Teach English for Palestine Program(for English Teachers) is a teaching internship program designed for graduate English students and certified English teachers (TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA qualified) to share their pedagogical expertise with local inhabitants of Hebron, Palestinian children, youth and Palestinian refugees in the surrounding area, in the West Bank, Palestine. This teaching English opportunity is perfectly suited for anyone pursuing a career as an English language teacher, possessing an interest in Arabic culture, and wanting to travel to the Israel/Palestine area of the Middle East.
This Program differs from other English Teaching Programs run by the Center, and it offers a teaching opportunity specifically for qualified English teachers. There are many qualified ESL teachers, and this program is an opportunity to teach abroad in the West Bank. As a qualified teacher, we value your expertise, and as such, you will enjoy all the benefits of our other programs: 3 hours a week Arabic Lessons, accommodation provided by the Center, cultural tours in the local area, but all for a much reduced rate of 250 Euro a month.
This program of English Language tuition provides international English teachers the opportunity to live in Hebron, Palestine, by working through the Excellence Center (EC). A core mission of the Excellence Centre is to provide Palestinian children, youth, and refugees the resources necessary to gain English language proficiency and professional skills, and international English teachers play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
Volunteer to Teach English In Palestine in 2026/2027
The Excellence Center in Palestine is now accepting applications for its 2026/2027 Teaching English Programs, including Teaching English to Palestinian Refugees, Summer Teaching English Internships in the West Bank, and Winter Volunteer Teaching English in Palestine Programs. We look forward to welcoming you to these exciting opportunities in 2026/2027!
Table of Contents
14 Years of Experience in the English language
The Excellence Centre in Hebron, West Bank has over 14 years of experience in English language tuition. The many long-running projects have served to improve the education levels of children and adults in the Hebron area, and provide volunteers with valuable life experience and personal development. Participants of this rewarding Teach English program can use their pedagogical expertise to serve the ongoing aim of teaching English to Palestinians in the West Bank, with lasting impacts on the local area.
Teach English for Palestine Program: Overview
| Place of Program | Hebron, West Bank, Palestine |
| Program Fees | 250€ a month – Euro |
| Age | 25 and over (demonstrating a degree of maturity and teaching experience) |
| Minimum Duration | 8 Weeks |
| Maximum Duration | 12 Weeks |
| Program focus | Teaching English in Palestine Teaching English to Palestinian refugees Teaching English to Palestinian children |
| Start and End Dates of Course | Flexible – Participants can specify to suit their schedule |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| Program Language | English |
| Days off | Two days a week (Fri – Sat) |
| Arabic Lessons | 3 Hours a Week Many Arabic dialects are available |
| Educational Degree | English Language/ English Teaching, or a certified EFL qualification (TEFL, TESOL, CELTA) |
What do the Programs in Palestine include?
| Program Content |
|---|
| A homestay with a Palestinian family or a stay in a nice apartment |
| Family breakfast during the work week |
| 3 hours of Arabic per week (can be increased to 6, 9, or 12 hours for an additional fee) |
| Guided tours in Hebron’s Old City |
| Visits to Palestinian refugee camps |
| 24/7 support during your time in Palestine |
| Certificate upon the completion of the program |
| Cultural immersion activities throughout your stay |
Requirements For The Teach English In Palestine Program
Working as an English teacher in Palestine includes a number of benefits, but also a list of demands. The standard for education is high, so you will need more than just a teaching certificate. While there may be exceptions in certain circumstances, we recommend that English teachers in the program meet the following criteria:
- Age of 30+
- Have a bachelor’s degree (preferably in English or education)
- TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA certificate
- Prior experience in teaching English
However, the following are not required to teach English in the West Bank
- Ability to speak Arabic
- Travel experience
- To be a native English speaker
Arabic Lessons For English Teachers
All participants of our Excellence Center Programs in Palestine receive 3 hours of Arabic classes a week with a Palestinian teacher. On top of this, all volunteers will have plenty of chances to meet many people in Palestine, learn, and practice their Arabic skills. English teacher Volunteers can freely choose what kind of Arabic they would like to learn during their time in Palestine at the Excellence Center.
Arabic Dialects To Learn
From our base in Hebron, all English Language Teachers will receive a choice of Arabic dialects to study during their time in the West Bank. As part of your placement, we offer a choice of:
- Shami or Levantine Arabic (Amiyya dialect)
- Colloquial Palestinian Arabic
- Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
- a mixed Program: (Modern Standard Arabic & Shami Arabic)
Help is always on offer if you need advice choosing a dialect.
Additional Services and Customization Options
Additional Arabic Language Hours: Participants can add extra weekly Arabic lessons for a more intensive learning experience.
Private Accommodation Options: Participants may choose a private room or an apartment located just 3 minutes from the center.
Family-Friendly Housing: Families with children are welcome, with suitable accommodation options available for a comfortable stay.
Combined Study and Practical Experience: Participants can combine Arabic language study with volunteer or internship programs for a more hands-on experience.
Online Arabic Lessons: Available before and after the program to support continued language development.
Teach English For Palestine Teachers’ Responsibilities:
As a fully qualified and experienced teacher, we expect participants to be able to demonstrate an amount of independence in their ability to run classes and produce lesson plans. Naturally, at the Excellence Centre, there will be fellow international colleagues and Palestinian educators who are there to help and support you, to share ideas with. The Center also provides a large amount of learning resources, which all volunteers are very welcome to contribute to.
Some of the responsibilities we expect from our volunteers are listed below:
- Teach English classes to Palestinian children and youth at the Excellence Center independently.
- Teach some individual courses to Palestinian students and community members
- Help the Excellence Center in developing the English curriculum and teaching outlines
- Produce English teaching lessons
- Write articles about Palestine, its people, places, and culture
- Organize some workshops and community development activities on different themes, including teaching English, methods, how to write resumes, cover letters, and conducting job interviews
During their time in Palestine, teachers instruct English language classes and provide administrative assistance while immersing themselves in the Palestinian culture and daily life. Teach English for Palestine Program participants teach courses focusing on areas such as English for business, TOEFL, IELTS, English for travel, and conversational English.
Eligibility To The Teach English Program
The Teach English for Palestine Program is designed for people with a degree in English or education, and between the ages of 25 and 75 years.
This is a demanding program in which volunteers will need to draw on their teaching nous and knowledge of the English language, whilst also committing to a long-term placement of 8-12 weeks. However, for anyone who does not meet the required criteria; who cannot commit to such a long placement, or simply looking to gain teaching experience, we recommend a variety of other programs which are run by the Center.
Our Short-Term Volunteer Programs In Palestine Include:
| Volunteer in a Journalism Program in the West Bank | Volunteer to teach English in Local Schools in Palestine |
| Volunteer in a Technology Program in Palestine | Volunteer in a sport Project in West Bank |
| Volunteer in Music and Art Program in the West Bank | Volunteer in Community Development Program in Palestine |
| Volunteer in Environment and Conservation Program in Palestine | Volunteer in a Medicine & Healthcare Program in the West Bank |
| Volunteer to Teach English in the West Bank | Women’s Rights Volunteer Program in Palestine |
| Volunteer to teach English to Palestinian children | Volunteer to teach English to Palestinian Refugees |
Benefits Of The Excellence Center
Our English Teachers from all over the world participate in educational, cultural, and community activities during their program. In addition, the Excellence Center arranges many extracurricular activities, including trips to the old city, Palestinian family home visits, and tours of local industries, to name a few. This enables you to see many different aspects of life in Palestine and expand your knowledge of the area.
Below are some of the benefits participants of the Teach English in Palestine Program can expect:
- Support during the time in Palestine
- Meetings with Palestinian university, school students, and community members.
- Accommodation with a Palestinian host family or in a room in the city of Hebron
- Engagement in some community activities
- Immersion in Palestinian culture and politics
- 12 hours of conversational Arabic lessons a month
- Arabic book for conversational Palestinian Arabic
- The teaching English Internship in the West Bank Program will provide you with the chance to visit unique tourist attractions with a particular native perspective – locations including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin, and the Dead Sea in Jericho.
- Visit nearby cities such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth
- Some visits within the city of Hebron, e.g., the old city, the Abraham Mosque, local universities, and refugee camps in Hebron
- Breakfast every day at the Center
Where Do Our International Visitors Come From?
In short, everywhere. Here in the Excellence Centre, we pride ourselves on our international openness towards people of all nations, religions, and cultures. For us, there is no ‘foreigner’, simply people with unique cultural perspectives, with whom we are delighted to share our time and experiences.
The largest proportion of interns at the Excellence Center in Palestine come from countries including: the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Canada, France, Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Moreover, students from: Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, South Korea, Ireland, China, and New Zealand have all taken to studying Arabic in Hebron, West Bank.
Is your country not on the list? Now is your chance to become a trailblazer and become the first representative of your nation, and join our ever-expanding international community.
Support Materials to Help You Get Started
To help participants transition smoothly into their new environment, a range of support materials is provided upon arrival. These resources are carefully designed to answer common questions and offer guidance on both practical and cultural aspects of life in Palestine. They play a key role in helping participants feel comfortable and well-prepared from the very beginning.
Among these resources is the Orientation Guide for participants in the Excellence Center in Palestine, which introduces the program structure, expectations, and key information about daily life. In addition, the Travel Guide to Palestine offers essential advice on transportation, local customs, and important locations, helping participants navigate their surroundings with ease.
Participants also receive a Daily Schedule Guide, which outlines their weekly activities, classes, and responsibilities. Together, these documents ensure that participants can quickly find their rhythm, understand their commitments, and fully engage in their experience from day one.
The Day in the Life of a Volunteer in Palestine
Mornings
Volunteering in Palestine requires commitment and flexibility. Volunteers usually work around 30 hours per week (10:00–17:00) and have two days off (Friday, when the center is closed, and one additional day of your choice).
Each morning, breakfast is shared at the center and includes traditional Palestinian foods such as bread, olive oil, za’atar, hummus, labneh, falafel, and fresh vegetables. Staff, volunteers, and interns sit together, creating a warm, communal atmosphere and a chance to connect.
Afternoon
The Excellence Center in Palestine also facilitates regular afternoon excursions to Hebron and neighboring cities throughout the week. Participants learn Arabic, visit refugee camps, take part in community activities, and also lead workshops and classes.
Evening and Weekends
Evenings are generally free time, giving volunteers the opportunity to relax after the working day or explore Hebron at their own pace. Many choose to spend this time with fellow volunteers or colleagues, meeting each other at the center, cooking together, or enjoying shisha in a social setting, as well as discovering local cafés, restaurants, and cultural or historical sites around the city.
Trips to nearby areas such as Halhul and Masafer Yatta are also common. Weekends provide a welcome break from the routine and are an opportunity for rest, travel, and independent exploration, including overnight stays away from Hebron.
Important Further Information
The Excellence Center accepts applications year-round. Participants decide when they would like to start and end their programs. We are very flexible when it comes to starting and ending dates. You can join us here in Palestine any duration from 2-3 months.
The program is subject to a fee of 250 euros a month to cover accommodation and Arabic tuition, among other costs. Due to your valuable expertise, this cost is a lot lower than various other Programs run by the Center.
A Real Cultural Immersion
The Excellence Center aims to achieve social discourse through cultural immersion. Participants in the Teach English for Palestine live with a host family (availability permitting for male participants), visit historical sites and cities in Hebron. The Excellence Center aims to make you feel at home so that you have a positive and enriching time in Hebron, Palestine.
International English Language Teachers have the ability to truly experience Palestinian life. Upon completion of the volunteering period, the Excellence Center will award a certificate and a recommendation letter.
Flying Into Palestine
Unfortunately, there are no airports in Palestine; as such, it is currently impossible to fly directly into the West Bank. Palestinians use either the airports in Jordan or Egypt to travel abroad. However, international travellers to the Center can fly to Israeli airports and then cross to Palestine. We believe the easiest ways to get to the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine are:
- 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.
- 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.
- A separate option is to fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, and then cross the border into Palestine, but this route takes more time and is more expensive.
Safety Of Our Language Teachers
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. 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.
How To Get A VISA To Teach In Palestine?
There is unfortunately no way to directly apply for a VISA to participate in the Teach English in Palestine Program at the Excellence Centre before travelling out to teach in Palestine. Upon arrival in Israel, internationals are given a 3-month VISA, applicable to Israel and Palestine. With this VISA, internationals are able to travel freely in Israel and the Palestinian territories for up to a 3-month period.
In general, no prior VISA is needed for Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans in order to enter Palestine. Please refer to the visa exemption agreement. Upon your arrival at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days, which enables you to travel around Palestine and Israel.
Awards, Recognition, And Program Reviews
The Excellence Center in Palestine has been honored with several prestigious Community Awards and recognized as the Best Language School and Top Volunteer and Internship Program Provider for 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. For more details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.
- +1000 reviews (96.8%) on gooverseas.com
- +190 reviews (93%) on goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
- Our Awards
Steps To Apply To The Teach English In Palestine Program:
- Email centre co-founder Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org requesting an application, listing ‘Teach English in Palestine Program’ as your desired program.
- We will send you the application. You will fill it out and send it back to us.
After We Receive Your Application:
- We review the application with our team (this usually takes a week)
- You may be invited to a short talk on a Skype call, Zoom, or WhatsApp to give you more information and answer all of the questions.
Selections Process
- We will send you an acceptance letter and a program contract.
- Sign the contract and send it back to us.
- Pay the fees online in advance.
- You are ready to come to Hebron, Palestine, and join our Excellence Center family.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at:
WhatsApp: +972 599 479 880
Email: Rafat@excellencenter.org
Website: https://ecpalestine.org/
Volunteer For Palestine: https://volunteerforpalestine.org/
Volunteer In Palestine: https://volunteerinpalestine.org/
Study In Palestine: https://studyinpalestine.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
