“My name is Gregorie D. Mc and I come from Canada. I am a graduate student in philosophy. I am interested in languages, history and current affairs. I joined the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine, in june 2018 and I will be volunteering as an English teacher for two months in the Teach for Palestine program. The center is a welcoming place that offers educational and community services to Palestinians of all age. The Teach for Palestine program gives the chance to English speaking people from all over the world to teach English and learn Arabic. It offers the opportunity to meet and share work with other volunteers and to get involved with the members of the community of Hebron. I am very eager to live in that inspiring environment and to learn new things.

Why did I decide to go to Palestine and join the center? In the first place, I have always been interested in the middle Eastern cultures. Most significantly, I have always wanted to understand the religion of Islam and the Arabic language. I thought it was worth discovering that culture and experience it by myself. I decided to see things with my own eyes, to go beyond what we watch on TV and read in the newspaper, and make my own opinion.  

Also, I would like to become a teacher of English as a second language. I believe English is a very interesting language, full of variety. I think teaching English in foreign countries could give me the opportunity to travel the world and to work in many different environments and contexts. For now, I am still looking to add to my professional record. I want to become better at communicating publicly, at writing articles and working with others. That being said, I will be able to achieve that at the Excellence Center in Hebron. Working there will give me the practical contact with students needed to become an efficient teacher. It will be a first-hand experience that will help me to gain confidence and new skills.   

When I browsed the internet to find a favorable chance to work in the middle east, I discovered the website of the Excellence Center. I immediately got the impression that the center was managed by passionate people willing to help and support others. I was convinced the center was the right place to work with a spirited team. Furthermore, I realized the center has specific goals. It aims to educate and train members of its community with the skills necessary to communicate efficiently in English. It is motivating to work there and to help the organization in reaching what it aims to achieve.

Finally, as the center offers Arabic lessons, getting the chance to learn Arabic is a great motivation. It will not only open the door for better intercultural contacts with the local population, but it will also allow me to have a more thorough understanding of the Arab culture. It will be a very interesting learning experience.”