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.

I volunteered with the Excellence Center for the whole month of March and had a wonderful experience. We started every day (Mon-Thrs) at the Center with a family breakfast around 1000. After that, I taught English to my students, one-on-one, either in-person or online. As a teacher, you are allowed to shape your teaching style and the learning environment as you see fit to help your student learn. For adult students I would bounce between classroom instruction and walking through the city reviewing vocabulary and practicing basic English grammar. One of my students was about eight years old, and they learned better with more engaging methods, such as board games and football.

Most days I also received German lessons from one of the Center’s teachers, along with one other student. We would split out time between the classroom and walking about the city, which was more engaging than the German lessons I had in school.

My daily schedule varied wildly, with some days being seven hours long, while others were just about two hours, depending on the number of students that day. Once your lessons are done, you have the freedom to explore the city on your own. I’d often have lunch in a local park, weather permitting, or go for a walk along the river.

On the weekends, I explored the local area, to include Leipzig and Dresden, taking in the history of this part of the country. This also gave me ample opportunity to practice my German in the real world.

Overall, the work was very rewarding. I’d highly recommend the Excellent Center to anyone who enjoys teaching.

I really enjoyed my 8 weeks at the Excellence Centre. It was filled with fun, beautiful culture and amazing people! Every morning, I was welcomed with a warm atmosphere through the communal breakfasts, thanks to Rafat, Muaz and Dušan. I was able to build on my German skills, thanks to my teacher Enrico, and also taught English (and basic German) to 4 students. The experience as a whole was intriguing, as I got to meet new volunteers and also immerse myself in both German and Arabic culture. I hope to be back again and definitely recommend!

I had a truly memorable 3 weeks completing a media and journalism course at the Excellence Center in Halle, and couldn't recommend it highly enough!

I spent a week learning Arabic and two weeks learning German, whilst researching and writing articles for the Center. Rafat, Muaz and Dušan create such a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere within the center, making it the perfect environment to learn, teach and study. The hugely experienced language teachers approach lessons in a novel way and foster an engaging and exciting weekly routine. The opportunity to live and study with fellow volunteers was also a hugely rewarding experience. As I say, I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to experience Germany whilst using your time productively. I can't thank the team at the Excellence Center enough. I'll be sure to come back to Halle in the future and my only regret is that I couldn't stay longer!

I spent 1 week in February 2026 teaching English and learning Arabic at the Excellence Center in Europe (Halle (Saale), Germany). I am a 17-year-old female student from the Netherlands. Overall, I had a wonderful experience, met fantastic people from all around the world, improved my English teaching skills, and learned a bit about Middle Eastern culture (language, cuisine).

Accommodation: I stayed in an apartment in the Südstadt area of Halle (Saale), which was around 25-30 minutes away from the Excellence Center by tram or 50 minutes on foot. It is away from the center, but the commute is straightforward, so this wasn't really a problem. I had my own room, but rooms may be shared if there are more volunteers, and I shared the apartment with 2 other (both female) volunteers who were very nice. There was a shared bathroom and kitchen. Each room had 2 beds or a bunk bed, a closet, and a desk. There are a few rules for cleaning and being quiet at nighttime that are not too restrictive.

The Excellence Center/volunteer teaching time: The Center itself is in the city center, which is convenient for exploring. The volunteers (us 3 girls and 1 other boy) ate breakfast together at 10 in the morning from Monday to Thursday, which consisted of pita bread, hummus, plain yogurt, olive oil, and cut vegetables (tomatoes/cucumbers/bell peppers). I taught 1-3 English lessons of 1-1.5 hours every day except for Friday, when there are no lessons or breakfast for volunteers. (I was prioritized since I was only there for 1 week; some of my fellow volunteers had only 1 lesson a day or less, but this is quite flexible.) I had my 3 hours of Arabic lessons all in a row on 1 day, which was a fun experience. I got to learn some basics while making friends with my Arabic teacher.

The Excellence Center also employs paid teachers who give paid English or German lessons, but there are usually several volunteers at a time who give free English or German lessons to people, usually refugees or children. I taught 4 people in total, 2 young men (around 20 years old) from Syria, and 2 young boys (around 10 years old) with parents from abroad. It was an honor to connect with them, and I definitely felt that I was having a positive impact on their English learning journeys (and I would even go as far as to say their lives). It was also very nice to get to know the other volunteers and paid working teachers at the Excellence Center; this place attracts very nice people.

The city of Halle (Saale): It is a pretty small city, but it is charming and nice to be in. The volunteers got a tour from Rafat, the Excellence Center's director, on the first day, which was lovely. Everything to see in the city center is within walking distance of the Excellence Center. Everything is well-connected by public transportation, especially trams.

I came to the Excellence Center for two weeks at the start of December to take part in their media programme. Immediately when I arrived, I was welcomed warmly by Rafat who made a lovely home cooked breakfast for me and the rest of the volunteers. The atmosphere at the center is incredible: welcoming, supportive and friendly, so it is very easy to settle in at the start of your time in Halle.

In my time here I met loads of amazing new people, and learned so much as a person and about the language.

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.