Program Reviews

I’ve taken several language courses in the past, but none come close to this Palestinian Arabic course. The structure, the pace, and the way the lessons are designed make a huge difference compared to anything I’ve tried before.

I’ve already completed 50 hours, and I’ve just started my next 50-hour package—which says a lot about how valuable and effective this course is. I can genuinely see my progress, especially in speaking and understanding real conversations.

A special thank you to my teacher, Shahed. She is an exceptional instructor—extremely patient, supportive, and incredibly skilled at teaching. She creates a comfortable environment where I feel confident speaking Arabic, even when I make mistakes. That has made all the difference for me.

If you’re serious about learning Palestinian Arabic, I couldn’t recommend this course more. 5 stars without hesitation.

I have been taking online Arabic lessons 8 months now. The classes have been great and I can really see my progress. I am learning to read, write and speak Arabic. My teacher, Lana, is amazing. She is patient with me and enthusiastic in her work. It makes all the difference to have a live person there to guide you and correct you in real time, and also to have someone to practice with. I’ve made tremendous progress compared to my 6-8 months of Duolingo prior to these lessons. I look forward to continuing this journey. I highly recommend this course for new Arabic speakers, as well as, people who speak Arabic already but maybe want to strengthen their vocabulary or fluency. I have Arabic speaking friends who want to start taking lessons to improve their own skills because of the progress they see I have made. I have referred them here. Do yourself a favor and start now!

I am currently enrolled in online Arabic lessons with Lana from the Excellence Center. Let me give you a little bit of background on myself for reference. I was born and raised in the United States and I have never attempted to learn another language. My confidence was not very high when I decided to start these classes because I thought it would be too hard.

Let me tell you, I wish I would have started the classes sooner. Lana is an amazing teacher and breaks down each lesson into easy to understand instructions. My Arab brothers at the masjid have been impressed with how far I have progressed. If you want to learn Arabic there is no better place than the Excellence Center. My confidence in learning the language is through the roof after a few months of lessons. Enroll in these classes with confidence knowing you will have a teacher that can teach anyone to speak, read, and write Arabic.

I’ve been doing online Palestinian Arabic classes for the past few months through the Excellence Centre and have been loving it! My teacher is great and lessons have been both fun and informative. The Centre runs everything smoothly and I’m very happy to be supporting a Palestinian run business. My Arabic has improved a lot since I started in both reading, writing and speaking. Classes are a mix of speaking and working through text. Highly recommend this for anyone that wants to learn MSA or dialect.

I spent two weeks at the Halle Excellent Centre teaching English and learning German and had the absolute best time! In 2024 I had studied German as a uni elective and was around A2 level, but after having only three lessons from Mauz, I had greater understanding and confidence in my language skills than I did during the whole uni semester! Mauz is a great teacher who is not only encouraging and fun, but pushes you to improve.

I also loved teaching English to both my online and in person students, although as I was only there for two weeks, I only had three. At first I was hesitant to teach English online, but after getting to know my students language level and personality, the best way to help improve their language skills is having good conversations and occasionally doing some exercises.

Overall, the centre was a super supportive and friendly environment. With a delicious group breakfast each morning made by Rafat or another volunteer, the vibes were always fabulous. I also got along really well with the other volunteers and some other members of the Halle community. Long lasting memories and friendships were made.

I spent 8 weeks at the Excellence Center in Halle, and it was a wonderful experience! I had some prior knowledge of the German language but had taken a year-long break before arriving in Halle. I studied German with Muaz, who was an excellent teacher and helped me finally grasp grammar concepts I hadn’t fully understood before. I definitely feel that my German improved during my time here.

I also thoroughly enjoyed working with all the students I was assigned to teach English. Whether online or in person, each student had different needs and levels, which made teaching both interesting and fun. I was quite stressed about the teaching aspect before starting the program, as I had little to no experience, but the environment is very relaxed and supportive. Everyone is willing to help whenever you need it.

Beyond the educational aspect, the people I met made this experience even more special. Rafat, Muaz, and Dušan created a lovely atmosphere at the center. They were always ready to help with anything I needed, even things outside the program, like opening a bank account or registering in town. They also organized weekly events where we could meet members of the community, and through these, I made some wonderful, long-lasting friendships. My only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer.

I volunteered with the Excellence Center for the whole month of March and had a wonderful experience. We started every day (Mon-Thrs) at the Center with a family breakfast around 1000. After that, I taught English to my students, one-on-one, either in-person or online. As a teacher, you are allowed to shape your teaching style and the learning environment as you see fit to help your student learn. For adult students I would bounce between classroom instruction and walking through the city reviewing vocabulary and practicing basic English grammar. One of my students was about eight years old, and they learned better with more engaging methods, such as board games and football.

Most days I also received German lessons from one of the Center’s teachers, along with one other student. We would split out time between the classroom and walking about the city, which was more engaging than the German lessons I had in school.

My daily schedule varied wildly, with some days being seven hours long, while others were just about two hours, depending on the number of students that day. Once your lessons are done, you have the freedom to explore the city on your own. I’d often have lunch in a local park, weather permitting, or go for a walk along the river.

On the weekends, I explored the local area, to include Leipzig and Dresden, taking in the history of this part of the country. This also gave me ample opportunity to practice my German in the real world.

Overall, the work was very rewarding. I’d highly recommend the Excellent Center to anyone who enjoys teaching.

I really enjoyed my 8 weeks at the Excellence Centre. It was filled with fun, beautiful culture and amazing people! Every morning, I was welcomed with a warm atmosphere through the communal breakfasts, thanks to Rafat, Muaz and Dušan. I was able to build on my German skills, thanks to my teacher Enrico, and also taught English (and basic German) to 4 students. The experience as a whole was intriguing, as I got to meet new volunteers and also immerse myself in both German and Arabic culture. I hope to be back again and definitely recommend!

My time at the Excellence Center in Hebron was a truly meaningful and enriching experience. I stayed for about one month as part of the Human Rights Program, and from the very beginning I felt warmly welcomed into both the center and the local community.

Being there during Ramadan made my stay especially unique. I was often invited to join Iftar meals, which were not only veryyy delicious but also a beautiful way to connect with people and experience daily life more closely. Even though the rhythm of the city changes during Ramadan and things are generally less busy, the Excellence Center continued to organize a wide range of engaging activities that made my time both full and rewarding.

Through the center, I had the opportunity to meet many different people and explore Hebron in a very personal way. I visited places such as local markets, typical factories, local artists, and different neighborhoods across the city.

Spending time in the H2 area in particular gave me a much deeper understanding of what it means that Hebron is divided, and how closely nearby settlements affect the everyday lives of Palestinian residents. What made these experiences especially impactful was learning directly from people who are living under these conditions.

Alongside this, I was able to teach English in camps around Hebron. The students were incredibly kind, motivated, and welcoming, and teaching them was both enjoyable and eye-opening. I also took Arabic lessons during my stay, which added another meaningful layer to my experience. My teacher, Joomana, created such a fun and relaxed atmosphere that learning never felt like a task, but something I genuinely looked forward to.

The accommodation provided by the center was very comfortable, which made it easy to feel at home during my stay. At the same time, the sense of community among the volunteers was something I deeply appreciated. Everyone was kind, open-minded, and supportive, and sharing this experience with them made it even more special.

Overall, my time at the Excellence Center gave me not only valuable insights into human rights and daily life in Hebron, but also genuine human connections that I will carry with me. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone – students, travelers, or anyone interested in understanding more about the region. It is a unique opportunity to connect with the warmth and openness of Palestinian people and to learn in a way that goes far beyond what you can find in books. To sum it up: I can’t wait to come back!!

I had a truly memorable 3 weeks completing a media and journalism course at the Excellence Center in Halle, and couldn't recommend it highly enough!

I spent a week learning Arabic and two weeks learning German, whilst researching and writing articles for the Center. Rafat, Muaz and Dušan create such a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere within the center, making it the perfect environment to learn, teach and study. The hugely experienced language teachers approach lessons in a novel way and foster an engaging and exciting weekly routine. The opportunity to live and study with fellow volunteers was also a hugely rewarding experience. As I say, I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to experience Germany whilst using your time productively. I can't thank the team at the Excellence Center enough. I'll be sure to come back to Halle in the future and my only regret is that I couldn't stay longer!