Intensive Arabic Programs In Palestine (1-13 Weeks)

Program completed in 2015:

I enjoy the program in The Excellence Center. My teacher was really a good one, very pedagogue. And I was really well welcoming by the Center as the family who was hosting me. Both way to learn the language and the culture as well. I booked 2 weeks, who were going too fast. I wish I could stay more. But I will be back to going on my arabic. For those who wondering, there's no safety problem in Hebron. The place is really safe, and people really nice.

Program completed in 2016:

It's my second time in the Excellence Center, and for sure not the last one. It's a very good center with good teachers, and the best way to learn arabic in an efficient and fast way (of course if you study). Everybody here are very welcoming and helpful. Some people can be concern about the security, and it's understandable. But in reality, and I talk as a woman who use to travel alone, Hebron's streets are very safe, and there are some cool places where you can have chicha or some soft drinks. One regret ? Yes: I wish I can stay longer.

I studied Arabic at the Excellence Center for three weeks. Overall it was a really good experience.

I was very happy with the classes and my teacher Shayma. She is a really good teacher and she always prepared her classes very well. I learned a lot from her and the classes were useful and fun.

The Excellence Center organised some trips and dinners, which gave me the opportunity to meet some new people, and all of the peope from the center were very nice.
All the Palestinians I met were super friendly and hospitable and I made some great friends.

I was living with a host family, this gave me the opportunity to experience the Palestinian culture and enabled me to practice my Arabic on a daily base. My host family became like a second family to me. I did not feel bored at any moment because there was always something fun to do.

I recommend this program because I learned a lot, not only Arabic but also about the Palestinian culture and what it is like to live in Palestine.

I only had a short time but really enjoyed my stay. My teacher was lovely and helped me improve my Arabic even though my time was limited. The staff were great, always checking in to be sure there were no problems. They were also very flexible with the tour times to be sure whoever wanted to could come along. Host family were amazing. I really enjoyed my time with them........................................

Hi, my name is Kristie. I am from the United States and in medical school. I came to the Excellence Center to study Arabic and to learn more about Palestinian life and culture. While I am only at the center for a short period of time, I hope to continue my studies and use what I learn in my future as a doctor.

I arrived in Palestine just days before the celebration of Eid Al-Adha, one of the two major holidays in Islam. I spent the holiday with my host family, learning about their traditions and eating amazing food. The children had a great time bringing me random objects from around the house and teaching me their names in Arabic. While “tray” and “table leg” might not be the most useful words at this point in my Arabic studies, we had a great time! Over the next two days, I met around 30 members of the family. For my second day in a new country, with a new language, it should have been an overwhelming experience. However, to my delight, they were some of the most enjoyable days I have spent in a long time. The whole family was incredibly warm and welcoming, going out of their way to make me, the foreigner crashing their party, feel comfortable and included.

Once the holiday ended, I began my Arabic lessons in earnest. 3-4 hours a day I had private lessons with my teacher Alaa. While the beginning of learning a language is always difficult and somewhat frustrating, Alaa made it manageable and fun. While teaching me the basics, she helped me focus on medical vocabulary so that I could immediately learn the Arabic most useful to me. Overall, the experience was fantastic and exactly what I hoped for by going to Palestine. I will hopefully be back in the future!

My name is Amalie, a 21 years old student from Denmark. I study Arabic and Islam Studies in Denmark. As a part of my education I travelled to Palestine to learn the shaami dialect and to improve my fusHa language.
I stayed at the Excellence Center for a month, and had classes 5 days a week, 3,5 hours per day. I had a great stay and the breakfast with all the staff and people staying at the center, was a good opportunity to meet people and personalities from all over the world.
I was taught by Shayma, a 23 years old girl from Hebron. She had graduated from her studies in fusHa from Hebron University, so she was an expert. She was an amazing teacher, always happy and she actually became more a friend than a teacher to me. She took me with her everywhere and showed me the Palestinian culture. This hospitality is also a characteristic of Palestine and the Palestinian people. They will treat you as their guest and will do anything for you to feel safe and happy. Therefore the security will never be a problem, though it is a country with problems and chaos. You will be treated as a part of their family or friends, and the Palestinians will not allow anything to happen to their guests.
During my stay I lived in the ground floor and had my own apartment at a Palestinian family. This was an amazing experience and the family made sure that I never missed anything, and I felt as a part of the family, but still I had the possibility to have my privacy, when needed, in my apartment. Furthermore they cooked and took care of me, and became my second family only after one month. I am sure I will see them again in the future.

The most unique thing about excellence centre is the atmosphere of the place. It reflects the Palestinian customs and culture and gives the students a good idea on the friendliness, generosity and good heartedness of the people. The program is well tailored for the individual student and this makes the actual learning experience even more fun. My teacher always thinks of new ways to get me engaged and I love the energy he brings to the class room.

Being at Excellence Center has been at enjoyable experience. You are not just a student here, but you are so part of a broader relationship between all people here. The friendly atmosphere between staff volunteers and students makes is a good environment for not only studying but so living. The course we have had was perfect for us, Because We got the opportunity to make it Exactly how we want it accordion to the curriculum provided from university. The center is located a few kilometers away from the city center. We have been living in Bethlehem and the services made ​​it easy for us, by stopping just in front of the door to the center. Hebron is a very interesting place to live if you want to understand the life of the Palestinians and the impact of the Conflict On Their daily life's. Nonetheless Excellence Center is located in a peaceful part of the city and we have never experience any trouble. We highly recommend Excellence Center Whether you just want to learn a few phrases or to continue to ongoing study.

Sallaam min ID Denemark! Morten og Marie

I wanted an opportunity for an intensive improvement of my qolloquial Arabic language, and this was the perfect fit. With daily classes and endless possibilities of practising conversation at the center, social gatherings and with my host, this was what I was looking for. The centre has a lively and fun atmosphere, with foreigners studying or volunteering, and the staff is friendly and fun. The classes are one to one, so the teaching and topics are tailored to your wishes and interests. I, for example had less interest in writing and more in speaking and expanding vocabulary.
With intensive classes, accomodation and social arrangements as well as good people, the centre did provide the full package one needed for a stay without other connections.
The centre arranges optional tours which are great for learning about the situation of daily, though normalised, occupation, even if your stay is short.
No city in the West Bank is alike, and with Hebron in the more conservative end, one should take time to visit other cities as well.