Program Reviews

I stayed at the center for only a week but it has been an unforgettable experience. Everyone is very friendly and very welcoming, there is a great atmosphere. Halle is also a great city with lots of different activities one can do. It is also nicely connected to other nice cities like Leipzig and Berlin that can also make a great day trip.

Being able to help by teaching English has been wonderful and it’s a nice way to give back to the community. Getting to talk with all the students and volunteers and listening to their own individual stories is a great way to open your mind and learn. I feel fortunate because we also get the opportunity to practice other languages like German.

I wish I could have stayed longer and definitely recommend the center to anyone who wants to help and gain new experiences.

Hi, my name is Dan, and I come from the UK. I study Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the University of Oxford. I came to the Excellence Centre for three weeks to partake in the Human Rights Internship programme, as I have been interested in the occupation for a long time and really wanted to come and see the situation for myself.

During my time at the centre, I took part in many different activities- including presentations from human rights experts, visits to Palestinian homes and villages, trips to various organisations in Hebron, and fun group activities with the centre.

Upon arriving, I was given three days of Arabic lessons- I had a very limited background in Arabic, I just knew a few words and phrases- but the teaching was excellent and comprehensive, and even after just a few lessons, my Arabic improved a lot- and made me want to learn more! Another thing is that through speaking to the people of Hebron- I learnt more Arabic and found myself able to understand more of what people were saying to me.

The environment in the centre is so friendly and welcoming. When I first arrived, I was a bit overwhelmed with meeting so many new people- but after a day or two I found myself forming close friendships with people from all over the world and different backgrounds, and now I don’t want to leave! The staff are so nice and friendly, and if you have any issues or questions they are more than ready to help.

With the centre, I visited Fuwwar Refugee Camp, the Palestinian Polytechnic University, Masafer Yatta and Umm Al-Khair village, a Palestinian art exhibition, a blind school, the H2 zone of Hebron, the Old City, and took an amazing hike in the Halhul areal. On top of that, on the weekends I visited Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, and Jerusalem- these cities are really nice to visit, and easy and cheap to get to- especially if you go in a group.

Living in Hebron was an amazing experience. I shared a nice apartment with a few other guys, not too far from the centre. The people here are SO hospitable and most of them love talking to foreigners, even though they don’t speak a lot of English. As a result, I have never felt unsafe in Hebron- it is such a friendly environment that there is never anything to worry about in terms of safety- we rarely lock our apartment door! The food here is incredible, the best shawarma and falafel in the world, for good prices- and there are some more traditional Palestinian dishes that I had the chance to try which were amazing- Maqluba was a standout for me. The weather in Palestine is HOT in the summer, but the evenings tend to be cool and when there is a breeze it is very pleasant. Something that surprised me about Palestine in general is the beautiful range of nature and physical environment- there are hills and valleys filled with greenery and beautiful-smelling olive trees.

One of the highlights for me was the hike in the Halhul area- the scenery was beautiful, the walk was long but rewarding, and then after the walk was done, we all sat down and ate together on the side of a hill overlooking the city- a beautiful view with beautiful people and beautiful food.

The programme has been so rewarding for me, and more than anything else I have just learnt so much! There is something really powerful about coming and seeing the situation for yourself- no amount of reading or research can replace that experience. I have fallen in love with Palestine, and I definitely want to come back to Hebron- hopefully with some more Arabic skills! I absolutely recommend the Excellence Centre to anyone who has any interest in the situation in Palestine, or even anyone who wants to learn Arabic- it’s an amazing place to do it.

"Welcome!", "What is your name?", "Where are you from?". It wouldn't feel like Hebron unless you heard these questions whilst walking around the city. It is one of the friendliest places I have traveled to.
My name is Jack and I live in London. I work for the UK Government having completed a degree in economics.

I spent six weeks at the Excellence Centre learning Arabic. Whilst I started as a complete
beginner, by the end I could have simple conversations in shops, cafes and taxis in addition to reading and writing in the Arabic script. The lessons were well structured and focussed on how to apply the Arabic language, rather than endless grammar. Our teacher was encouraging, engaging, and experienced.

The Centre supplemented our studies with various visits and trips, including visiting a family in the "H2" area of the city and to a refugee camp. The personal stories were very impactful and exposed the situation for Palestinians living under occupation. We also visited a nearby nature reserve where the peace, quiet and views of the countryside provided a great contrast to the bustling city centre.

Studying at the Excellence Centre provided the opportunity to meet people from across the globe and from all walks of life, but with the common intention of learning more about the history, culture and people of Palestine.

My favourite experience - albeit not a unique one in Palestine - was being invited to a family's house for dinner after meeting them on the bus from Bethlehem. As we arrived, huge plates of chicken and rice were brought out from the kitchen and we had a great afternoon eating, drinking coffee and practising our Arabic.

Hebron is a great place to stay. In addition to the friendly people and the huge range of cafes and restaurants, you will witness - first hand - the impact of the occupation on daily life in the city and hear myriad perspectives on how the situation could be improved.
Developing a small amount of knowledge on the complex history and political situation and taking it back to the UK is invaluable. It is also very straightforward to visit other cities from Hebron by bus or shared taxi: we spent weekends in Jericho, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

In summary, I definitely recommend Palestine, Hebron and the Excellence Centre. My six weeks here has gone too quickly!

I’m Francesca and I’ve been studying intensive Arabic at the excellence centre for 6 weeks alongside my husband.
I had studied formal Arabic before arriving in Hebron - I took it as an extra module whilst completing my masters at SOAS university in London. However, 7 years has passed since I finished my masters so it’s safe to say I was a little rusty.
Our teacher was endlessly patient and encouraging, meaning within a couple of days I was already feeling confident enough to try talking to locals in the street. Our lessons were structured enough that our teacher made sure we covered all the basics of the language, but we also had the freedom to pick and choose additional topics to cover or specific areas of weakness we wanted to focus on.
Our lessons were primarily class room based but every so often we did a lesson ‘in action’ visiting various stores in Hebron to engage in dialogue with the local people (all under the watchful eye of our wonderful teacher!).
The excellence centre also took us on a number of trips where we learnt about the history of Hebron, the culture and, of course, the conflict with Israel. We were exposed to many different viewpoints during these trips which helped us to greatly expand our understanding of the situation.
My favourite trip was to a local nature reserve - Wadi Al Quff. It is only 15 minutes drive from the city and yet it feels like a world away. Our hike through the reserve was so peaceful and the scenery is so beautiful - far greener than I had expected! We were also able to visit a huge cave that’s within the reserve and get up close and personal with a local colony of bats. Our hike finished at the top of a hill where we were provided with a wonderful picnic to eat whilst watching the sunset.
During our time in Hebron we stayed with a wonderful host family. We shared an apartment with 3 other girls from the excellence centre but in the same building as our host family. We were able to use their beautiful garden, their swimming pool and practice Arabic with them.
Overall we felt so at home in Hebron. Never in my life have I been to a more friendly and welcoming city. Everyone wants to chat to you, invite you to visit their home, or offer help with anything you need. I will never forget the Hebron hospitality and I’m so sad to have to leave.

Inshallah we will return to Hebron and the excellence centre one day soon.

I spent three weeks at the Excellence Centre in July 2023. In these three weeks I gained invaluable experience teaching English as a second language, living in a new city and getting to know people from many different countries and backgrounds.
It was my first-time teaching English as a foreign language, so I was initially slightly unsure how to proceed with lessons and teaching, however the many resources provided by the centre were a great source of knowledge and inspiration. I could also ask other volunteers about their experiences and if they had any advice, and this was extremely helpful for me. Having a starting conversation with the learner was especially helpful, because it was good to know the language ability as well as any specific themes or topics the person wanted to work on. I taught two people in my three weeks, and it was very enjoyable because we covered a range of topics.
Additionally I had 9 hours of German lessons, which was a great opportunity to freshen up some things I had forgotten, learn some new vocabulary and get some practice speaking it.
Another aspect that really appealed to me was the diversity of people at the centre. It was really interesting to meet so many different people from different countries. Working with Ukrainian refugees and hearing their stories was also a very humbling experience as it put my “problems” at home into perspective. Everyone at the centre was extremely welcoming, friendly and social which made coming and settling into Halle very easy for me and the delicious breakfast we had four times a week was a really nice way to start the day.
Halle itself was a pleasant city to spend three weeks in. It was not too big so I did not feel in anyway overwhelmed. There were also enough shops, bars, and restaurants so I was able to go out with the other volunteers in the evenings as well as a weekly football match amongst the volunteers. Furthermore, I was also able to visit Leipzig and Dresden as they are very easy to reach.
Overall, I had a great few weeks at the Excellence centre and in Halle and would thoroughly recommend the programme to any person who wishes to gain TEFL experience in a new city.

My time at the Excellence Center was an eye-opening experience that taught me a lot about refugees and their lives, as well as the German language. My host family was very welcoming and gracious, and I greatly enjoyed my time with them.

At the Excellence Center, we started the morning with breakfast, where I got to know the other volunteers. After that, I had German lessons, which taught me some new vocabulary. I also began to teach lessons in German to two refugees from Ukraine. I learned about where they were from, and even improved my German in the process.

I saw a lot of the city while I was here, including churches, historic buildings, the university, and a huge music festival. My host family and I became close, and I hope we will stay in contact in the future. Additionally, my German has definitely improved. It feels much more natural to speak than it did two weeks ago when I arrived. Volunteering was also a great experience that showed me the challenges refugees face, but also showed me the resilience they have.

The two weeks passed by quickly, and I wish I could stay for longer. Halle is a beautiful city, and I learned a lot from my time here at the Excellence Center. I hope to return to Halle as soon as I can!

I wanted to take a moment and thank you and the Excellence Center for a wonderful
experience here in Hebron. 11 months ago, my friend and I decided to take Arabic together at our local community college. We enjoyed it so much we decided to look for a study abroad program. After looking at a few programs recommended by the college, my friend found your program and I’m glad he did.

We compared it to the others that were available and reached out to get more information. Wewere kindly greeted; all our questions were answered, and we decided the Excellence Center was where we wanted to do our study abroad.

When many people found out I was coming for a study abroad program in Palestine, they
expressed concern and warned me about how they thought things were here in Palestine, but I quickly told them I would be fine and not to worry about me. After arriving here, I found I was completely right! The Palestinian people are some of the most friendly people I have ever met.Total strangers will see you looking for something and they will stop and ask you if you need help; everyone you talk to is your friend. I have never felt worried for my safety in Palestine.

My first day I took an assessment of my language skills and was placed in a class with a
wonderful teacher. She really helped me increase my reading, writing, and speaking skills. Other teachers were really friendly as well and were always willing to help students learn, and answer any questions we had. Not only was the language training excellent, but the cultural visits organized by the center were great as well.

My first visit was meeting with an Israeli ex-soldier from an organization called Breaking the Silence. The organization is mainly comprised of former soldiers who saw the mistreatment of the Palestinian people and are educating others on what is really going on. He took us to the Israeli side of Hebron near the Ibrahimi Mosque. He explained about the Israeli settlements and how they are slowly encroaching on Palestinian lands, forcing the people out of their homes and businesses.

My second trip was to a Palestinian refugee camp where we met with some of the refugees and they told us their stories of being forced off their land and about the restrictions put in place on them. We were given a tour of the camp, and it was sad to see the conditions there. It really opened my eyes to things I did not know were occurring.

My third trip was a beautiful hike through a small valley just north of the city. We saw historical sites there and enjoyed the scenery. We even went in a cave! Afterwards we drove up a mountain and had dinner overlooking the beautiful city of Bayt Ula. It was a very nice experience.

I do not regret doing my study abroad here and have grown to love the city and the people. My one regret is that I was unable to stay longer. It saddens me that it is time to return home already.

I am Hannah, from Singapore, and I recently finished a degree in history. I participated in the ‘Volunteering with Palestinian Refugees’ programme, mainly because I am interested in researching refugees for my higher education degree.

I found my Arabic lessons really fruitful and engaging. My goal is to be able to communicate basic ideas in Arabic, so learning colloquial Levantine Arabic is most important to me. This was achieved during my time here, although the hours were short given my brief time here, I gained a stronger foundation to continue learning the language by myself. For now at least, I am able to greet, introduce myself, discuss the weather and my day when I meet shopkeepers and taxi drivers.

I am very grateful to my Arabic teachers, who enthusiastically and warmly encouraged me to learn and practise my ability to speak and read. The other international volunteers are also really eager to learn, so the environment here is very, very supportive.

During the few weeks I was here, I did a lot of site visits with other volunteers from various programmes. I went to Fawwar Camp a few times, and I got the chance to speak to community leaders, social workers, and the young children living in the camp. It was very eye-opening, especially since I assumed that refugee camps are filled with tents, but Fawwar Camp (like many other Palestinian refugee camps) has buildings gradually erected by the refugees themselves.

I also visited the checkpoints separating H1 from H2 in Hebron, as well as the shops and houses near those checkpoints. These are the hotspots of clashes between Palestinians, the IDF soldiers and settlers. Speaking to locals who live near these precarious locations also showed me the layers of pain and suffering of life under the occupation.

I felt safe during my time in Hebron, sometimes even safer than in other cities I have lived in (such as London) because there is no anxiety about my stuff being stolen. There was definitely a period of time during my initial days here, when I had to adjust to the social and religious culture here, such as being careful about the way I interact with the men here as a solo travelling woman.

During my first week here, the bustling city of Hebron had a general strike in solidarity for Jenin, and a group of volunteers went to observe how the busy old city changed for the strike. We definitely noticed the potential danger of being caught in between protestors and the IDF soldiers in the old city and the checkpoint areas, but it was such an indescribably important experience to see how the Palestinian people express their anger and sorrow in various ways.

Everytime we made a site visit - the Bedouin villages, a Palestinian art exhibit, Hebron streets emptied after eruptions of violence, human rights groups - we spoke to so many different people with similar stories of anxiety, loss, fear, and even resilience and hope for a better future. The Palestinians I spoke to during my time here are so highly aware of the history of the occupation, and they show empathy towards the reasons for why European Jews migrated to this land. However, they are frustrated by the systematically violent and militant mode of which the occupation continues til this day I personally hope the dream of living peacefully and equally between Israelis and Palestinian people can be achieved one day.

Most of my time at the Excellence Centre was spent studying Arabic, as I was on the intensive course: after studying in the mornings, I would practice the topics covered into the evening in a cafe, or at my apartment.

I found the intensive Arabic course very useful, and I am grateful to my two teachers, Haya and Daliah, who taught me for my first four weeks and last two weeks. I spoke no Arabic when I arrived, and now I am able to get by in shops and have short discussions with people. I found Haya’s immersive teaching strategy extremely useful in jumping straight into the language. She introduced me into conversational Arabic quickly, and taught me useful expressions and vocabulary. Combined with Daliah’s focused approach—which was more technical and allowed to build on that foundation and hone those skills—I definitely feel like I now have the skills to learn Arabic independently, and build my proficiency going forward.

The environment at the centre was very friendly and relaxed, and I appreciated that a lot: the mix of people was great and everyone was very friendly! I didn’t travel outside of Hebron much: I visited Jerusalem and Ramallah, and found Hebron a very interesting and welcoming city. In Hebron, you need to be ready for people to ask you a lot of questions, but it’s an overwhelmingly friendly place—in fact the thing I liked most about Palestine is the people, almost all of whom are exceptionally welcoming and generous, something that I have always appreciated and will continue to do so.

I`m Elke, I`m from Belgium and I`m 35years at the time of participating to the languge programme.I choose the Excellence Centerto start with some basic Arabic courses. What appealed me the most were the small clases with a local teacher.
I was amazed by the level and pace of the courses. Within a week we knew the alfabet.
I was fortunate to get clases from Duha. An intelligent, sweet person.

After clases I spend my time in the city center of Hebron. I recommand it for everybody and for all ages. I could expience a small iece of Palestinian life. It will always have a place in my heart.