Intensive Arabic Programs In Palestine (1-13 Weeks)

Name: Intensive Arabic Programs In Palestine (1-13 Weeks)
Brand: The Excellence Center
SKU: 51774
Rating: 4.87 (223 reviews)

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4.87 Rating

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Location

Multiple Locations +2

Palestine
Online

Length

1 to 13 weeks

Language

Arabic

General grants/scholarships

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Program Details

Language Level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Immersion Level

Intensive Online Standard

Specialized Courses

Business Medical Professional Specific Purposes Teaching

Class Size

Private Lessons Small Class (1-7) Medium Class (8-15) Large Class (15+)

Weekly Classroom Hours

Housing

Apartment Guesthouse Host Family Hostel

Age Min.

Pricing

Starting Price

450

Price Details

The program fees include: pre-departure support, accommodations with a host family, some meals, full coordination while volunteering in Palestine, and some visits to different sites in the city of Hebron.

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities Classes Some Meals

What's Not Included

Some Activities Airfare Some Meals

Last Updated: Nov 25, 2024

Last Reviewed: Jun 02, 2025

Wish List

31 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine offers immersive and intensive Arabic language programs in the heart of the West Bank. Located in the city of Hebron, these programs are designed for learners of all levels who wish to master Levantine Arabic (اللهجة الشامية), which covers Jordan, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, Palestinian Arabic, or Modern Standard Arabic. Whether you're looking to study for one week or up to 13 weeks, our programs provide an in-depth, hands-on learning experience where language and culture blend seamlessly

Through these courses, you will not only develop strong Arabic language skills but also gain firsthand exposure to Palestinian culture, politics, and daily life. With options ranging from super-intensive and intensive to more flexible, non-intensive programs, students can choose the pace that best suits their goals

The Center also offers online Levantine/Palestinian Arabic lessons, Summer Arabic programs, Winter Arabic courses, and year-round courses

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Impact 🌎

Ethical Impact

With all our Arabic courses and volunteer programs, we aim to make a long term difference for the Palestinian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Our programs and courses foster shared learning, for both our community and you. During your Arabic course, you will get to learn so much more than just the language. You will also get to learn a lot about Palestinian culture and customs and the political situation in Palestine. Additionally, you will have many opportunities while outside the classroom to practice your Arabic in a natural and authentic way while navigating your new life in Hebron. Your time with us in Hebron will also provide you with many opportunities of cultural exchange and mutual learning, both with local Palestinians as well as with our other international participants.

Program Highlights

Besides developing your Arabic language skills, students will experience various aspects of the Palestinian culture through their living arrangements with host families and various local trips as well as the Excellence Center’s in-house and local activiti
The Study Arabic Program in Palestine will give you the opportunity to live in and gain impressions from one of the most politically divisive and ambivalent regions of the Middle East.
The Intensive Arabic Courses offered in our programs: Modern Standard Arabic, Levantine (Shami) dialects, Ammiya, Classical and Palestinian Arabic using up-to-date teaching techniques in an intensive learning environment.
The Arabic Immersion Program will provide you the chance to visit unique tourist attractions with a particular native perspective – locations including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin and the Dead Sea in Jericho.
Our center is staffed by well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, each with an excellent educational background, ready and happy to help you.

Popular Programs

Study Arabic Online Program

Study Arabic Online Program: In addition to our in-person programs held at the center, Engage in Palestine also offers online Arabic language classes in Modern Standard, Levantine (Shami) and Palestinian Arabic (Ammiya) . Depending upon your intended purpose for studying, each online Arabic program has its own advantages as colloquial variants are better suited for those simply travelling and conversing, whilst Modern Standard is ideal for those needing Arabic professionally.

The Summer Intensive Arabic Program

The Summer Intensive Arabic Program offers a fantastic opportunity for individuals seeking an immersive Arabic course during the summer in various Middle Eastern regions such as the West Bank, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, or the broader Middle East. Renowned as one of the top Arabic language schools in Palestine, we provide exceptional Arabic language learning experiences.

Study Levantine (Shami) Arabic Program

The Levantine Arabic Program offered by Volunteer in Palestine is a unique opportunity for anyone looking to expand their spoken Arabic to include the Levantine dialect, travel through the Levant, and immerse themselves in Levantine culture, history and politics. Fortunately, for those looking to study Arabic with us, we are located in the West Bank, Palestine, in the heart of the Levant, and in the busy and vibrant city of Hebron.

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Program Reviews

4.87 Rating

based on 223 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Language

5 rating 87.44%
4 rating 12.11%
3 rating 0.45%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Instruction 4.8
Support 4.85
Fun 4.7
Housing 4.55
Value 4.75

Good for Students, Solo Travelers, Adventure travelers

Showing 201 - 208 of 223 reviews

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

What would you improve about this program?

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.

What would you improve about this program?

It is not a critique, but it is good for people with a more independent lifestyle to know that staying with a host family entails a social responsibility, depending on the accomodation.

I've been studying Arabic at the Excellence Center for three weeks this summer, and I've loved every second of it. I had private lessons, and my teacher has been so, so kind and proficient. I knew some arbic before i came to Palestine, and my teacher has been very good at adapting the lessons and corriculum to my level and needs. During my stay, I've been living with a wonderfull host family. They have been so kind, and they are almost like my second family. The Excellence Center has not only provided arabic lessons, but also many trips in and around Hebron. We've learned lot about how people in Palestine live their lives, about their traditions and of course also about the Palestinan-Israeli conflict. I would really recomend studying Arabic at the Excellence Center, not only will you learn a new language, but also gain a lot of experiences which you will never forget.

I have just completed one month studying Arabic at the Excellence center in Hebron. The whole experience has been great. My teacher was incredibly patient and encouraging. And i am really happy with the amount and speed at which i have learnt in both conversational as well as reading and writing.I had lessons in the morning leaving me time to explore the city and the west bank in evenings and weekends. The staff are really flexible and accommodating. During my stay here i was able to immerse my self in the local culture and learn a lot about life in Palestine which was as important to me as the academic side. The people of Hebron are overwhelmingly generous and friendly making my stay here a wonderful experience.

Studying Arabic in Palestine was an amazing experience. I came here not knowing any Arabic as a complete beginner. As i'm leaving I can read, write and speak a fair amount of Arabic in a confident manner. The staff at the Excellence Center were more like a supportive family and this environment helped a great deal with the progression of my learning. As for the city Hebron, it is one of the friendliest and safest places I have ever stayed in. To anybody wanting to learn Arabic in Palestine, I have to recommend the Excellence Center

What would you improve about this program?

I would have stayed longer

The program was great, teachers are very friendly and you feel like at home. It is very complete. I had courses in the morning and activities in the afternoon. You can also get free time to have your own activities.
A very complete program to get to know local life. Everything is kindly supervised from arrival until the departure.

I stayed at excellence center nearly two months in summer 2014, I came across that school by accident while still in France. Everything happened so fast and a few days latter I was in Hebron. My staying at excellence center turned out to be fantastic experience. With the one to one courses, and the very helpfull staff surrunding you at all time, you are ensured to improve your arabic skills. If you want to discover Palestine, and especially its people, I definitely recommend excellence center.

If you want to learn arabic outside of an NGO, and in one of the most interesting thought provoking situations in the world, look no further than excellence centre. I spent summer 2014 with them, and they are humble and grounded people who care about your learning. They are not there to hide the challenges in Khallil, but they allow you a way to feel hosted in a city that might otherwise be inaccesible. The teaching is great, the integrity is there and your money is going to a good place. You will stay with a family who will be curious to meet you ... And the rest is down to you

What would you improve about this program?

The program is good as it is

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I previously visited the Excellence Center in Hebron last year to do Intensive Arabic and I really enjoyed the two weeks I had; however, I wished I was staying longer, as two weeks went to fast. This year I was for one month and, in the future, I hope to stay for longer. I have a desire to become fluent in Arabic and coming to the Excellence Center was a great opportunity for me to improve my Arabic, even though that was not the main focus of the visit. The main focus was to conduct research for my dissertation in BSc Anthropology and, with the help from the Excellence Center, this became easier for me to complete.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I had in advance of this program created a questionnaire and interview questions and done some readings to prepare for the fieldwork. When I arrived at the Excellence Center, I had a short meeting with some staff at the Excellence Center about what I needed for my research and, from that point, the Center organised all the interviewees I conducted and all the questionnaires I collected. The only thing I needed to do was to tell them what I needed, and then they organised the rest. This made the research I conducted very easy and possible to complete within the limited time I had.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Be prepared for Arab time. You might have heard about the Arab time before, but if you haven't, now you will. It basically means that times works a bit differently; 9 might mean 9.30, the afternoon might be 12.00 or 14.00, and 5 minutes might be 30 minutes. When deciding to come to this Center, be prepared and accept that time runs differently, and embrace it!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

At 9.30 am, it is Palestinian traditional breakfast at the Center together with other volunteers and staff at the Center. After that, I usually talked to the Excellence Center staff about my day.

As I did research, some days the Excellence Center staff had fixed an interview or a focus group that could fill in my questionnaire. Other days I was working on transcribing interviews. I also had two 1.5 hour lecture of Arabic each week, so when I didn't work on my research, I practised my Arabic.

At around 5 pm, I would go back home and use the rest of the day with my host family and relax. As the main focus was my own research, the weeks were very flexible, and I mostly shaped the weeks myself.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Last year was a bit more terrifying than it was this year. Traveling alone and living in a host family with a completely different culture than my own was a bit scary, as I did not know what to expect. However, the friendliness of the host family made this fear disappear and they actually made my stay even better as I had a family to come back to after a long day at the Center.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Rafat Shantir

Program

Intensive Arabic Programs In Palestine (1-13 Weeks)

Job Title

Manager

Rafat Shantir is the manager of the Excellence Center. Rafat has participated and volunteered in many community development projects in places as diverse as Mongolia, Denmark, Egypt, and Jordan. He has worked for community development for several years in Palestine, and he strongly believes in the role of community activities and cultural exchanges in the lives of Palestinians and members of the world community. Rafat has received his higher education in Germany. As manager, Rafat answers some interview questions:

What does the future hold for the Excellence Center – any exciting and new programs to share?

In Summer 2015 the Excellence Center sponsored more than 40 internationals from all over the world, and the Center looks forward to continued growth in international volunteers, interns, visitors, and Arabic students. Recently, the Excellence Center has launched a new program called “Trip to Palestine” which will provide services to tourists who come to Palestine.

What sets the Excellence Center apart from other organizations?

The Excellence Center offers unique programs that provide international students, interns, volunteers, and visitors with direct participation and immersion into Palestinian culture and daily life. This immersion occurs by virtue of living with Palestinian host families and participating in family life, visiting local universities and meeting university students, visiting local businesses and industries, and the chance to learn Arabic where it is spoken. All of these opportunities create a unique learning environment.

Should program participants learn Arabic before they arrive at the Excellence Center? If so, why?

The answer to this depends on certain factors: the length of the person’s stay and the purpose for the journey. In the last four years, the Excellence Center has sponsored more than 150 internationals; many of them did not speak Arabic and relied solely on English. Many internationals began to learn Arabic due to their immersion in the environment. They related that it was much easier to learn Arabic in Palestine simply because they were immersed in the culture and language on a 24/7 basis.

Rafat, what is your favorite participant story in the Excellence Center’s programs?

Excellence Center had an Irish volunteer who was only 18 years old. Before she came to Palestine, she told us, her family was vehemently opposed to her going to volunteer in Palestine. Nevertheless, she made her decision to come to Palestine, and she developed a bit of anxiety before her arrival. After she had spent one month here, she did not want to return home. She said that she wished to stay in Palestine to learn Arabic and to help the Palestinian people. How happy we all were to hear her expression of deep feeling.

What would you tell someone who is thinking of becoming a future participant at the Excellence Center?

The Excellence Center has so many unique cultural, social, educational, and community opportunities available to international students, interns, volunteers, and visitors. If you want to meet Palestinian people, interact with them, and travel Palestine, then the Excellence Center is the place for you. The opportunities offered by the Excellence Center are unique and singular. They are opportunities for those wanting to make a difference in the lives of others, as well as your own!

About The Excellence Center

The Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine, established in June 2011, provides intensive Arabic Levantine/Palestinian programs, online Arabic lessons, and educational, cultural, social, and community development services to international students, interns, and volunteers, as well as to Palestinian children, refugees, women, and youth in Hebron, West...

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Study Arabic Online Program 

The Summer Intensive Arabic Program 

Study Levantine (Shami) Arabic Program 

Short-Term Volunteer Projects In Palestine In 2025 (1-13 Weeks)

Intensive & Super Intensive Arabic Courses in Palestine (1-12 Weeks)

Study Arabic Language in Palestine

Alumni Interviews

Rosalind Dyveke Dale

Why did you choose this program?

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Staff Interviews

Rafat Shantir

What does the future hold for the Excellence Center – any exciting and new programs to share?

What sets the Excellence Center apart from other organizations?

Should program participants learn Arabic before they arrive at the Excellence Center? If so, why?

Rafat, what is your favorite participant story in the Excellence Center’s programs?

What would you tell someone who is thinking of becoming a future participant at the Excellence Center?

Short-Term Volunteer Projects In Palestine In 2025 (1-13 Weeks)

Intensive & Super Intensive Arabic Courses in Palestine (1-12 Weeks)

Study Arabic Language in Palestine

Study Arabic Online Program

The Summer Intensive Arabic Program

Study Levantine (Shami) Arabic Program