The Excellence Center Reviews

During my week at the Excellence Center, I began learning Arabic, I worked with Palestinian kids in an English club, and got the chance to go to a refugee camp and talk with some students about their experiences. I honestly could not recommend this program enough. The community of volunteers and workers here are fantastic. When working with Rafat and Osama, the leaders of the program while I was there, I always felt as though my best interests were taken into account and they both went out of their way to make my week the best it could be. Also, the other volunteers are some of the nicest people I have met. I immediately felt comfortable around everyone and was able to make friends and build community. Two of the nights I was here, we were able to have iftar at the center and it is one of my many highlights to my week in Hebron. Being able to learn about Palestine more, and doing it by engaging with and talking to Palestianians was so incredible and I could not recommend doing something like this with any other organization. My week here was so memorable and I cannot wait to come back.

My time at the Excellence Center has been an experience I will never forget. From beginning to end, the people of Palestine have been the most genuine and hospitable. My host family, students, volunteers, even the local merchants welcomed me with open arms into their culture and daily life. For the short time that I was here, I participated in English Club, took Arabic class, volunteered at refugee camp Fawwar, and got to explore the city of Hebron. English club was my favorite activity I participated in. Not only did I get to witness ten- to sixteen-year-old children become more confident in their English-speaking abilities, but I got to build authentic connections with the students. The Excellence Center expresses that it “brings people together,” and that is exactly what happened this week. I am leaving with a lifetime of friendships and memories. Thank you to everyone who made this week what it was. The Excellence Center is a magical place, and I will be back inshallah!!

I have been really impressed with the quality of the Arabic teaching here, and I feel clearer now about what I need to do to become more fluent. I have really enjoyed living with a local family and learning more about life here from them. It has been interesting to be thrown together with a random bunch of internationals from all over the world, and to hear about their different motivations for coming here. We have also had quite a lot of opportunities to do or own thing and explore for ourselves.

Although only spending two weeks at the Excellence Center, my experience has been amazing. Before arrival I was a bit nervous, but as soon as I arrived, my fears disappeared and I felt really welcomed. The center is a brilliant place to learn German! My one-on-one German lessons were fun and varied, and my teacher Muaz has some great language-learning methods, so I learnt a lot in a short time. Teaching English and helping refugees learn is also an experience I will never forget. I had never taught English before, but the center is very supportive and all of the students are really friendly so I quickly felt comfortable. Hearing the stories of people, meeting people from around the world and learning about their different cultures, has really been a unique and eye-opening experience.

Halle is also a great place to stay if you want to learn more German and see more of Germany. Many of the people here usually only want to speak in German, so it forces you to use your language and helps you build confidence. In terms of the location, it is also quite easy to hop on a train or bus and see a lot of the country. In just 2 weeks I have been to Berlin, Leipzig and Wernigerode. In Halle, there are also quite a few museums, cafes, pubs and bars, so there is always something to do here.

Most importantly, the people at the center are all so friendly and welcoming - making me feel at home straight away. I have met some great people and made some great friends. My only regret is that I did not stay longer! If you are undecided on whether to volunteer at the center or not, just do it! I promise you will not regret it.

I specifically wanted to learn the Palestinian dialect and was excited to be able to find a teacher in Hebron who could provide online learning for me. My teacher was so patient and friendly. She was also very flexible and forgiving of my inconsistent schedule. I am older and was afraid I would be a slow learner but my teacher was always encouraging and positive. I feel like I have made a friend as well as learned a lot. I hope to travel to Hebron and continue my studies in person at the center. I had private lessons and so my learning was individually paced which suited my needs exactly.

I can't recommend the Excellence center enough. Not only for those wanting to have a great study/work abroad experience but for anyone who wants to step out of their comfort zone and get to experience a new culture in the most friendly way possible.
I stayed in the center teaching English for 3 weeks, and then a 4th week just taking German lessons. So, I got to experience a bit of each of the offered programs, and they both have unique advantages. While being a volunteer I got an amazing experience giving one-on-one lessons to students from different age groups and nationalities, and it was incredible seeing how committed they are to integrating into German society and to learning English even though they are still in the process of improving their German skills, handling school, languages, a different country, and managing all that while being very sweet and nice to their teachers and being honestly excited about their lessons and about everything in their surroundings.
In my 4th week, I was only taking German lessons, and this was also very interesting. Muaz is an incredible teacher and he worked with me on a wide variety of activities and helped me a lot in improving my German skills, as well as getting a broad understanding of Halle, and of the study and work life in the city.
Overall the center was just an incredible place to be, everyone receives you in such a warm welcoming way and the atmosphere is always one of friendship and care. I was included in so many amazing activities, from hanging out in local coffee shops, and bars, to a Ramadan Iftar dinner with volunteers, staff, and members of their community. From the beginning, you are received in such a friendly way, and I was fortunate enough to have a great group of volunteers staying at the same time as me, and it was amazing getting to know each of them.
The city is also great and offers lots of things to do, and there is plenty to explore in the nearby towns, so this also makes for a very rich cultural experience.

I loved my experience here in Hebron. The people are so kind and you can feel the kindness when you are just walking down the street and everyone will wave and smile at you. I felt very safe and comfortable knowing that I had the support of the staff at the Excellence center. It was also a great environment because there are many international students coming and going and everyone is super friendly and open-minded. I would chose this program over an other Arabic program because while studying Arabic you will also be able to learn a lot about the situation in Palestine and experience the culture as well. You will have many opportunities to take day trips to things such as refugee camps and make lots of friends. The cafes are great to study at during the day also when it is not ramadan. My teacher was wonderful. She was very kind and one of the best Arabic instructors I have ever had. I would recommend taking classes here instead of the internships unless you really only want to learn about the situation. If you also want to learn Arabic, take classes and then you will simultaneously learn a lot about Palestine in general. I also loved my host family. If you get a host family you do not like you can switch.

I took Arabic classes at the Excellence for only a week and I learned so much. Not only Arabic, but also about the Palestinian culture and community. All the teachers and staff members are extremely supportive and always offer their help in my learning and time spent here. They are more than teachers, they become your friend. Outside of class, we sit together and talk about life, and at times go out for various acitivities. Everyone has made me feel safe and welcomed. They are also very encouraging in the process of learning Arabic as it is a challenging language to learn.

I would certainly recommend The Excellence Center to anyone interested in learning or teaching language. The staff consists of a wonderful group of people who are incredibly intelligent, fun, and motivated to help you reach your goals. A daily morning breakfast offers a chance to connect with other students and staff in a way that facilitates an atmosphere of warmth. I never realized how little I use my voice or how much of an introvert I am until I tried learning a new language at the age of 43. My tutor was incredibly patient with me. The course challenged me in ways I didn’t anticipate, but she always made herself available for assistance and encouraged me every step of the way. I will always be grateful for her time and her effort. This is a special place that’s worthy of your consideration.

I would certainly recommend The Excellence Center to anyone interested in learning or teaching language. The staff consists of a wonderful group of people who are incredibly intelligent, fun, and motivated to help you reach your goals. A daily morning breakfast offers a chance to connect with other students and staff in a way that facilitates an atmosphere of warmth. I never realized how little I use my voice or how much of an introvert I am until I tried learning a new language at the age of 43. My tutor was incredibly patient with me. The course challenged me in ways I didn’t anticipate, but she always made herself available for assistance and encouraged me every step of the way. I will always be grateful for her time and her effort. This is a special place that’s worthy of your consideration.

Spencer