The time of my life in Hebron, Palestine

I have only positive things to say about my experience with the Teach English, Study Arabic programme at the Excellence Center. This programme involved teaching about 15-20 hours a week of private English classes and general English classes for young learners. I had some fantastic students who were all eager and willing to learn and made teaching a lot of fun. We often also did outreach work, visiting local schools to teach for free, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.

I also had three hours of studying Arabic per week, with Marwa Shantir as my teacher, which was fantastic for quickly improving my level of Arabic. The constant exposure to and immersion in the language from always being around Arabic speakers meant that I rapidly learnt new words and phrases and was able to apply them in conversational Arabic. By the end of my stay, I was able to hold basic conversations in Arabic which was a fantastic cultural experience for me.

Speaking of the culture, I found Palestine a fascinating place. The history and the current situation are present everywhere and hearing about it from the locals is very important to do. Beyond that it was nice to see some of the similarities and differences that exist in Arab and Western culture; I was lucky enough to experience a proper Palestinian wedding, which was a real highlight. The food as well was really good! We prepared meals together at The Excellence Center and had some great dinners, particularly the farewell barbeque.
The people though are what really stood out. I have made lifelong friends here both among the foreign volunteers and the Palestinian staff. The locals were always super friendly and welcoming, and we were often invited out for dinner or for an evening in another town which was a great way to see more of the country.

In terms of safety, 90% of the city is probably more safe than London where I live. However, there are clashes in certain areas, but these are very easy to avoid. You will never be placed in danger’s way by the Excellence Center. They will ensure you are not based near any of the troublesome areas and that you live with a responsible host family or in a well-situated apartment.

Thank you Excellence Center – I had a fantastic time here!!!