to me. As I navigated through the cities, the biggest threat I felt was potentially getting rained on. Back home I live in San Francisco, and I can say with confidence that walking the streets of Hebron at night, especially H2, or Bethlehem, or Ramallah actually felt safer than walking alone at night in my home city. Overall, my experience in Palestine was beyond anything I could have expected or hoped for. I have learned so much in my short stay here, and I have made life-long friends at the Center who I plan to come back and visit as soon as possible

I am a student from Germany that participated in the Study Arabic Program at the Excellence Center for one month. I study Middle Eastern Studies at university back home and Arabic is an integral part of my studies. The focus was set on Standard Arabic however, and we rarely got to practice what we learned. The two main reasons for me to come to Hebron was to start learning the Palestinian Dialect and to get a full cultural immersion before I go to Bethlehem to do an internship at an NGO and continue my studies at the University Bethlehem. As far as my Arabic goes, I have definitely noticed improvement. Of course, one month is not enough to really hold a longer conversation, but I am noticing the benefits of three hours of Arabic five days a week. My Arabic lessons with Du’a were one of the most enjoyable part of my stay. She is a lovely person and a great teacher, and I am very thankful to the effort she made with me. In general, all the teachers and staff at the Center are really friendly and laid back. It makes for a great atmosphere. I met many people through the Center, international volunteers and local students alike. The Center organises a few trips to other cities which you can choose to go on or not. In my case I went to Jerusalem and Jafa in a day, to the Dead Sea on another, and to Bethlehem. You will pay extra for these trips. There are also some smaller visits, such as the one to the Kufiyeh and glass factory, that are organised by the Center.

I chose to study Arabic at the Excellence Center for 2 weeks in May 2017. The Excellence Center offered everything I needed: Palestinian-dialect Arabic instruction, cultural field trips throughout Hebron, and a vetted home stay - all for an affordable price. The team at the Center was warm and hospitable and I felt at ease immediately. Hebron can be an intimidating place but the center connected me with a wonderful home stay family, took us on tours so we could get our bearings, and was a great home base for learning. I started each morning with breakfast and coffee at the center, used the morning to answer emails and study vocab using the center’s wifi, and then in the afternoon met for 4 hours with my Arabic instructor, Ibrahim. He tailored my classes to the topics of my work so I could learn the vocab I needed for my upcoming summer job. In the evenings, I would spend time with my host family who had three small children. The mother taught me to cook Palestinian dishes and we spent many nights staying up late taking over coffee or shisha. The second week I was there was the start of Ramadan which saw a significant shift in the city. There is a general slowdown everywhere and no one eats, drinks, or smokes during the day. This shifts one’s experience of city and studying considerably so take this into account when planning your stay at the Center. On the other hand, the evening Iftar and festive Ramadan nights are a wonderful experience as well. The families gather and you get the chance to meet family and friends as many invitations are extended. This two weeks was the best investment I could have made before starting my job in Palestine. I learned a considerable amount about Hebron, Palestinian culture, the political situation, Islam, all in addition to my Arabic study. These things have made my work and stay in Palestine richer and more enjoyable. It is a wonderful feeling to know I now have friends and family in Hebron! I recommend and endorse the Excellence Center and its Arabic instruction. This is a solid and affordable program which has a wonderful atmosphere and community to welcome you to Palestine.