The Excellence Center Reviews

My time in Halle and with the Excellence Center was a truly unique and enriching experience. I spent five weeks in Halle and those same five weeks studying Arabic at the Center. Prior to studying in Germany, I had five semesters of Arabic instruction as an undergraduate student and no experience whatsoever with German. I had completed a short study abroad program before in Amman, Jordan for a month in 2019, which was my only previous international academic experience with which to build my expectations for Halle. Armed with a little Arabic, no German, and a strong dose of curiosity, I came to the Center in the summer of 2021. My experience was divided across four major facets: academic, linguistic, cultural, and relational. I would like to address them all in turn.
Academically, my program at the Excellence Center was the most rigorous Arabic program I have ever partaken, and it was more than worth it. Fifteen hours per week of one-on-one instruction with a native Arabic speaker was incredibly beneficial for my ability and confidence listening to and understanding the language. Not sharing any language fully with my instructor made understanding some of the more intricate grammar topics difficult. However, having an instructor who could not use English as a crutch forced us both to use much more Arabic. I felt as though I knew just enough Arabic to benefit from having an instructor who spoke essentially in nothing but Arabic. It was particularly difficult for the first week as I got more comfortable and as my instructor learned what I did and did not know. Once we became more experienced communicating, our lessons became much smoother and more effective. In the end, I would not have wanted it any other way. Using English in the classroom would have made it a lesser experience. Also, at the center Rafat created an incredibly welcoming environment that placed an obvious emphasis on student well-being and comfort as the foundation for learning well. I always felt welcome, supported, and appreciated at the Center.
Linguistically, of course, I learned quite a bit of Arabic. Outside of the classroom and out in town, however, I found myself with another challenge. Halle’s history and economic profile have together made English far more rare to find than in other German cities. While I was able to enjoy the city fully while in Halle, I had to be very observant and willing to struggle against the language barrier as I became more comfortable. Though I had not anticipated such a language barrier with local Germans as English can be common in other areas, it all got better with time.
Culturally, I found myself at the crossroads of different worlds. At the Center I found myself surrounded by other American students, my Palestinian/Syrian refugee instructor, Rafat as a Palestinian, a Moroccan student who lives in Spain, and a British language teacher. Of course, all of these worlds were colliding in a surrounding German culture, adding another layer to the mix. It was eye-opening and fascinating to learn about each person’s story, their passions, their struggles, and their aspirations for the future. I have always believed in travel as a medium for personal growth, and my experiences in the Excellence Center only confirmed and strengthened my belief in the value of engaging with people from different parts of the world.
Relationally, I made several great new friends with backgrounds quite different from my own, as I discussed above. The relationships I made highlighted the reality that the only divisions between peoples are those we choose to create. Nationality, language, socioeconomics, religion, and all other reasons for resentment or prejudices are merely manifestations of ignorance and impatience. For example, one of the most remarkable examples of hospitality and kindness I experienced in Halle was from my host. He was of a similar age and had immigrated from Syria. We shared little culturally, including only just enough English to communicate, but he made me feel very welcome as I shared his apartment with him. That experience, just like the rest of my time in Halle, demonstrated that any divisions we create as people ignore our shared basic humanity.
Studying in Halle at the Excellence Center is not for those looking to remain within their comfort zone. The Excellence Center and the surrounding city are those looking to learn, to grow, and to experience the new.

The Excellence Center was an amazing place for me personally and I had some of the best weeks in my life there. At first, I was nervous and afraid that I was too young to do anything there however as soon as I arrived I realized that all my previous assumptions and worries were false and I fit in very well with all of the staff and other volunteers being very kind to me and even inviting me to hang out and explore the city which I especially enjoyed. I was also given a lot of time to assist teaching in classes and even got a chance to do a class individually, which I am thankful for because I learned a lot from it. My host family was very nice and helpful and assisted me however I needed which was always nice to have and made my time here a lot less stressful. The Arabic classes I took were challenging for me but I enjoyed them and always walked away feeling that I had learned something which was a nice feeling. Covid rules made traveling around a bit more stressful than usual but eventually, I got used to them and it was not that bad in hindsight. I really recommend this program to anyone who wants to experience Arabic culture or wants to learn German or Arabic. Overall it was a fantastic experience and I would love to eventually return to the Excellence Center!

If there is one word that would describe my time at the Excellence Center, it would be Family. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left and even during the organization process I felt like I was part of this bigger family that I didn’t know I had. The Manager Rafat welcomed me with open arms and treated me as a Habibi from the moment we met. Here at the Excellence Center there is such a welcoming feeling because of all the decor but also the people that walk through its doors, and although this was still in the middle of a pandemic, I can only imagine what it would be like when it's filled with people.

I was lucky enough to get to experience not only the school but also the city of Halle which seems to hide many secrets around every turn. My favorite activity was walking through the city and along the Salle and experiencing the wonderful Spring sun which drew out the locals as it did me. My accommodation was also nice as I got to stay with a former student of the Excellence Center which treated me with the utmost kindness, and was even raising kittens which I also got to play and cuddle with.

Overall I can only recommend this experience to anyone who likes to be with people and wants to experience something new. Rafat is one of a few people who wear their Heart on their sleeves and it shows from the way he deals with the volunteers, employees and students to involve them in this great big family. I really wish him and the Excellence Center all the best for the future and look forward to coming back and teaching again. حظا سعيدا في المستقبل

A fun and relaxed place to teach students and to learn a language. I taught English and took German classes for almost 3 months at the Center and had a great time. Great for your CV and getting experience in the sector. The Excellence Center also provides breakfast every morning and tea and coffee are freely available. Everyone here is pleasant and approachable if you have any questions about anything. And the director will always be there to give you advice and guidance should you ever need it.

As a volunteer at The Excellence Center, I experienced hope, empathy, and connections (and more). It amazingly exceeded my expectations. More than a relevant new element for my CV and improved language and teaching skills, Halle and The Excellence Center renewed energies and hopes.

The EC staff is incredibly supportive and welcoming, and you can always count on them! You will feel a part of the EC family. For me, team breakfast was a lovely way to start the day and a chance to exchange life experiences and learn about different cultures.

While teaching English, I could get to know my students and build authentic and meaningful bonds. My German classes as a student were essential to increase my confidence in my skills for conversational German.

In my free time, I could also discover Halle's sweet cafés and friendly Beer Gardens. The museums offer an exciting combination of history and modern art. Besides the city center, parks and the river were an excellent alternative to face (and enjoy) the German summer.

I highly recommend The Excellence Center volunteer experiences to open-minded people eager to learn about new cultures and make memories for a lifetime. I promise you will thank me for the tip and the EC for its fantastic work!

Volunteering in Germany is the least likely thing I would expect to be doing after 5 months of lockdown due to the coronavirus, but I'm so glad I did. I did conversational English lessons with Syrian refugees who told me about migrating and integrating in Germany.

I also studied German at the centre which really helped me with my confidence in conversational German. Although I had studied German at high school, it was great to speak to a local and actually integrate into German culture......

I am a math Ph.D. from the US. For a while, I was looking for an opportunity to volunteer and provide mathematics education for the Syrian war refugee students in Europe. At first, I made an effort to contact the Dutch and German governments. Then I found this volunteer program in Halle, Germany.

I never even heard of the city before I found this program. I came to Halle anticipating nearly nothing, It turns out, however, that I found a home that I want to settle in. Unlike my ex-students, Syrian students are very motivated and eager to learn, meet new people and appreciate what you teach them. The only issue, that my German language skill is not good enough to teach them in German. However, some of them speak good English.

I stayed in Halle for a bit more than 2 months now and will stay full 90 days until my visa expires. Over that period, I have had 1 student that I teach mathematics in English.
He was a university student when the military conflict in Syria started and unfortunately had to quit his program in Syria.

I am lucky to find him that I can help him to rebuild his dream to get a university education in Germany in the future. I am also teaching 3 English courses here as well as learning German. The past 2 months have been having been one of the most beautiful periods of my life.

The city itself is equally beautiful and has historically and culturally rich background. I am definitely coming back! I totally recommend this volunteer program for one who wants to meet new people, learn German and live the daily life in Germany.

I have been messing about with Arabic for several years now.
I spent three weeks on the intensive Arabic course at the Excellence Centre, and to my delight, my Arabic has improved enormously. I can communicate at last !

The Excellence Centre provides language classes, accommodation, volunteering and recreational activities. Everything can be tailored to your needs : the language learners and the volunteers I met at the Centre came from a variety of backgrounds and age groups, each of us having a different life experience and varying levels of Arabic. Everyone had a personalised programme according to their interests. This flexibility is one of the strengths of the Excellence Centre.

The people of Hebron are very welcoming indeed. Tourists and foreign language students are never harassed in the streets, on the contrary, we are greeted in the friendliest manner possible.

You can spend time in Hebron immersing yourself in language and culture, barely coming into contact with the political situation. For those interested in Human Rights and the problems of the Occupation, there is ample opportunity to dig deeper and to engage in solidarity actions. Again, the Excellence Centre offers a range of activities, after that, its all up to you !

I thoroughly enjoyed my time here, discovering a fascinating city while improving my language skills.

Alison aged 48, from France.

I took a 2-week intensive course in the Levantine dialect of Arabic, and have improved a lot in my time at the Excellence Center. There is a real sense of community in the center, which is a great opportunity to practice more. Everybody is very welcoming and very helpful, which helped me settle into the community very easily! My lessons were very well paced, and I was constantly challenged with new material, while reviewing material I had already learned. I lived with Abboud during my stay, he was incredibly hospitable and gave me an opportunity to practice my Arabic when I was not in the Center, and Rafat very helpfully organised this for me. I would highly recommend this course to anybody who wants to learn Arabic in a supportive environment.

I love it here in Halle! I am really going to miss being part of the community when I leave, and I am already planning a return trip. My German has drastically improved because of my exposure to the language in the city and with my host family but also because of my wonderful German teacher.

As well as being a student I have also I have also been teaching plenty of English in the centre. I have four classes, stretching from individual teaching to small group and various levels. I have found this equally challenging and rewarding but I received lots of guidance and support from Rafat and his team throughout. It has been wonderful getting to know so many different people at the centre – it is truly amazing to see all these different languages and cultures come together.

I have got into a real routine here including morning runs in the park and ice skating at the local ice rink and it was super easy to get stuck into life here. My German host family has also been wonderful welcoming me into their family, sharing their meals and making sure that I am happy in Halle. I will have to come to visit them in the future because I feel so at home here.