Volunteer Teaching English Abroad in Palestine

Volunteer Teaching English Abroad in Palestine

Location
  • Palestine
Length
1 to 13 weeks
General grants/scholarships

Program Details

Compensation
Unpaid
Timeframe
Academic Year Fall J-Term Maymester Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
Arabic
Weekly Hours
30
Age Min.
18
Age Max
75

Pricing

Price Details
The program fees include: pre-departure support, accommodation with a host family, some meals, full coordination while interning in Palestine, some visits to different sites in the city of Hebron.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Airport Transfers Transportation Visa
Feb 14, 2026
Jun 29, 2026
45 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The Teaching English Programs in Palestine are designed for students, graduates, professionals, retirees, and both native and non-native English speakers seeking teaching opportunities in Palestine, Israel, or the wider Arabic-speaking world. Volunteers live in Hebron, Palestine, teaching English to Palestinian refugees, youth, and children while also learning Levantine Arabic. The program provides hands-on experience in teaching, community development, intercultural communication, and language learning, allowing participants to make a meaningful impact on Palestinian communities.

Ideal for those seeking short-term teaching positions in Israel and Palestine, volunteers will interact with locals, explore Palestinian traditions, and contribute to educational and community projects that empower Palestinian youth and children. This program is a unique opportunity to volunteer abroad, gain teaching experience, learn a new language, & immerse yourself in Palestinian culture and daily life.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Volunteers find the program well-structured and flexible, with supportive staff and welcoming host families that foster deep cultural immersion.

Program Highlights

  • Homestays with Palestinian host families or at the Excellence Center’s dorm
  • Experience the Palestinian daily life; make new friends and engage in some community and educational activities
  • The teaching English program in our Palestinian school is an amazing internship opportunity for those who have NO experience in teaching English and want to explore teaching, as well as for those with English teaching experience
  • Participants will have the opportunity to learn in depth about the ongoing Israeli occupation.
  • The intern as an English teacher in Palestine project allows participants the opportunity to grow personally and professional

Join Our Family In Palestine & Germany In 2026

Video and Photos

Impact 🌎

With all our Arabic courses and volunteer programs, we aim to make a long term difference for the Palestinian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Our programs and courses foster shared learning, for both our community and you. During your Arabic course, you will get to learn so much more than just the language. You will also get to learn a lot about Palestinian culture and customs and the political situation in Palestine. Additionally, you will have many opportunities while outside the classroom to practice your Arabic in a natural and authentic way while navigating your new life in Hebron. Your time with us in Hebron will also provide you with many opportunities of cultural exchange and mutual learning, both with local Palestinians as well as with our other international participants.

Popular Programs

English

Internship with Palestinian Children in the West Bank: This program is an excellent opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students, professionals, retirees, social workers and teachers interested in working with Palestinian children in a volunteer capacity. It is also ideal for anyone, whether native or non-native English speaker, interested in interning with Palestinian children. In addition, those interested in childhood education will benefit from volunteering with children in Palestine.

Teach English Program

The Teach English in Palestine Program (for English Teachers) is a teaching internship program designed for graduate English students and certified English teachers (TEFL, TESOL or CELTA qualified) to share their pedagogical expertise with local inhabitants of Hebron, Palestinian children, youth and Palestinian refugees in the surrounding area, in the West Bank, Palestine. This teaching English opportunity is perfectly suited for anyone pursuing a career as an English language teacher

Local School

Come be a part of the Local Palestinian Schools Volunteer Program and make a wonderful impact on the lives of Palestinian children, refugees, and youth! Our volunteer program in Hebron, West Bank, is open to everyone—whether you’re a native or non-native English speaker, a student, a graduate, a professional, or a retiree. If you’re passionate about improving the English and life skills of local Palestinian students, this is your chance to join us and make a difference.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.88 Rating
based on 69 reviews
  • 5 rating 88.41%
  • 4 rating 11.59%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.55
  • Support 4.75
  • Fun 4.3
  • Housing 4.75
  • Safety 4.75
  • Benefits 4.85
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.9
  • Facilities 4.65
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 1 - 8 of 69 reviews
Sean
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering in Hebron

Osama and Marwa provide a wonderful experience for all volunteers, teachers and students. The center is a real community that brings people into an authentic and fulfilling experience in Palestine.

Hebron itself is a very welcoming city, where I and the other volunteers were perfectly safe and always warmly greeted by everyone. The apartment provided by the center is of very high quality.

Overall an unforgettable experience which I hope to repeat some time in future. Would recommend to anyone

Pros
  • The people
  • The City
  • The cultural immersion
7 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Habibi Sean,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re very happy to hear that you had such a positive and memorable experience with us in Hebron.

We hope to welcome you back again in the future!

Warm regards,
The Excellence Center Team

Zacheo
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A great experience at the center

I spent one week volunteering at the Excellence Center in Hebron as an English teacher, and it was an amazing experience. From the moment I arrived, I felt incredibly welcome. The accommodations were great, everything was well organized, and I felt safe throughout my stay.

A big thank you to the directors, Marwa and Osama, for their kindness and support. The excursions with Osama were a real highlight and gave me a much better understanding of Hebron and Palestinian culture. It was also a pleasure working with Jomana, the teacher I assisted, and learning Arabic with Haya, whose lessons were engaging and very enjoyable.

I met wonderful people, had a fantastic cultural experience, and made memories I’ll always keep. I highly recommend the Excellence Center to anyone interested in volunteering, learning Arabic, or experiencing life in Palestine.

7 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam Zacheo,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re really happy to hear that you had such a positive experience during your week with us in Hebron.

We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back again in the future!

Warm regards,
The Excellence Center Team

Jaylen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience

I had the pleasure of staying in Palestine through the Excellence Center and it was amazing. Seeing the country and learning about everything was something I consider so important in my life. I had the wonderful opportunity to have Ms. Haya as my teacher. She’s incredible! As are the many teachers the organization has that will help you with your Arabic. They are thorough, patient, and fun. The people of Palestine are so warm and welcoming too. The organizers of the Excellence Center give a great balance of walking you through while letting you be on your own. I can’t stress my love for the Excellence Center and the country. May I visit a million times

What was your funniest moment?
Tricking Ms. Haya into thinking I bought a manga instead of my Arabic Lessons book
Pros
  • Food
  • Welcoming Environment
  • Great Night Life
Cons
  • WiFi
  • Traveling city to city is difficult
10 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam Habibi Jaylen,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re very happy to hear that you had such a meaningful experience in Palestine and that you enjoyed learning Arabic with Haya and our teaching team.

It’s also great to know that you felt supported while still having the freedom to explore and experience the country in your own way. We truly appreciate your kind words and your love for The Excellence Center.

We hope to welcome you back many more times in the future!

Warm regards,
The Excellence Center Team

Thomas
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Excellent experiences at the center

I had a wonderful experience with the Excellence Center in Hebron for 2 weeks, and honestly I wish I was able to stay longer. I did both the English teaching programme and the intensive Arabic course (6h/week). As soon as I arrived I felt both really welcomed by Osama and Marwa (and their family) and the people in Hebron/Al Khalil. What was special about the Excellence Center for me, is that they could provide a range of activities for free (I would have not been able to have accessed on my own as they rely on a wide network) related to the teaching programme, in order to get to know Palestine, Hebron and its neighbouring communities in a more profound way. To give some examples: I had a tour in the city of Hebron where the traces of occupation are clearly seen and pointed out and according to your own interests they might try to show you particular places that you might like. It's something that is harder to explore on your own as they provide you with info and special access to certain sites.
Secondly, I really liked and valued the teaching programme a lot. Especially because they provide a variety of educational contexts where you can teach English and visit the different schools. To give you a slight idea of the places I was able to teach in or visit in just 2 weeks: twice a week teaching in the Excellence Center itself, another two times in two different camps (Al Fawar and Al Aroub), and even a visit to the orphan school and the school for blind pupils.
Besides that, the breakfasts they provide every weekday are a nice way to be together with the family and the other volunteers, the cooking class is a nice way to learn about the Palestinian cuisine, and even some evenings we were invited at their place to have dinner on the terrace.
Next on, I was happy to have followed the 6h/week Arabic classes. Usually they were in the mornings after breakfast until noon. I felt that they matched me with a teacher that was able to work with my (basic) level of Arabic. My teacher (Haya) was very motivated to learn me to read and write the Arabic alphabet, and after 1 or 2 weeks I managed to do so.
Next on I was very happy to see that they gave me the freedom to organize two activities I wanted to do with the children of the Center: one was a (virtual) classroom exchange with some of my students in Belgium and another one is an Ultimate Frisbee training.
I'm eternally grateful to the Excellence Center for having been able to have experienced all these different sides and aspects of Palestine and Hebron - thank you!!! All the best and hope to see you soon, Thomas.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The whole visit at Umm Al-Kheir was just so impressive and really worth it.
Pros
  • Varied offer of interesting visits in and around Hebron (included in the programme fee)
  • Comfortable accomodation
  • High quality Arabic classes
15 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam Habibi Thomas,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and for sharing your experience. It was a real pleasure to have you with us in Hebron.

We wish you all the best and hope to welcome you back to Palestine again soon!

Warm regards,

The Excellence Center in Palestine Team

youssef
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering with The Excellence Center in Hebron

Volunteering in The Excellence Center has helped me in more ways than I thought. I thought coming here I would be the one helping people and changing peoples' lives, but instead it was the Palestinians and the people in the center who changed my life and helped me grow and become part of a new family. I have now left the center having found a new family, meeting a bunch of people from the city, becoming part of the community, and learning many stories of Palestinians and seeing many stories be created in front of me.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Always keep your passport and visa on you at all times. It is illegal to walk around without. So just in case keep it with you always. And never throw out the paper they give you in entry to the country whether its the blue or green one, that's the visa and is incredibly important to leave with.
Pros
  • The hospitality
  • The food
  • The culture
Cons
  • The mental drain of hearing and seeing what happens
  • Electricity or Water shortage depending on the season
  • Going through checkpoints
49 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam dear Youssef,

Thank you for sharing your experience at the Excellence Center. We’re delighted to hear that your time in Hebron was transformative and that you felt welcomed into the community like family. It’s inspiring to know that the connections you made and the stories you witnessed left such a meaningful impact on you.

We hope the memories you created here continue to inspire you, and we look forward to seeing you back in Hebron in the future.

Warm regards,
The Excellence Center Team 🇵🇸❤️

Kelsey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Lifechanging experience

I came into this program not knowing what to expect, but the staff at the center became family instantly! They made sure we were safe at all times and went out of their way for me to have the exact experiences I wanted.

Osama and Marwa (as well as the entire center staff) are the most kind and genuine people I have had the pleasure of meeting. They truly care about Hebron and the people of Palestine. Their commitment to bringing tourism to Hebron and showing people the true facts about the occupation is truly making a difference. I am so excited to come back!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
If you come in the winter, make sure to bring a lot of warm clothes and rain boots!
47 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam dear Kelsey,

Thank you for sharing your wonderful reflections on your time at the Excellence Center in Hebron. We’re thrilled to hear that you felt at home and supported by our team, and that your experiences in Hebron gave you meaningful insights into the culture, community, and realities of Palestine.

We can’t wait to welcome you back for more memorable and impactful moments.

Warm regards,
The Excellence Center Team 🇵🇸❤️

Steve
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering with the Excellence Center in Hebron

The experience with the Excellent Centre was inspirational and amazing. The kindness of Marwa and Osama, and their family was amazing. Their knowledge and understanding, both of life and culture in Hebron, and their understanding of the needs of volunteers, was great. Every volunteer becomes part of the family. From tours of the old city, to barbecues in the mountains with the extended family, to the Arabic lessons taught by Shahed - just an amazing immersion into Palestinian life. The programme was also amazing. I learned so much about what is really happening in Gaza, but in a way that was loving and so positive. Spending time in refugee camps, speaking with local people, understanding their situation - this will live with me for the rest of my life. Thank you Marwa and Osama and thank you for the kindness of your extended family and that of the other inspirational volunteers on this programme. This is an amazing Centre and an amazing country, and it is and one I will return to again and again.

What was your funniest moment?
We had too many funny moments to even begin to count. But perhaps the Zip Zap game stood out!
Pros
  • Hospitality of the Palestinian people
  • First hand experience of apartheid rather than just reading about it
  • The opportunity to help people in a hard situation
48 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam dear Steve,

Thank you for sharing your heartfelt reflections on your experience at the Excellence Center in Hebron. We’re delighted to hear that you felt welcomed as part of our extended family and enjoyed the immersive experiences—from Arabic lessons with Shahed to excursions in the Old City and beyond. It’s wonderful to know that your time with us and the local community left a lasting impression.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Hebron for more meaningful and inspiring experiences.

Warm regards,
The Excellence Center Team 🇵🇸❤️

Joshua
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Seeing in Color

In a world where news and social media create our perception of places and people, this opportunity granted me a clear and colorful portal into the actual world and humanity of a place so often portrayed, but rarely experienced.

During my time, I was blessed with constant generosity of the hosts of the center, with warm hospitality of new friends and strangers alike, with delicious local foods cooked with friendliness, and with the gift of being with the bright and playful children of this land.

Beyond the worries of my parents, and the inconveniences of the checkpoints, living in Hebron felt safe and easy.
Osama and Marwa were incredibly kind, generous, supportive, and welcoming. The center was so often filled with the play and laughter of children and fellow teachers. And though I would never say it to her face, my teacher Duha is an indescribable gift to the center, to the world, and to the language of Arabic; her only flaw is that she needs to wear more colors. (And of course, all would be considered lucky to be graced by the presence of Princess Haya).

Lastly, as a Jew, this opportunity was a precious gift to create simple and powerful exchanges of cultures and lives; in my eyes seeing tiny potent seeds of love and understanding among our dear kin <3

What was your funniest moment?
Dancing with new friends in Nablus while teaching each other new dance moves.
Also a new friend asking me if I felt beautiful (meaning if i was happy) leading to a wonderful conversation about beauty and happiness.
Pros
  • Being with the beautiful people of this land
  • Swimming in new culture + playing with kids!
  • The amazing team at the excellence center
57 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam dear Joshua,

Thank you for sharing your reflections on your time at the Excellence Center. We’re thrilled to hear that you experienced the generosity, warmth, and vibrant community of Hebron firsthand. It’s wonderful that the children, staff, and volunteers left such a meaningful impression on you, and that you felt safe and welcomed throughout your stay.

We truly appreciate your kind words about Duha, Haya, Osama, and Marwa — they will be delighted to hear your feedback. Your perspective on cultural exchange and connection is exactly what makes this program so special.

Warm regards,
The Excellence Center Team 🇵🇸❤️

Questions & Answers

Hi, thanks for asking! Yes, the safety of all participants is ensured with this program. For additional information we recommend contacting the program provider directly, which you can do here: http://excellencenter.org/contact-us/.

Hi, thanks for asking! We recommend contacting the program provider directly to learn more about scholarship opportunities (here's a link to their contact info: http://excellencenter.org/contact-us/). Also make sure to check out our blog! We have tons of great articles and resources on finding and applying for scholarships :)

Great question! The monthly fee for this program is $560. More info on pricing and trip details can be found here: http://excellencenter.org/teach-english-in-palestine-2/.

You can volunteer for a few week or months. I volunteered for 2.5 months one volunteer was there for 4 months I think.