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 (221 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: May 01, 2025

Wish List

30 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 221 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Language

5 rating 87.33%
4 rating 12.22%
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 217 - 221 of 221 reviews

My stay in Hebron lasted for about two months and the first three weeks were spent learning Arabic at the Excellence Center. I was attracted to the Study Arabic Intensive Program for three reasons :

- a one-to-one teacher
- living in a host family
- cultural activities in the city

... and I was absolutely not disappointed! The people there are warm, welcoming, friendly and laid-back. They took me under their wings right away so I did not feel any homesickness. They are simple and at the ready if we need anything, and they still display a strong professional behavior in their programs and services. I loved my Arabic teacher with whom I had many interesting conversations. I learned as much about the language as I did about the culture, and being hosted in a Palestinian family was perfect for practicing Arabic, and meeting Palestinian people. I've made great friends there thanks to the people I met through my host family.

Hebron is a fascinating place due to its rich history and its wonderful inhabitants.The beauty of the old town leaves you speechless and humbled. The fact that it is still inhabited makes for some extraordinary sight and experiences. For instance, I have been driven around there in a car and I still can't quite get over how that was possible ... the roads are so narrow. Go see and you will know what I mean. That's the sort of fun experience you can enjoy there - and not the least.

Unfortunately it is also invaded by human garbage (israeli soldiers and settlers). As internationals, we are safe there - but it is very important to go and witness the disastrous realities of the occupation. Choosing to visit Palestine is not a random choice - and Hebron is the only city in the West Bank that has settlements within. You can read a thousand books about it but once you get there and see for yourself the settlers having a nice walk around the part of town they stole, wearing rifles on their backs like normal, and the soldiers protecting them and monitoring and intruding on every aspects of Palestinians lives at best (and at worse...), you just cannot fathom how such a thing can be.

In short, if you have the will and the means, do take this course. It is worth it - for the mind, the heart and the intellect.

What would you improve about this program?

Just even more activities if possible

During my stay in Hebron, I learned a lot: because of my stay at a local Arab host family, I learned a lot about Palestinian culture and family life. Due to the visits with the center manager to various sites of interest in the city, I also learned specific things about Hebron, such as handicraft. Also I learned about the difficulties caused by the settlements in the middle of the city. Visiting certain controversial places was very interesting and educative, but also a very impressive and intense experience.
The Arabic course was very good, I learned a lot because I studied several hours per day.

What would you improve about this program?

My Arabic teacher at the Excellence center was not schooled to be an Arabic teacher, meaning that he often was not sure about certain grammar issues etc. although being a native speaker. His English however was very good, making communication easy.
On many occasions, my teacher was rather absent-minded, looking at his phone all the time which was annoying and distracting. This should be improved.

My journey to Hebron was one that I know I will remember for a very long time. I met the most amazing and kind people, from my teacher and the staff at the Excellence Centre to my host family. I would have to say that the highlight of my trip was the people that I met. The Centre are very accommodating and willing to make your studies as comfortable as possible for you. I had already studied Arabic prior to my trip to Palestine, so my teacher chose books that matched my level of knowledge. The city itself is beautiful, (especially in Ramadan!) and has tons of history for you to explore. The Centre organise loads of trips to various sites in and around Hebron for their students, which was brilliant, and my teacher would adjust my lesson times whenever I wanted to travel to other cities. Each volunteer/student that I met told me their host family was the best, and I still think the same about mine. I couldn't recommend this programme, the Centre or the country enough, I'm already mentally planning another trip!

I spent a month learning arabic in Excellence Center, I didn´t expect the staff and people in the place to be so welcoming, so that, added to the fact of seriousness about teaching and commitment to making people feel comfortable, makes a perfect mixture for anyone to be in a superb environment for learning arabic, whatever the level might be.
Apart from the learning program, living in Hebron and getting to know Palestine is an experience itself, one really worth it, and the center provides means for that, and much more.

I had a wonderful week at the Excellence Center in Hebron. My host family was very nice and they tried very hard to speak a lot of Arabic with me and my friend. Everybody at the Center was very welcoming and some trips were also included in the program. As there are not so many tourists in Hebron, it is a great city to get to know Arabic culture which is not yet spoiled like other mass touristic areas. People were very friendly there and it is great to practise your Arabic skills.

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...