Program Reviews

I was with the Excellence Centre for 2 weeks studying Arabic and teaching English. I would say the best thing about my experience was the fact that everybody was super friendly - from the teachers, to the volunteers and everybody that I've taught. I've made some good friends who have made the experience really enjoyable and have learnt a lot about myself as well as other cultures. The schedule was really relaxed so I had plenty of time to explore Halle also. Would definitely recommend this program for people of all ages and from all backgrounds!

I recently spent two weeks learning arabic and teaching english in Halle and I would say it was a great experience, especially as I have never done anything like it before! There were about 6 other people taking part in courses at the centre when I was there and everyone I got to know was really nice. The schedule from Monday to Thursday was quite relaxed which gave us plenty of time to explore the city. It was sunny every day so we spent a lot of time outside including in the park and a few of us even went on a boat ride on the river. Although it was a bit of a walk away, I would say the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte is also worth a visit. Overall the programme was really enjoyable and Ali was also a great teacher!

I applied for the Excellence Center in Europe’s ‘Teach English and Learn German’ volunteering programme with a view to maintaining and improving my German. The opportunity to be part of a community also appealed to me, as I would be travelling alone and am quite shy. I found the application process fairly straightforward and was accepted to stay for four weeks in May/June.

Before arriving, I had some contact with Rafat, the director of the Center. Emailing him was somewhat frustrating as his answers were often very vague; this is an area which could definitely be improved.

I arranged my own train travel from the UK. When I arrived in Halle, a housemate and fellow volunteer met me at the station and showed me to where we were staying, which took off the pressure of having to navigate through an unfamiliar city with big bags. The accommodation was a flat only 5 minutes’ walk from the Center – amazing location. The flat belonged to a local, but due to her working hours and also her staying elsewhere some of the time I didn’t see her very much. Instead I had a lot of contact with the two other volunteers in the flat, one of whom I shared a room with. For the first week I didn’t do much in terms of lessons as I didn’t have a schedule yet, but I found it useful to have a bit of time to settle in. Ali, a teacher at the Center, gave us a tour of Halle, which was great for getting to know the city.

I’ll give an outline of a typical day at the Center. First we would have breakfast all together in the Center or just outside (delicious fresh Levantine cooking which was very veggie-friendly!). A couple of people would help to wash up after breakfast while others started their lessons. I would teach and be taught as scheduled for that day, as well as planning lessons, doing homework and eating lunch in between. After I was done at the Center for the day I would sometimes visit somewhere in Halle with the other volunteers (e.g. a museum) or do some cleaning/washing. I had brought my violin with me and was thankfully also able to do some practice in the flat. Then I would get some dinner – sometimes eating out, sometimes there would be food at a social event (barbeque/picnic), or I could cook for myself in the kitchen in the flat. There was something social on pretty much every evening – we went along to quite a few Erasmus events so also met a lot of international students. In addition, I went to a few concerts in Leipzig – easily reachable on the S-Bahn, which is included in the Deutschlandticket.

In terms of teaching, I had three students (one of whom I taught beginner German – a bit of a challenge but lots of fun!). The lessons were one-to-one, with activities based on their level and aims. Lessons in which I was learning German were a bit different – volunteers were split into two groups based on level (beginners and those who had studied before). I especially enjoyed the ‘outside’ lessons, learning the language around Halle or Leipzig rather than in the Center. Lessons weren’t at a fixed time regularly, but organised individually based on people’s availability. For my teaching, this was typically once or twice a week for each student; frequency of German/Arabic lessons of course depends on how many hours are included in your programme.

I didn’t have to work on Fridays – it is supposed to be a day off – but I did anyway because it was best for one of my students in terms of availability. At the weekend I did a couple of day trips to Berlin and Hamburg (to use up my interrail ticket!) as well as exploring the area around Halle and hanging out with friends. A particular highlight was helping out at the Eid al-Adha celebrations in Halle – I had a lot of fun painting kids’ faces and watching the dabke!

In the week before I left Rafat organised a goodbye brunch for me and the other volunteer leaving, which was really lovely. I was glad to know who would be teaching my students when I was gone, so was able to tell them what we’d been doing.

Thinking back to my aims, I can definitely recommend the German teaching at the Center – Muaz is an incredible teacher and has given me invaluable strategies for independent learning as well. However I had thought that I would have more contact with my host family; if I could do one thing differently I would definitely be more proactive in talking to Germans. The community aspect was more than I could have asked for – everybody was so welcoming and friendly, and as I say there was no shortage of social events for volunteers to go along to.

If you’re unsure about affordability, I would make sure to take into account food/drink costs. Social events were often at bars, and the drinks costs add up… In addition, it’s probably a good idea to get the Deutschlandticket while you’re in Halle, which covers all public transport except intercity trains (but make sure to check!). As of writing, this costs €49 per calendar month. However, Halle is a small city, so it was possible for me to walk between the most important places.

Overall, the Excellence Center is an amazing place and I would definitely go back given the chance. It was truly wonderful to be able to talk to and exchange knowledge with people from different cultures with such mutual respect. I perhaps would have appreciated a bit more help with how to teach, but generally if you have a problem the staff will give you all the help and advice they can. I am so grateful to Rafat and the other staff for this incredible opportunity!

I spent 8 weeks at the Excellence Centre in Halle. It was my second summer doing an "Arabic Intensive" course. Last summer I was at the University of Wisconsin in Madison: two Arabic intensives, two very different summers. In Madison, the setting was academic: grades, exams, and hours spent at the campus library. In Halle, the setting was full of life. I went to the Excellence Centre to learn Arabic and am so grateful I did. At the Excellence Centre, Arabic is taken out of the textbooks. It's given life, it becomes full of colours, history, and emotions. It's in Halle that I felt, rather than merely knew, why I was learning Arabic. We did use a textbook to learn the grammar and studied the vocab sheets. But, and that's when I learned the most, we also translated songs, played games, made breakfast, and wrote love letters. We carefully listened to Muaz telling us about Al-Andalus, asked him to repeat himself when we got lost in the history or the Arabic. We went to the zoo, museums, coffee shops, and Arab restaurants. We travelled to Leipzig and Berlin. Muaz made Arabic fun, interesting, and beautiful. The Arabic I will learn after the Centre will have its roots in Halle.
At the Excellence Centre, I felt welcomed and encouraged to be part of a community. I have met such caring and brilliant people. Thank you for everything.

My name is Abigail Friedman, I am from the United States. I have a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Behavioral Sciences from Clemson University and I am receiving my master’s degree in Refugee Policy from American University- Athens, Greece. While obtaining my degrees I have focused my research on the Syrian and Palestinian refugee crises. This passion is what fueled my desire to come to Palestine and gain a firsthand account of the struggles Palestinians face.
During my month and a half in Hebron, Palestine, I volunteered with the Excellence Center in the Human Rights Program and the Volunteer with Refugees Program. While in these programs, I visited various Palestinian villages, camps, and historical sites learning more about the Palestinian struggle and steadfastness. The most inspiring and thought-provoking was when we visited Masafer Yatta Village; while there, we heard stories from numerous residents recounting the violence and hate they had experienced from settlers. The power of their stories stuck with me through the duration of my trip and reinforced my passion and reasoning for coming to Palestine. Through the program, I also had the opportunity to teach in surrounding villages and interact with local Palestinians. Through this, I was able to garner a deeper understanding and admiration for Palestinians. In addition to the programs I participated in, I took 15 hours of Arabic classes. These classes provided me with the ability to communicate with locals through basic conversations and allowed me to forge lifelong friendships in Palestine.
While in Palestine, the Excellence Center provided an apartment for the women to stay in. The apartment was five minutes away from the Center, was centrally located, and was walking distance from everything we needed. When walking to and from the apartment, during the day and at night, I never felt unsafe. The people in Palestine were so welcoming and hospitable, I never feared for my safety nor did I feel unwelcomed. The locals, those at the center, and those at the sites you visit want to ensure you have an educational and fun time exploring Palestine, and often will invite you for tea, dinner, or coffee. These invitations are a great way to learn more about Palestinian culture.
As my time in Palestine comes to an end, I am saddened to think about all of the friends and experiences I will be leaving but I look forward to returning soon.

I loved studying Arabic in Halle, Germany! It is such a unique experience. Rafat runs the center with care for all of his students. Muaz is a great teacher who makes it fun and challenges you outside your comfort zone. We did fun field trips to local Middle Eastern restaurants and you will find amazing food and people here! I walked away after 3 weeks of study with better Arabic and more confidence to speak it to others. People from all over the world come here, but it was mostly young adults in university studying. Keep that in mind if you are older and joining the program or the housing options here.

I choose this program because it looked very welcoming and inclusive. As an older volunteer this was important to me.
My instincts were right as the centre and volunteers are very welcoming and supportive whatever your background.
I was apprehensive about staying with a host family but I was matched well with a German family who were incredibly helpful and kind.
Whilst I didn't do as much teaching as I was expecting to the students I had were delightful. I found the lessons fun and stress free and there was a lot of flexibility.
If you are just starting out considering volunteer work abroad then this is an ideal program to give you confidence and make new friends in a supportive environment.
I was sad to leave and had a memorable experience

I participated in a 7 week intensive study of Levantine Arabic at the Excellence Center in Halle, Germany. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life. As an Arab-American, it felt in many ways to be a deep dive into my identity. My father spoke Arabic to me growing up but I always responded in English and never learned to read or write. Upon learning the alphabet and all of the forms of each letter, piecing together basic words and sentences (through writing and reading) was a deeply meaningful privilege. I loved learning the Arabic language, it felt like slowly working towards solving a puzzle. I love the inherent artistic qualities of the language which allow for individual creativity in writing and ease with constructing poetic phrases with double meanings and the like.

My teacher Muaz created a rich learning environment filled with numerous methods to cement classroom concepts such as studying Arabic songs, delivering comical presentations, acting in everyday scenarios and ordering food from local restaurants in Arabic. Furthermore, I particularly liked the well-rounded education we received because there were many opportunities to learn about Arab and Levantine history, culture, food, customs, and music to name a few. I believe that this circular style of teaching encouraged a more lively learning environment because we could see the practicality of the language in real-life scenarios instead of just rote memorization from a textbook (though there was some of this traditional style learning as well).

As for the center itself, I became very fond of Rafat Shantir’s innovative idea to bring together people from all over the globe in a highly participatory and communal manner. If you sign up for language study (Arabic or German) you will have ample opportunities to meet local Germans and/or Arab immigrants/refugees, and you will become part of the Excellence Center global community. There are many activities such as weekly soccer games, social outings, visits to neighboring cities and chances to interact with others at the center, most notably the daily delicious group breakfasts which I always looked forward to. If you haven’t finalized your decision yet, as I hadn’t in spring of 2024, I encourage you to go ahead and apply. It was truly one of my favorite life experiences where I met some amazing people, got to experience a small German town with delicious food, parks/green spaces, cultural events and made some life-long friendships. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Rafat, Muaz, Ali and all of the other employees, volunteers and others I met and interacted with at the center!

I just finished a two week intensive course for colloquial levantine arabic with Muaz. The classes were extremely helpful and tailored to my level. Not only did I learn new words, phrases, even street slang, Muaz also shared a lot of stories with me, helping me better understand the situation of the Syrian diaspora here in Germany and experience the wealth of culture that can be found in even the smallest falafel-shop. I would definitely recommend the excellence center to anyone interested in learning arabic in Germany

I came to the Excellence Center wanting to improve my German and help others adjusting to life in Germany, and I got all of that plus so much more. It is a lovely, ultra inclusive environment where participants share stories and learn about each others’ experiences. Though I was only there a week, I feel genuine connections with everyone at the center and I’ve left the experience with a lot of valuable perspective.

The volunteer schedule is quite flexible, which I loved as it gave me lots of time to explore Halle and the surrounding region. The language instruction is super engaging and really personalized to the students’ interests, which was a huge plus for me. And all of the Excellence Center staff are extremely kind and genuine. They have made my experience wonderful.

The fact that I feel so much like I am part of a community after just a few short days is a testament to the high quality of the center and how hard Rafat and his team have worked to create an engaging and truly special experience. I hope to come back soon!