I had an absolutely amazing time teaching English and learning German at my time here at the Excellence Center. I did the 3 week program and wish I would have stayed for longer. I usually taught 3 or 4 English lessons a weeks and had 3 hours of German class. I loved my German lessons with Muaz because he made them very interactive and fun. Everyone I met at the Center is so incredibly nice and care about all the people involved in the programs. My favorite part of the program was connecting and hanging out with the other volunteers. We really bonded together and had a great time sharing our cultures. I 100% recommend this program to anyone!

The Excellence Centre is a welcoming place to volunteer and leave a lasting, meaningful impact on your students. From the moment you arrive, the kind and attentive staff make you feel instantly at home. While the volunteer experience itself is unparalleled, the connections you make with fellow volunteers and the dedicated team are what truly make it worthwhile. Every morning, we shared breakfast and discuss our teaching schedules, bond, and share a few laughs. I also had the opportunity to study German with Muaz, who was an outstanding and patient teacher. A longer stay will greatly improve your language skills, but even a short visit equips you with the conversational basics. Rafat, the Centre’s manager, is incredibly helpful in organizing your teaching schedule and always fun to chat with. Ultimately, a journey here is a fantastic opportunity to help others learn English while becoming part of a caring, tight-knit community.

I am Costa Rican and I was at The Excellence Center for one month, which was an overall great experience. I’m so glad to have found it, because there are not many options of an internship in Germany for people over 50. I was able to improve my German and to help others learn English, along with other volunteers that became dear friends. Rafat, Dušan and Muaz help you in those first days, when everything is new. They are wonderful, kind people, who want to help others. During each of the 3-day-long weekends, I visited other cities: Berlin, Leipzig, Erfurt, Munich, Postdam, Merseburg and others. Plus, Halle is a beautiful city as well. Germany has amazing places that are all worth visiting. The shared accommodation was very convenient and nice. I fully recommend coming to The Excellence Center in Europe.

It has been a genuinely unforgettable experience. I have loved the communal and familial environment around the Excellence Center, especially the shared breakfasts with Rafat, Muaz, and the other volunteers (ex: Meghan and Sam). It gives you a beautiful opportunity to get to know new people, learn about each others' culture and always start the day with a smile.

Teaching English has also been a great experience as through one to one lessons, and greater proximity to the student, enables you to create a more personal connection, tailor the lesson to their likings, get to know a new culture through their perspective, and make a more impactful difference.

Learning German with Enrico has also been great, moving the lesson focus to a topic I was personally interested in: history.

It has truly been a culturally enriching experience that I entirely recommend and am grateful for the kindness of the people I have met. I hope that if you're reading this you also have the opportunity to experience what I have experienced.

I stayed at the Excellence Center in Halle for almost three months and it has been a wonderful experience. Each morning, the center eats breakfast together, where you get to know the other volunteers, Rafat, and Muaz. I taught one on one English and German classes to the most amazing students, all of whom I will miss dearly. Watching your students gain confidence in a new language is amazing to see, and their hard work and enthusiasm is contagious. I also took Arabic classes with Muaz, who is hands down one of the best Arabic teachers I have ever met. He is an incredible story teller and makes every lesson engaging and memorable. Learning another language can be intimidating, but he is so supportive and will become your biggest cheerleader. Outside of classes, volunteers participate in many events such as youth programs hosted by the center, dinners, and cooking. I was encouraged to participate in a week long program on diversity, discrimination, and integration hosted for students from a Dutch college, where I learned a lot from the students, the staff at the center, and locals. I also learned how to make falafel and helped prepare food for Iftar a few times. Volunteers are free to explore Halle and the surrounding cities. The other volunteers and I often went on little trips on the weekends or explored Halle. I made some wonderful friends both inside and outside of the center and I am so grateful that I found the Excellence Center. Not only have I found a family in Halle and with the center, but it has also helped provide me with clarity in what I want to do in the future. I'm sad to be leaving the center, and will remember my time here fondly. To anyone debating volunteering here – do it!

I have had a great time during my 8 weeks at the Excellence Centre. The breakfasts in the morning are a great opportunity to start the day & helped to build a sense of friendship & community amongst the volunteers. Moaz is an excellent Arabic teacher who is both knowledgeable about the Arabic language & Middle Eastern culture making the lessons fun & informative. The centre provides many opportunities to meet lots of people which has by far been the highlight of my time here. Halle is a friendly & diverse city with a variety of areas to explore whilst being well-connected to bigger cities such as Berlin and Leipzig. Overall, I cannot recommend working with the Excellence Centre enough. You will have lots of good experiences & meet some very kind people.

I spent two weeks at the Halle Excellent Centre teaching English and learning German and had the absolute best time! In 2024 I had studied German as a uni elective and was around A2 level, but after having only three lessons from Mauz, I had greater understanding and confidence in my language skills than I did during the whole uni semester! Mauz is a great teacher who is not only encouraging and fun, but pushes you to improve.

I also loved teaching English to both my online and in person students, although as I was only there for two weeks, I only had three. At first I was hesitant to teach English online, but after getting to know my students language level and personality, the best way to help improve their language skills is having good conversations and occasionally doing some exercises.

Overall, the centre was a super supportive and friendly environment. With a delicious group breakfast each morning made by Rafat or another volunteer, the vibes were always fabulous. I also got along really well with the other volunteers and some other members of the Halle community. Long lasting memories and friendships were made.

I spent 8 weeks at the Excellence Center in Halle, and it was a wonderful experience! I had some prior knowledge of the German language but had taken a year-long break before arriving in Halle. I studied German with Muaz, who was an excellent teacher and helped me finally grasp grammar concepts I hadn’t fully understood before. I definitely feel that my German improved during my time here.

I also thoroughly enjoyed working with all the students I was assigned to teach English. Whether online or in person, each student had different needs and levels, which made teaching both interesting and fun. I was quite stressed about the teaching aspect before starting the program, as I had little to no experience, but the environment is very relaxed and supportive. Everyone is willing to help whenever you need it.

Beyond the educational aspect, the people I met made this experience even more special. Rafat, Muaz, and Dušan created a lovely atmosphere at the center. They were always ready to help with anything I needed, even things outside the program, like opening a bank account or registering in town. They also organized weekly events where we could meet members of the community, and through these, I made some wonderful, long-lasting friendships. My only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer.