Two weeks semi-intensive Arabic course

I came to Hebron to study amiya Arabic commencing 1st of January 2023 for 2 weeks, as a taster session in advance of planning a longer trip next year for myself and my husband. I had three hours of lessons every morning at the centre from Sunday to Thursday with Mahmoud, one of the teachers at the centre. The lessons were tailored specifically to what I needed and my level; and they were excellent... Mahmoud was very engaging and provided a good blend of local dialect, some MSA at my request, colloquial expressions and useful phrases.

I feel that my spoken Arabic has definitely improved since I've been here in just 2 weeks and when I come back for longer, I feel it will make a huge difference to my understanding. The experience has been enriched by some excursions organised by the centre; notably to a refugee centre which was both extremely informative and uncomfortable in terms of the plight of the Palestinians, however these experiences are crucial in understanding the lived experience of those who are here.

I travelled in winter when Hebron is cold, and I would recommend people travelling here to dress comfortably and for cold weather. Many of the buildings are not centrally heated, using small heaters instead and so I packed a hot water bottle and it was invaluable!

At all times I have felt safe travelling in Palestine both on my own as a woman and with the group, and the initial trepidations I had before travelling here was assuaged shortly after arriving. People are extremely kind and helpful if you have any issues. Staying with a host family has been an incredibly warm experience where no problem is too great and you are part of the family immediately. On this trip I have largely stayed around the Hebron area, but in future trips I plan to travel more widely and see more of this amazing country. The Palestinians are hospitable and welcoming, the food is amazing, and my impressions post-visit are very positive. I would encourage anybody considering a trip to Palestine to go for it! Much of what we read in the news about Palestine is biased and so I would counsel people to see the country for themselves.

Anybody with an interest in learning more about the culture, the history and human rights situation in Palestine, or learning Arabic should utilise the Excellence Centre as they are set up for facilitating these experiences.