Individual Arabic Courses in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine (1-13 Weeks): The Excellence Center in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine offers private, customised Arabic courses ranging from 1 to 13 weeks in duration. Our experienced Arabic teachers provide one-to-one instruction in a variety of dialects, including Palestinian spoken Arabic, Levantine, and Classical/Modern Standard Arabic.
Our immersive Arabic courses are designed for a diverse range of learners, from international businessmen and diplomats to travelers exploring Israel, Palestine, and the Levant, as well as those interested in reading the Quran. We offer both standardised Arabic classes and tailored colloquial dialect courses from Syrian, Palestinian, and other Levantine regions.
Our private Arabic lessons are flexible and allow you to create a curriculum that meets your specific needs and requirements. With our customised approach, you can choose the pace and focus of your instruction, allowing you to maximize your learning experience.
Perfect Immersive Experience
The Excellence Center, located in Hebron in the West Bank, offers an immersive Arabic learning experience for students. With strong ties to the local community, students have numerous opportunities to practice their Arabic skills in real-life situations, making it especially beneficial for those interested in the colloquial Palestinian dialect.
Private Arabic lessons are held in the mornings, providing students with ample time to review and practice what they’ve learned, as well as to explore the local culture and way of life during the rest of the day. From our location, students have easy access to various sites and cities in the West Bank, including Jerusalem and Israel.
For those interested in Palestinian culture and traveling in the Israel/Palestine region, the Excellence Center’s Arabic classes offer an exceptional learning opportunity with a unique insight into life for local inhabitants in the West Bank.
Arabic Dialects Offered
Arabic has a wide range of dialects, something which is an important factor to consider for anyone starting the language. Depending on your reason for learning the language and what you wish to do with it, one dialect is usually much more suitable for you than others.
If you are currently unsure about which dialect you wish to study, it is worth learning more about the differences between them to sew which best meets your needs. We are always available to offer you advice if you would like assistance to make that decision.
The Excellence Center in Palestine offers many different Arabic language courses including:
- Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
- The Palestinian Colloquial Arabic
- Shami or Levantine Arabic (Amiyya dialect)
- Colloquial Syrian Arabic
- Mixed Program: (Modern Standard Arabic & Shami Arabic)
A customised Arabic curriculum can be focused on your particular needs and wants, whether they involve reading, writing, or speaking and listening. Additionally, our one-to-one Arabic courses can be fashioned to meet the needs of international students who wish to conduct studies for their university.
Personalized Arabic Courses
As our Arabic classes are offered to you personally and taught one-to-one, we are able and willing to tailor lessons to cater to your needs and requirements.
A curriculum can be constructed for you that will address language and academic needs including:
| Courses of Arabic for diplomats | Arabic Language courses for media |
| Arabic Language lessons for academic purposes | Classical (Fusha) Arabic for learning Quran |
| Spoken Arabic for business | Palestinian Colloquial Arabic |
Our Private Arabic Courses In Palestine Are Targeted For Language Learners Who:
- Would like to develop their Arabic speaking skills
- Study political science, Middle East Studies, or international relations
- Arabic-speaking people who live in Europe, America or elsewhere in the diaspora
- Businessmen who seek language proficiency
- Any others who simply want to learn Arabic for pleasure or study
Depending on language level, and learning preferences, students at the Excellence Center have the choice of taking Arabic lessons with a teacher who speaks English, or having classes taught entirely in Arabic.
One-To-One Arabic Lessons Online
For anyone planning on traveling to Israel/ Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria or other countries in the Levant in the future, or who have visited the region and wish to continue studying, we offer further lessons online.
Or perhaps you are not planning on traveling but wish to learn Arabic for another reason. If you are unable to join us in person in Hebron, you can study with us from anywhere in the world online. For online classes, you may choose from any of the dialects listed above.
Find out more information on Online Arabic Classes, please click here.
Why The Excellence Center In Hebron?
By studying Arabic in Hebron, students will fully immerse themselves not only in the Arabic language, but also in Palestinian daily life and culture. The Excellence Center in Palestine is situated in the vibrant city of Hebron, offering students plenty of opportunities to use their Arabic skills at home, in class, at the Center, and throughout the city as they progress in their program.
Students are often pleasantly surprised by how quickly they are able to learn and effectively utilize Arabic in real-world scenarios. During their stay in Hebron, students will use their Arabic on a daily basis in various situations, such as shopping, ordering food at restaurants, conversing with taxi drivers, or chatting with locals. Moreover, students will reside either with a Palestinian host family or in the male dormitory, which is shared with other participants.
Furthermore, students will have free time to travel and explore other parts of Palestine, as Hebron is an excellent base from which to venture out. During weekends, it is easy to connect with other Arabic students and volunteers at the Center who are keen to explore other cities. The Excellence Center also arranges regular trips to cultural sites, the old city, refugee camps, local organizations, and areas of political significance in and around Hebron. These excursions allow students to gain a better understanding of Palestine’s complexity, diversity, and beauty. Students can join these trips outside of their Arabic lessons’ scheduled times.
The Impact Of Studying Arabic In Palestine
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.
Qualified Teachers
At the Excellence Center, we take great pride in our faculty and staff, who are all native Levantine Arabic speakers. Our teachers possess varying degrees in related fields, such as Teaching Arabic to Non-native Speakers, Teaching Arabic as a Second Language, Arabic Cultural Studies, Arabic Literary Studies, and many others.
We believe that this combination of linguistic expertise and academic knowledge enables our instructors to deliver an immersive and comprehensive Arabic learning experience.
Are The Courses Taught In English?
Yes, all of our Arabic courses are designed for English speakers. However, as students progress to higher levels, the use of English in the classroom decreases to promote full immersion in the Arabic language.
It is important to note that for those who study with us in-person, navigating through Hebron will require utilizing their Arabic skills to the best of their ability. This creates a fully immersive experience and enhances language learning by allowing students to practice their Arabic in real-life situations.
How The Arabic Lessons Are Taught
The Excellence Center employs Palestinian teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree in either Arabic or English Studies. Beginners are placed with Palestinian teachers who speak good English in order to facilitate the learning process.
Arabic students who already speak fair to good Arabic are placed with teachers who speak basic English, with the primary communication between student and teacher conducted in Arabic. We feel it benefits the learner to speak in the target language as much as possible, although this is naturally hard for beginners.
In addition, Arabic students have the choice of taking Arabic lessons with:
- A Palestinian teacher who speaks English and Arabic
- A Palestinian teacher who speaks only Arabic
Course Levels On Offer
We offer courses for all levels, from total beginners to advanced learners, regardless of which dialect you choose to study. The number of course levels available varies depending on the dialect.
For example, our Levantine Colloquial Arabic course has four levels: Beginner (for those with no previous knowledge of Arabic), Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced. On the other hand, our Modern Standard Arabic course has six levels: Beginner (for those with no previous knowledge of Arabic), Elementary 1 or 2, Intermediate 1 or 2, and Advanced.
If you are unsure which level is best for you, please feel free to contact us for a free placement test.
What Is The Difference Between The Course Intensities?
Please note that course intensity refers to the number of classes, frequency of class meetings, level of immersion, and amount of assigned homework, rather than the course level itself. Each dialect and Arabic course level is offered in the following intensities:
1. Non-intensive Course
If you are interested in a long term program of 1-3 months, we recommend students enroll in a non-intensive course, which will provide you with plenty of in-class instruction (4 lesson hours* per day, 3 days a week) while still leaving ample time to explore the city of Hebron and immerse yourself in Palestinian culture.
2. Intensive Course
The intensive course is designed to further immerse students in the Arabic language and culture. These courses are held 5 days a week for approximately 4 lesson hours* each day, giving a total of about 20 lesson hours* of instruction per week. Intensive Arabic courses will also add additional homework and out of classroom assignments for participants.
3. Super-intensive Course
Finally, our super-intensive courses are designed for students who are looking for an accelerated Arabic course in a completely immersive, high-intensity classroom setting. Super-intensive Arabic courses are conducted 5 days a week at 6 lesson hours* of instruction per day, totaling approximately 30 lesson hours* per week. We recommend those studying less than a month enroll in this program.
* Please note that 1 lesson hour = 45 minutes.
Which Course Is For Me?
When you enroll in one of our Arabic courses, you have the flexibility to choose which dialect, course level, and intensity suits you best. If you are uncertain about the differences between dialects or which one will best meet your needs, our team is always available to offer guidance and advice.
Additionally, the Excellence Center provides a free placement test to evaluate your Arabic language skills in four crucial areas: speaking, reading, writing, and listening, helping you determine the appropriate course level for yo
Will I Be The Only International Student In Hebron?
Not at all! Every month, the Excellence Center welcomes new international students and volunteers from around the world to Hebron, Palestine, to participate in our various programs. So, you will never be alone! The number of volunteers and students at the Center varies throughout the year, with summer being the busiest time. However, there will always be other international participants at the Center during your stay with us, regardless of the time of year.
Our international participants often organize various gatherings and trips together during their free time, exploring places such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Jericho and the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Haifa, Eilat, Nazareth, and more. Additionally, many participants also take advantage of the opportunity to experience “couch surfing” in the Galilee and other adventurous activities. You will have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new friends!
These are only some of the experiences that await you as an Arabic student with free time to explore. Ahlan wa Sahlan! Welcome!
Brief Information About The Arabic Individual Courses In Palestine
| Place of Program | Hebron, West Bank, Palestine |
| Program Fees | Super Intensive = Starting from 800€ a week (Euro); Intensive = Starting from 550€ a week (Euro); Non-Intensive = Starting from 470€ a week (Euro) |
| Age | 18-70 Years Old |
| Minimum Duration | Super-intensive = One Week – 30 Teaching Hours Intensive = One Week – 20 Teaching Hours Non-intensive = One Week – 12 Teaching Hours |
| Maximum Duration | 13 Weeks |
| Teaching Hours | Super-intensive = 6 teaching hours a day – 5 days a week; Intensive = 4 teaching hours a day – 5 days a week; Non-intensive = 4 teaching hours a day – 3 days a week. |
| One Teaching Hour | 45 Minutes |
| Class periods | Morning (8:30 – 12:30), Afternoon ( 12:30 – 16:00) |
| Starting/Ending Dates | Flexible – Anytime |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| Days off | Super-intensive and Intensive = two days (Fridays & Saturdays) Non-intensive = four days (Fridays, Saturdays and two other days of your choice) |
| Educational Degree | Not Required |
| University Credit | Available |
| Program’s reviews | Reviews and ratings On Gooverseas.com Reviews and ratings On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
Additional Pertinent Information
- 30€ one-time registration fee
- No charge for study materials including books
- Free placement test
- Certificate of completion
- Monthly program fee covers:
- Arabic courses
- Breakfast (Sat – Thur)
- Housing
- Operational costs
- Center-led excursions in Hebron
- Visits may include the old city of Hebron, glass and ceramics factories, local companies and refugee camps, as well as local universities such as the Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University
Where Will I Live While Taking Arabic Lessons In Palestine?
The Excellence Center in Palestine arranges your accommodation during your stay in Hebron.
We offer three main options:
- Female students usually live with a local Palestinian family.
- Male students may reside with a Palestinian family, if available or in independent housing (a shared dorm) that is supervised by the Excellence Center. Living arrangements are in accord with Palestinian culture.
- Private room in Hebron (additional costs will apply)
A Typical Day At The Excellence Center
Your schedule will depend on the intensity level you have chosen for your Arabic course. Intensive and super-intensive courses run for five days a week with two days off (Friday and Saturday) while non-intensive courses have classes for three days a week with four free days (Friday, Saturday, and two other days of your choice).
Classes usually start at 8:30 am and continue until 12:30 pm, with a break for breakfast at 10:00 am. During breakfast, you will have the opportunity to socialize, try Palestinian food, and practice your Arabic with teachers, directors, and other students. If you have chosen the super-intensive course, you will have more classes in the afternoon after a lunch break and finish by 4:00 pm.
During your Arabic course, you will have the opportunity to go on sightseeing trips in Hebron, organized by the Excellence Center. Sometimes these visits may require adjustments to your Arabic lessons. However, there is flexibility with your Arabic schedule, and it is usually possible to start or finish a little later depending on your teacher’s schedule.
Afternoons and evenings are generally free, although the Excellence Center occasionally organizes optional activities to showcase Palestinian culture. During your free time, you can study Arabic at a cafe, socialize with other international students or volunteers, have dinner at a restaurant, spend time with your host family (for female volunteers), or go to a local gym.
What Can I do When I’m Not Studying Arabic?
When not in your Arabic classes, you can participate in various cultural, social, and community activities in Hebron organized by the Excellence Center. These activities may include visits to historical and cultural sites, business and government institutions, as well as refugee camps. You may also volunteer to participate in community activities organized by the Center.
Apart from these activities, you can spend time at home with either your Palestinian host family or dorm-mates. You will also have plenty of free time to do your Arabic homework and study outside of the classroom.
Moreover, our private Arabic courses are designed to allow you to explore Hebron and other exciting destinations within Palestine. Our programs are located in the city of Hebron, which is full of shops, cafes, and other offerings.
We understand that many of our students are attracted to travel in the Palestine and Israel region. You will have two full days off per week (four days off for non-intensive students) to spend as you choose. Many of our students arrange to visit other cities with their fellow students or our international volunteers on their days off. You can explore cities such as Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho (and the Dead Sea), Nablus, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Haifa, and many more. Traveling around Palestine is relatively easy and affordable, and is a great opportunity to practice the Arabic you have learned.
You may be surprised by how quickly your schedule fills up and how fast your time flies while you are at the Excellence Center.
Your Benefits While Studying With Us
- Studying Arabic while being immersed in Palestinian culture, daily life and society while living in Hebron
- Well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, each with an excellent educational background, ready and happy to help you
- Opportunity to improve or practice your Arabic by communicating with native speakers in the local community
- Undertaking trips to the old city, holy sites, other sites, a refugee camp in Hebron and more during your time
- Meetings with Palestinian university, school students and teachers
- Free time to travel to historical locations and nearby cities including Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem (on your own or with fellow students or volunteers)
- The ability to visit nearby cities as well as in those in Jordan including Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Nazareth, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, and Wadi Rum
- Accommodation either with a Palestinian family or in our male dorm
- Attendance at Palestinian cultural nights, such as weddings, or those featuring entertainment
- A participant’s certificate upon completion
When Do The Individual Arabic Classes Take Place?
International Arabic students themselves determine the schedule for Arabic lessons, both the start and end dates. Students have the freedom to attend the Excellence Center’s Arabic classes on a schedule as arranged between the student and the administration of the Center.
Duration Of Our Arabic Courses In Palestine
Private Arabic classes in Hebron can be scheduled for one week of study up to a maximum of 13 weeks or three months. The classes take place at the Excellence Center from Sunday through Thursday and run from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, including a 30-minute break for breakfast and other short breaks. However, if you have opted for the super-intensive course, you will also have additional classes in the afternoon after a lunch break.
Safety Of Our Arabic Students
The region of Palestine has not been stable for the last few decades, there is always unrest and war, sometimes it becomes more volatile and at other times it’s calmer. Nonetheless, each year millions of tourists visit Palestine and the West Bank including Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus and many other cities without any safety issues. Palestinians in general are welcoming and hospitable people. They recognize that the politics of a country and its people may differ.
Since it was formed in 2011, the Excellence Center has welcomed over 1000 international visitors and Arabic students. These visitors lived and worked in Hebron for a few weeks or months. Overall they did not face any threat nor were they unsafe in Hebron or the West Bank.
Moreover, the Excellence Centre is situated in an area of Hebron which is under the Palestinian authority and in the heart of the city. Our Palestinian host families and the male dorms are located near the Excellence Center too.
Reviews, Awards And Recognition
The Excellence Center in Hebron has now over 10 years of experience, and prides itself on the positive feedback received from over 800 international interns, students and volunteers to the Center since our founding in 2011.
We continue to strive towards “excellence”: In 2022 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities and one of the top three language schools worldwide by Go Overseas. We received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards in 2022. The Excellence Center was also recognized as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits” and one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”.
In 2021, we were also rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities. We also received community choice awards by Go Overseas in the category “Best Language School”, voted best on “fun” and “instruction.”
In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” to acknowledge the Excellence Center’s impact on the community of travelers around the world. The Excellence Center continues to be a highly rated travel organization across its selection of programs.
Check out our many great reviews here:
- 565+ Reviews (96%) on Gooverseas.com
- 100+ Reviews (94%) on Goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
How To Get A Visa To Study Arabic In Palestine
Generally, upon your arrival at Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv Airport), Israel, you will be granted a tourist visa valid for 90 days. You can also get this visa upon arrival at Eilat Airport in Israel or at one of the land border crossings with Egypt or Jordan. This tourist visa is sufficient to participate in our Arabic courses.
Usually, no prior visa is needed for Americans, Canadians, Britons, Australians and most Europeans in order to enter Palestine (and Israel), as they usually qualify for the visa exemption agreement.
Traveling To And From Hebron, West Bank
We know that our students often have questions about how to get to Hebron and how you can make your way to the Excellence Center.
You may find all the necessary information about how to get to Hebron and the Excellence Center with some contact information in these four articles:
- How to fly to Palestine
- How to get to Hebron, Palestine
- Planning your trip to Palestine
- How to get from Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) to Hebron
If you have any further inquiries about travel to Palestine, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Our contact information can be found at the bottom of this page.
Tel Aviv Airport Pickups
The Excellence Center staff can organize a taxi to pick you up at Ben Gurion Airport and take you straight to Hebron and the Center. This is the easiest and fastest way (about an hour, 60 km/37 miles) to get to us.
Additional fees apply and the trip costs about 160 Euro. Please contact us if you are interested in this option and we can arrange it for you.
Flying Into Palestine
There are no airports in the West Bank, so the easiest way to get to the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine is to fly to:
- Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport (Israel). It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to the Excellence Center in Hebron via shared Taxi.
Alternatively:
- You can fly to Eilat airport and then travel by booking a shuttle or taking a bus to Jerusalem and then to Hebron. The whole trip can last between 6-7 hours.
- You can also fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan and then cross to Palestine, but it takes more time and is more expensive.
Palestinians use either the airports in Jordan or Egypt to travel abroad. However, people who would like to study the Arabic language in the West Bank can fly to Israeli airports and cross into Palestine.
Summary
For anyone wishing to learn one of the dialects of Arabic that we offer, in an immersive environment where you will use Arabic inside and outside of the classroom in your daily life, our Arabic programs are for you. When you study with us in person, you will be immersed in not only the Arabic language, but Palestinian culture and daily life as well. Our Arabic immersion programs promise to be a transformative and enriching experience for all who pursue them.
Our private Arabic courses are an excellent opportunity for you, whether you are a current student, a postgraduate, a professional, a retiree or anyone who wishes to study Arabic via immersion. Studying via immersion is a fantastic way to improve your Arabic because you will have so many opportunities to use Arabic in a natural way in your daily life outside of the classroom. For current university or college students, we can even provide academic credit to you, so you can make the most of this opportunity to travel to Palestine, improve and practice your Arabic in an authentic context while also working towards your studies at the same time.
During your time with us, you will have several days off per week to explore and travel as you please. You will also have the chance to join the visits we organize in and around Hebron to numerous sights, which may include the old city, a glass and ceramics factory, local organizations, a refugee camp, a Bedouin village and more. Additionally, we host many international volunteers and students, so you will have the opportunity to meet and make friends with people from all over the world.
Our in-person courses are very flexible, you can study for as long as you like from 1-13 weeks and at any time of the year. If you are unable to join us in person, we offer flexible online classes to you, so you can join us without leaving home. From all of us at the Excellence Center in Palestine, we would be more than happy to have you as part of our family here in Hebron. Apply today and begin or continue your linguistic journey!
How Do I Apply For The Arabic Course?
To apply for the Arabic Individual Course in Palestine, simply send an email to Rafat@excellencenter.org with the subject line “Arabic Individual Course in Palestine”. The Excellence Center will then send you an application form, which you can fill out and return at your convenience.
Once we receive your application, we will contact you to discuss program details and answer any questions you may have.
Application Deadline
Please submit your application via email at least one week prior to the starting date of the individual Arabic course in Hebron, Palestine.
If you are late, you may always inquire via email whether we still have available places in our courses in Hebron at the Excellence Center.
Related Arabic Programs
Find us online
Whatsapp:+972599479880
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
The Excellence Center’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
Excellence Center’s Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron
Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg
Visit and Explore Palestine: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorePalestine
