Program Reviews

This is a great opportunity for anyone who would like to become a journalist. I attended many useful workshops that will help me in the future. Meetings with Palestinian journalists and interviews with interesting people were a great experience. What is more, the atmosphere was great and I could always count on the help of the Excellence Center or other volunteers. Also, Arabic lessons helped me a lot, as I learned basic phrases needed for communication. I recommend this program to anyone who wants to develop their skills.

It was an absolutely amazing and rewarding experience to teach English and Study German at the center. I really enjoyed being able to plan and tailor lessons to my students needs and abilities. It was great to meet people from all over the world and learn about each others cultures, language and traditions. I also enjoyed learning German and appreciated the mix between written lessons and interactive lessons out in the community. Sharing breakfast together every morning at the center was another highlight that made me feel supported and welcomed.

Sincere thanks to Rafat, Muaz, Dusan and team for your meaningful work, friendly community and this fantastic experience. I will remember it fondly forever.

This is my second time at the Excellence Center, and it was just as good as the first time. The programs they offer are highly valuable in of themselves, but the center is also a great place to base yourself while in Palestine. The staff knows people all over the West Bank and can find someone to put you in touch with almost anywhere you'd like to visit. As far as safety goes, the West Bank is on most days safer than your average visit to a resort town in Mexico. Everyone at the Center has your best interest in mind and will help keep you safe during your stay.

I had my first ten online lessons in Palestinian Arabic with my teacher Dana and will certainly continue. I can highly recommend. Dana was super friendly and very structured and experienced, while at the same time flexible towards my questions and very motivating. My focus was on conversational skills, but I also learned to read Arabic and its pronunciation. Topics I thought would be difficult became understandable during the classes. I look forward to my next round of classes. Highly recommendable!

The week I spent this summer at the Excellence Centre in Europe teaching English and studying German and Arabic was fulfilling from an both an academic and interpersonal perspective. Rafat and Muaz are wonderful mentors and helped me improve both my technical skills and confidence in my ability to speak German, and gave me a solid foundation to continue studying Arabic. In just a week, the different people I met and connections facilitated by the centre have made this a unique and special experience, which feels truly important.

I came to the Excellence Center in Hebron to participate in their super-intensive Arabic course for about twelve weeks. I had no familiarity with the language when I arrived but for the script, but after three months of one-on-one instruction with an experienced teacher, I gained a very good beginning acquaintance with it, especially as spoken here in Palestine. Classes touched on all aspects of language-learning—on grammar, vocabulary, translation, and conversation—providing me with a solid foundation for further study. I was also happy to discover that the Center was a lively and welcoming place to undertake this work. It’s staffed by a group of people who are really friendly and genuinely interested in sharing the culture with visitors. It’s also an important institution for the local community, making it a great place for someone like me to make some special acquaintances. It’s a hard thing to capture in a few words, but my experience at the Center was one of the most rewarding of my life.

I was anxious going into the program since I didn’t have previous experience teaching English, but my experience was really great! The program is pretty open ended, so you can find a style that works for you. Everyone at the Center from the teachers to the students are so nice and friendly. Halle is also a cute city and really nice to walk around. I also learned Arabic for two weeks as a beginner and I’m surprised by how much I learned. I’d recommend the program to anyone that wants to learn or teach a language and explore a unique part of Germany.

I studied on the Intensive Levantine Arabic course, and it was an excellent experience. Ali and Muaz teach students Arabic in a fun and practical way, and sometimes took us around the city to learn new vocab as we walked and where could order in Arabic in Arab-run cafes/restaurants too. I learnt so much more than the language, and learnt about customs and culture in Levant region which helped me understand the language even more. Rafat makes all the students feel welcome and he creates a great atmosphere at the school. I would highly recommend the Excellence Center, and Ali and Muaz as teachers!

I recently took part in the “learn german and teach english program” for two weeks at the Excellence Centre. I was not only looking for an opportunity to practice my German (which I’d studied at University years ago) but that also allowed me to meet lots of people and try something new. My time here has exceeded any expectations I had and beyond.

Upon arrival I took a language placement test which benchmarked my current proficiency around a B1-B2 level. As a result I joined Muaz’s advanced German class. Muaz is a talented teacher, who builds his lessons not only around speaking but also tailored content to everyday/current affairs. I was surprised by how much progress I made in only two weeks; by the end of the program I was holding complex conversations and taught some beginners German at the centre. On reflection I wish I’d booked more lessons as I really enjoyed them.

Teaching was daunting as I had no prior experience, but ended up being very rewarding. I taught a mixture of both English and German- there wasn’t much guidance in terms of lesson structure but I became more confident with practice.

The aspect that I enjoyed most however was the people; fellow volunteers, teachers and students. Rafat has created a unique welcoming environment at the Excellence Centre. He cooks breakfast for everyone everyday and I spent a lot of time exploring Halle and Leipzig with the other volunteers. The relationships I built with my students were so special as well, with one of the families cooking me their favourite dish as a goodbye present.

Overall I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in language learning, give back to the community or
just wants to meet new people. Thanks again to Rafat, Muaz and Ali for such a wonderful experience.

Even though I was already familiar with the political climate of Palestine, coming to Hebron and volunteering with the Excellence Center has been one of the richest experiences of my life.

Everyday I got to learn something new, meet amazing activists and members of the community that work endlessly to enrich both the city and the country. Doing the Women's Rights Program at The Excellence Center offers a lifetime chance to get to live, learn, and support the community of amazing women that forms Palestine. I had the opportunity to visit business owners, NGO workers, journalists and advocators of both human and women's rights. With that, not only did I gain a clear understanding of the situation of women in Palestine, but also understood the misconceptions about Palestine, the Arab World and the role genders play on it.

In addition to the program, I had the opportunity to learn Palestinian Arabic from scratch. With the incredible teacher at the center (thanks J!) I got to work on my language skills to be able to communicate effectively with the locals in Hebron, making this experience ten times more rewarding. With daily classes and patience, everyone that is looking to start their journey in Arabic should definitely consider the Excellence Center for it.

Finally, I encourage international volunteers to come to beautiful Hebron and spend their time at the Excellence Center. You will be immersed in the culture, get to know many people that are nothing but welcoming and helpful, as well as you would be supporting the community with your skills and expertise. This will not only help them, but help yourself to get in tune with what it means to live in a society and help each other. Unlike what Western media portraits, Hebron will open its doors kindly for you to welcome you with open arms and possibly, a cup of coffee or tea. If I could go back I would repeat the experience all over again. See you next year Excellence Center!