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

Starting Price
250
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
Nov 25, 2024
Jun 26, 2025
41 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Teaching English Programs in Palestine are designed for students, native and non-native English speakers, graduates, professionals, and retirees who are looking for teaching opportunities in Palestine, Israel, or the wider Arabic-speaking world

These Teaching English internships offer the opportunity to live in Hebron, Palestine, and immerse yourself in the local community. Volunteers will teach English to Palestinian refugees and children while also learning Levantine Arabic. It’s a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on Palestinian communities while gaining valuable teaching experience

Ideal for those seeking short-term teaching positions in the Israel & Palestine region, this program provides hands-on experience in teaching English, learning Arabic, & engaging with Palestinian culture, politics, and daily life. Volunteers will have the chance to interact with locals, explore Palestinian traditions, and contribute to projects that help empower Palestinian youth & kids

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.

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

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

4.85 Rating
based on 55 reviews
  • 5 rating 85.45%
  • 4 rating 14.55%
  • 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 4.8
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.9
  • Facilities 4.55
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 1 - 8 of 55 reviews
Default avatar
Rudy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering with the Excellence Center in Hebron

The Excellence Centre in Hebron is a wonderful place to volunteer. The staff at the center are hilarious, kind and welcoming. The experience of teaching English here is one that I will never forget and appreciate a lot. Hebron is an interesting city which is filled with history and culture. Furthermore, Palestine is the most hospitable country that I have travelled to in my life.

I am honestly so fortunate to have visited and volunteered at the center in Hebron and to have had the opportunity to see Palestine. Alongside volunteering, the center provided me with numerous opportunities to travel during my time in Palestine. I visited Masaffer Yatta, Bethlehem, Bateer and all of Hebron and its environs thanks to the center.

Despite the tense security situation, at no point did I fear for my safety thanks due to the advice provided by the center. I managed also to ingratiate myself with Palestinian society and improve my Arabic skills thanks to the help of the center.

The students that I taught English to were eager to learn, exciting and hilarious. I am very thankful that I had this opportunity and cannot recommend the Excellence Center in Hebron enough.

I wanted to come to Palestine for many reasons, namely, to understand the situation on the ground greater, to improve my Arabic language skills and to see Palestine. I can comfortably say that all the goals I had before coming to Palestine were fulfilled and more.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Sheep liver soup in Um Al Khair Masaffer Yatta. Was suprisingly delicious alongside many other foods that I ate in Palestine.
Pros
  • Lovely Hospitality and community
  • Amazing food
  • Wonderful Staff
Cons
  • Difficulties at the Border
  • Weather
  • Children on the street
1 person found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jaylen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I Love Hebron

The Excellence Center was such an amazing program. So much so I came back a second time and plan to come again soon! The center as well as the city was so safe and just a great experience. I understand that people may be hesitant but I never had to worry about anything my entire month here. And I know my fellow volunteers felt the same. Safety was definitely ensured. The programs are so interactive with the children who are so much fun when the class starts. The teachers are some of the friendliest I've ever had. Patient, warm, caring, etc. The city is so friendly and lively. The people are great. The organizers are like family to me now. I love everyone at the center.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would definitely stay longer. I'm so jealous that the others are staying a 5 weeks to 2 months. I'd love to volunteer more and hang out with them more as well.
Pros
  • Hospitality
  • Adventure
  • Welcoming Culture
Cons
  • The history of the Palestinians can be upsetting
  • Israeli Checkpoints
  • Tel Aviv airport is very iffy
16 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Andrea
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Felt like family at the Excellence Center

Volunteering at the Excellence Center in Hebron for 10 days has been an unforgettable experience. I had the joy of helping amazing kids improve their English and spending meaningful time with them, which was both rewarding and inspiring. Meeting the other volunteers and sharing trips together gave me the chance to learn more about the rich Palestinian culture, its delicious food, and the warm, resilient people who make this place so special.

A huge thank you to teachers Jumana and Duha for their patience and skill in teaching me Arabic – I learned so much and truly appreciated their support. Qatada and Mohammed were incredibly helpful in showing me around and making sure I felt at home. Osama, Marwa, and the rest of the staff welcomed me like family, and made my time in Palestine truly amazing.

I can’t wait to return and spend even more time at the Center, inshallah!

21 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Genevieve
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching English and Learning Arabic in Hebron

My name is Genevieve and I'm a Physics PhD student from the United States. I came to the Excellence Center for one month to teach English and learn Arabic, but my experience encompasses so much more than that. I got to see the Old City of Hebron, witness discrimination against Palestinians by Israeli guards, and speak with people who endured physical violence perpetrated by the settlers and soldiers. The Excellence Center helped arrange for me to visit Ibrahimi Mosque, the glass factory, and the kuffiyeh factory. I also got to visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Masafer Yatta.

Everyone at the center was so warm and welcoming. We were served breakfast every day and often also enjoyed dinner with our hosts. Even the students I taught were welcoming. They sometimes gave me chocolates and were always so engaged and excited to learn. The apartment I lived in was comfortable and very close to the center. I never felt scared, even when walking alone at night as a woman. The locals always seem happy to chat with foreigners and give directions or recommendations. The local cuisine is also amazing and I'm excited to try making some of the new foods I tried here, like maqluba and sahlab.

One of the most valuable parts of my experience here was getting to see the settler areas in Hebron and Masafer Yatta. Seeing the stark differences in infrastructure and quality of life between the Palestinian and settler areas was eye opening. Even though I'm sad to leave, I'm excited to be able to use my experience to educate others about what is actually happening in the West Bank.

Since I'm from the luscious green pacific northwest in the US, I'm also very happy that I got to experience the natural landscape in Palestine. One of my students was kind enough to take me hiking and exploring a cave. I'm grateful that I got to have such a well rounded experience by meeting people of all ages, including students, working adults, journalists, and local human rights activists, hearing first-hand accounts of settler violence, and seeing different parts of the city including some nature.

I will always remember the kind people I met here and their experiences with the occupation. My Arabic teacher Haya was extremely patient with me. I learned more Arabic from her in one month than i did in three months in America. My hosts Osama and Marwa were always kind and inviting despite having their hands full with four beautiful children. Even before I left, I was already trying to plan my next trip to visit Palestine again. The Excellence Center truly provides a unique life-changing experience and I'm so thankful to everyone I met here who welcomed me with open arms and helped me understand the local situation. I can't wait to come back and in the meantime I hope I can use my experience to support the Palestinian cause.

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

Salam Genevieve,

Thank you so much for sharing your heartfelt review of your time at the Excellence Center in Palestine.

We're deeply moved by the way you captured the essence of your experience, from learning Arabic to engaging with the local community and witnessing the realities of life in Palestine.

It was a pleasure having you as part of our community, and we look forward to welcoming you back when you're ready. Your efforts to raise awareness and support the Palestinian cause are much appreciated, and we’re sure the knowledge you’ve gained will make a difference.

Greetings from Palestine 🇵🇸 تحياتنا من فِلَسْطِينَ
The Excellence Center team

Default avatar
Maria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best decision I ever made

I have really enjoyed my time here at The Excellence Centre. Every single person has made my stay here a unique and beautiful experience. From the patience and encouragement of my Arabic teacher Duha to all of the friendly, hardworking students. From the insights of Palestinian life in Hebron led by Osama's cultural tours to Marwa's homecooked food and having breakfast with Khitem.

I was here with another volunteer and we stayed in our own apartment. We were the only 2 volunteers here as due to the ongoing Israeli violence, flights have been cancelled and getting here can be a bit tricky. I ended up flying to Amman then crossing the border via King Hussein Bridge, catching a bus to Jericho and then a shared taxi to Hebron. Even though it was a longer journey, everyone was friendly and helpful along the way and I got so many "Welcomes" it actually made my day!

I chose The Excellence Centre as it had the most comprehensive and varied volunteer programmes and after messaging Rafat, we arranged a time to have a telephone conversation, and he answered all the questions I had and I felt reassured that I had made the right decision.

It's important to come here without European or Western expectations of structure as things can change last minute or can move at a different pace. You will learn each day what you will be doing as opposed to a set continuous plan. Going to Ibrahim Mosque can be challenging as you have to go through 3 checkpoints and the mood of the Israeli guards can change in a moment. It can be an uncomfortable, tormenting experience which lasts moments for me but is an everyday lived experience for Palestinians.

Regardless of the challenges, this was such a rewarding and rich experience that for sure I will be coming again.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would stay for longer. Unfortunately Wizz air from UK lost 53 peoples luggage, and I had to wait a week before getting it..
Pros
  • Friendly environment
  • Amazing food
  • Sharing experiences - and learning Arabic
Cons
  • The security situation made some things complicated
47 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam Maria,

Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review of your time at the Excellence Centre in Palestine. We’re so glad that your stay was a unique and beautiful experience. It’s wonderful to hear that you were able to immerse yourself in the local culture through Duha's Arabic lessons, Osama's cultural tours, and the home-cooked meals from Marwa. These personal connections really make the experience special.

We completely understand how challenging the travel process was for you, and we’re glad to hear that everyone made you feel so welcome along the way. Your openness to the unexpected nature of the experience, despite the challenges, truly reflects the spirit of the program. Your insights into the situation in Hebron and the checkpoints are much appreciated, as they give an important perspective on the realities of life here.

We are thrilled that you’re planning to return and look forward to welcoming you again soon!

Best regards from Palestine 🇵🇸
The Excellence Center Team

Default avatar
Jaylen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wow!

This was such an amazing experience. Not only was it fun, but it was extremely educational. There was so much to learn and do even in just the two weeks I was here. The people were so friendly, so exciting. The food is the best. Shawerma everyday. The culture is unique. The energy is lively. There's no question on if I'm coming back or not. I am. And thank you to everyone involved here. I don't know if the experience here could have been any friendlier. The kindness here challenges Canada to be honest. I truly wish I could have stayed longer but I am so glad to come back some time soon!

What was your funniest moment?
I was skating on my skateboard (which isn't very popular here) and crowds of people would sometimes circle around me to watch me practice tricks. Felt like a celebrity.
Pros
  • Friendly environment
  • Amazing food
  • Helping others
Cons
  • May be upsetting to hear what people go through
  • Some security restrictions
  • Some kids in the streets may be annoying
55 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam Jaylen,

Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your amazing experience! We’re thrilled to hear that your two weeks with us were both fun and educational and that you felt so welcomed by the people, culture, and of course—the shawarma! 😊

Your enthusiasm and appreciation mean a lot to us, and we’re so happy to know that you’re already planning to return. We’ll be here to welcome you back whenever you’re ready for another unforgettable experience!

We are looking forward to seeing you again soon in Palestine!

Best regards from Palestine 🇵🇸,
The Excellence Center Team

Default avatar
Nur Maisarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer with Children Review

My experience was amazing! I've had so much fun with the other volunteer. The staff of the organisation has been really helpful and welcoming, making my stay here much nicer. I enjoyed the flexibility of the program here, allowing me to be able to appreciate the Palestinian culture even more. The city was very safe as well. The locals here were really friendly and ready to help me anytime I could. It was also really easy to travel to other cities in Palestine like Bethlehem and Jericho. Overall and really great experience.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have stayed here for much longer.
Pros
  • Learn Arabic
  • Accommodation provided
  • the interesting and enriching program
Cons
  • Language Barrier
  • It was really hot
60 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam Nur,

Thank you for the fantastic feedback, Nur! We’re delighted to hear that your experience was amazing and that you had a great time with fellow volunteers at the Excellence Center in Palestine. It’s wonderful to know that our staff made your stay enjoyable and that you appreciated the program’s flexibility to explore Palestinian culture.

We’re glad you found the city safe and the locals friendly, and that you enjoyed traveling to other cities. Your positive review means a lot to us.

Thank you for sharing, and we hope to welcome you back in the future, Nur!

Greetings from Hebron, Palestine!

Default avatar
Muhammad
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Safe as Houses

I really enjoyed my time at Excellence Centre. I came from London and was a bit wary of how safe it would be, but upon getting here all my worries disappeared. Hebron is a really vibrant city with lots of nice shops, big mosques, and really friendly people. The call to prayer resonates beautifully around the centre where I teach as well as the apartment where I am staying.

The centre itself is really clean and well laid out. All the teachers were really friendly and keen to know more about me. It was really easy to get into a daily schedule of first, breakfast with other volunteers, then me teaching an English lesson to some delightful students. I liked the fact that the schedule allowed plenty of free time to plan lessons as well as do anything I wanted to leisure-wise.

I also really liked how the centre gave us a tour of the old city and the visit to Ibrahimi Mosque. The community dinners were amazing.

The apartment was really clean and nicely laid out. I enjoyed the experience of sharing it with other volunteers. That turned out to be a real highlight of my experience.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
A beautiful Palestinian man at the mosque invited me to his house. He gave me a popular food which is a vegetable like aubergine stuffed with rice. It was nice.
Pros
  • Well organised
  • Accommodation provided
  • Really friendly staff
71 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Salam Muhammad,

We’re thrilled to hear that your time at The Excellence Center was so enjoyable and that your initial concerns about safety were quickly put to rest. It’s wonderful to know that you appreciated the vibrant atmosphere of Hebron, the beauty of the call to prayer, and the friendliness of the people.

We’re glad you found the center clean and well-organized, and that you enjoyed the daily routine of breakfast, teaching, and free time, as well as the fact that, with all that, the tours of the old city and Ibrahimi Mosque, as well as the community dinners, added to your positive experience. And finally, we are extra happy to hear that sharing the apartment with other volunteers was a highlight for you. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you back in the future Muhammad!

Kind greetings from Hebron, Palestine!

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.