Volunteer to Teach English in Palestine: Whether you’re on a gap year, on holiday between university semesters, or you want to build a career in teaching English overseas, Palestine is a great place to teach English. There are many reasons why, including the friendly and hospitable people, the rich history, culture, and cuisine, the beauty of the land, and the many Palestinian students wishing to learn English.
Despite the prevalent geopolitical tensions, this country has immense potential, and the desire for individuals to improve themselves through training and education is palpable. This means that when you do good work here, the impact you create is all the bigger and more visible. Keep reading to learn more about teaching English in Palestine, including some tips on how to prepare for your teaching trip to Palestine and on preparing yourself for the classroom.
Table of Contents
Do I Need Qualifications or Experience to Teach?
You absolutely do not need to have qualifications or experience to teach English in Palestine. However, you are unlikely to receive a paid teaching role without them here. A background in teaching will give you more flexibility to take your pick of the roles on offer. However, doing a volunteer teaching position is an equally viable option if you are looking to begin a career in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) or to contribute to the local community.
Why Volunteer To Teach English?
Volunteering to teach English has both personal and professional benefits. Firstly, it’s a great way to gain valuable teaching experience and make connections to help you in your future career. It will also help you grow personally by giving you new life experiences and perspectives, while also contributing to society. Additionally, many paid teaching English contracts around the world are 12 months. Still, by doing a short-term volunteer program, you can see if the city or country you have chosen is the right fit for you, without making a long-term commitment.
Advice On Finding A Program Teaching English In Palestine
The internet is a great place to start researching for teaching jobs and volunteer opportunities from the comfort of your own home. We would recommend that, with any overseas volunteering or work, you thoroughly research the organization you intend to join. Most organizations have the best of intentions, but can be unscrupulous in their treatment of volunteers or low-paid workers.
Additionally, some organizations do fantastic work (or attempt to) but are unable to organize efficiently, which then has a detrimental impact on the volunteer. You have to balance the needs of the organization with your own needs to ensure a happy and fulfilling experience. Be sure to research all volunteer testimonials and online feedback before making your decision. You might like to check out Go Overseas and Visit Palestine, which are both great websites to compare available volunteer and internship opportunities.
How To Prepare For Teaching English In Palestine
Once you have accepted a teaching job or volunteer position, you will need to prepare for your trip to Palestine. You will need to arrange things like travel insurance and flights. It’s always good to shop around before purchasing to find the best option for you. For flights, since there are no airports in the West Bank, we recommend booking flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV) airport. From there, it’s relatively easy to reach the West Bank.
Research Local Customs And Culture Before You Arrive
Palestine is a fascinating country, full of rich historical traditions and unique cultures. It is likely to be very different from where you come from, so it’s essential to do some research before you arrive. It’s imperative to research the local customs, so that you know what to wear and how to behave appropriately.
It is not acceptable, for example, to wear shorts or drink alcohol in some of the more conservative areas of the West Bank. This is extremely important to consider so you know what to be prepared for, as well as what to pack. Some people also wish to bring gifts from home for their Palestinian hosts, as the majority of Palestinians are muslims, any pork or products containing alcohol should be avoided.
Research The Weather So You Can Pack Appropriately
Remember to consider the time of year you plan to volunteer in Palestine so that you can pack appropriately for the weather. For example, winters in Palestine can get quite wet and cold, and it’s often colder here than most internationals expect. Having central heating is quite rare in Palestine, and the houses are generally built to keep heat out. This means that in winter, particularly during the nights, it’s often colder inside than outside, so it’s essential to have plenty of warm clothing. Summers can reach up to 35 or 40 degrees, with generally dry heat and sporadic rain. So consider these aspects when evaluating your clothing choices!!
Some Tips For The Classroom
The most important thing to consider is that you will be teaching monolingual classes (i.e., all the students will be primary Arabic speakers), so you really have to run the lesson in English to immerse them in the language learning experience. You will need to create an inclusive language learning community in the classroom that everyone enjoys being involved in.
No matter who you are teaching, it’s important to be patient, kind, and flexible. Not only is it essential to have a firm grammatical grasp of the English language, but it is equally essential to have excellent classroom management skills and remain in control of your class. As a teacher, you won’t know everything about English or teaching, but the more experience you get, the more you will learn and improve.
Teaching Young Learners
When working with young learners, your primary task is to engage them in the practice of learning English. If they are bored or disinterested, it is not possible to meaningfully teach them anything. This involves engaging in games, running competitions, and high-energy learning activities to boost participation levels and ensure everyone has fun while learning together.
Teaching Teenagers Or Older Students
Working with teenagers or older students requires a different approach from young learners. Students will likely have a better attention span, but you will still need to find ways to keep them engaged and interested, enabling them to learn and want to learn. Playing the occasional educational game can be a great way to capture your students’ attention and wake them up if they feel bored or tired. Students can also become very competitive, making this a great way to increase their participation in the class.
However, games should be used sparingly, and the majority of the time should be spent teaching students through other activities. It is a good idea to alternate between individual work, work in groups of 2-3, and work in larger groups, and to mix the students up so they are not always working only with the same peers.
Palestinian Students May Be Nervous Or Excited When They First Meet You
Many Palestinian students have never or have rarely met visitors from overseas. This is primarily due to the Israeli occupation, which makes it very difficult for Palestinians to travel to other countries and also restricts international tourism in Palestine. As a result, young Palestinians may be nervous when they first meet you, and they may take some time to warm up to you and feel comfortable.
In this case, building a rapport with students is essential, as it will not only enrich your relationship but also help you teach more effectively. On the other hand, some Palestinian students will immediately be very excited to meet you and speak with you. Students might want to know all about you; however, it is essential to remain focused and professional and not spend the whole lesson answering the students’ questions about your life.
Teaching English with Excellence Center in Palestine
Volunteering with Excellence Center can be a great opportunity if you are looking to teach English in the West Bank. (Gaza is not accessible at the time of writing due to the ongoing Israeli siege and blockade of Gaza.) Excellence Center offers flexible programs depending on your existing commitments, goals, and ambitions. There are volunteer posts for those with minimal teaching experience and for native and non-native English speakers alike; from 1-13 weeks (90 days is the maximum time you can stay in Israel and Palestine on an Israeli tourist visa).
Teaching English And Learning Arabic
Upon arrival for your program, you will be assigned a liaison manager to oversee your program and a dedicated personal Arabic tutor to oversee the development of your Arabic language learning. The teaching work is widely varied – there are group lessons at our center, private one-on-one lessons with individuals, and teaching in villages and refugee camps around Hebron. Sometimes you will join a Palestinian teacher’s class as a teaching assistant, other times you will be leading your own class by yourself or with another international volunteer. Depending on availability and the time of year, you may also have the opportunity to teach in local schools (a program that’s run in conjunction with the Palestinian Ministry of Education in Ramallah).
5 Teach English in Palestine Programs
Here you may find the best 5 English-teaching programs in Palestine:
1. Volunteer in Local Palestinian Villages
Volunteer in Local Palestinian Villages: This program offers an excellent opportunity for individuals of all ages, from students to retirees, to work directly with Palestinian communities in villages and rural areas of the West Bank, including Dura and the Hebron Hills, such as Masafer Yatta, Susya, Umm Al-Khayr, the Al-Fawwar refugee camp, and Bani Na’im. Volunteers will collaborate with Palestinian children, youth, women, and refugees to enhance their skills and participate in educational and recreational activities.
Volunteers will also learn Arabic to communicate with the locals and visit sites of Palestinian cultural and historical significance in and around Hebron city. This program is an excellent opportunity to deepen their understanding of daily life in Palestinian communities, security challenges, and resilience under occupation.
2. Volunteer With Orphanages in Palestine
Volunteer With Orphanages in Palestine: Hebron City, in the Occupied West Bank, is home to several orphanages that provide essential care and support to thousands of Palestinian children who have lost one or both of their parents. The high number of orphans in the region is largely due to ongoing conflict, military occupation, economic hardship, and limited access to healthcare. Some children lose their parents to direct violence, such as military raids, airstrikes, and clashes. Others are caused by the impact of long-term instability, including imprisonment of family members, displacement, or lack of access to health services.
There are approximately 7,000 orphans in and around Hebron city, ranging from infants to young adults. These orphanages provide essential services such as housing, education, medical care, and psychological support to children without stable family situations. They often rely on funding from local charities, international donors, and religious organizations to support their operations. Some orphanages also function as social enterprises, operating businesses like kitchens and grocery stores to generate income and further support their work.
3. Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees
Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees: This program caters to undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, employees of human rights organizations, retirees, and anyone interested in engaging with the work concerning Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Palestine. Getting involved in refugee assistance presents an excellent opportunity for university students and recent graduates seeking to gain experience in the human rights field.
Through this project in the West Bank, volunteers will have the opportunity to work with Palestinian children, women, and youths to enhance each other’s skills, create mutual understanding, engage in language exchange, and make a difference in each other’s lives.
The Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees in the West Bank program is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 70. People from all countries and majors are welcome to join this program. There are no specific degree requirements. All that is required is a willingness to participate and help.
4. Volunteer to Teach English in the West Bank
The Volunteer to Teach English in the West Bank program offers an eye-opening experience for those who want to visit Palestine and engage with Palestinian youth, children, women, refugees, and community members in Hebron. Volunteers will teach English to Palestinian students at the Excellence Center or local community development centers, Palestinian local schools, governmental or non-governmental organizations, and refugee camps.
Additionally, participants will actively immerse themselves in Palestinian culture, daily life, politics, and regional situations. Excellence Center hosts volunteers and interns from around the world year-round. This involvement allows you to meet international colleagues at the Center, travel throughout Palestine, and collaborate in teaching English. You will also participate in various social, educational, cultural, and community development activities in Hebron.
Suppose you aspire to pursue a career in TESOL, TESL, TEFL, or related English language teaching roles. In that case, this internship program provides an outstanding opportunity to acquire practical experience and bolster your English teaching skills.
5. Volunteer with Palestinian Children
Volunteer With Palestinian Children Program offers students, professionals, retirees, and teachers an excellent opportunity to work directly with Palestinian children in the West Bank. It welcomes anyone interested in volunteering or interning, regardless of their first language.
Those interested in childhood education can benefit from volunteering or interning with children in Palestine. Participants are immersed in Palestinian culture, daily life, politics, human rights, and education.
Volunteers can join our program for 1 to 13 weeks, with flexible start and end dates year-round. All backgrounds and nationalities are welcome to apply, but participants must be at least 18.
As a volunteer or intern in Hebron, West Bank, you will meet many Palestinian children eager to interact with visitors. Supporting their growth positively impacts their well-being and the future of their country, making a difference in both their lives and yours.
What Else Do We Include?
Excellence Center provides accommodation (whether it’s a host family for women, or a shared dormitory for men) along with breakfast each day you are at our center. We also organize trips as part of your program to facilitate cultural exchange and expand your knowledge of Palestine. In particular, we organize tours of the H2 area, which is split between Palestinians and Israeli settlers, the Old City of Hebron, the famous Ibrahimi Mosque, and Al Fawwar Refugee Camp, amongst others.
From time to time, we organize visits to the Bedouin village of Susiya, Massafer Yatta, and other nearby towns. You will also have free time, and we can help you make transportation arrangements to nearby cities such as Ramallah, Jericho and the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Nablus, and Bethlehem to ensure you see the whole vista of this fantastic country.
Develop Your Skills In A Friendly Atmosphere
There is a great and friendly atmosphere at our center between the international volunteers and the permanent Palestinian staff, ensuring you get the best of the internationalist mindset along with the immersive experience of working with native Arabic speakers. All in all, this is a fantastic program to help you develop your professional skills as a teacher, make a difference in a local community living under occupation, and have a tremendous experience for yourself, all rolled into one.
Volunteer With Us And Teach English Over Summer
If you are looking for volunteer or teaching opportunities over the summer months in Palestine, we invite you to join us from June through September. Suppose you are a university student or anyone else with a summer break, and you’re looking for an in-person teaching English experience. In that case, our summer programs are especially ideal for you. We can even provide current college or university students with academic credit towards their studies due to our collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
Join us in summer to grow your skills, gain practical experience, travel, meet people from all over the world, and immerse yourself in Palestinian culture.
The Benefits of Volunteering To Teach English at Excellence Center
There are many benefits of volunteering with us. Firstly, we are very flexible. You can choose how long you wish to volunteer for, anywhere between 1 and 13 weeks. You are also free to decide when you would like to begin and end your program.
As part of your volunteer program, you will have the opportunity to gain a range of valuable English teaching experience. Additionally, you will receive three hours of Arabic lessons per week (including all learning materials), taught by one of our excellent and knowledgeable Palestinian teachers. We also provide you with accommodation (either with a Palestinian host family or in an all-male dorm), breakfast for each day that you are at our center, and occasional dinners. Also included are organized trips to the sights of Hebron, like the famous Ibrahim Mosque, the glass factory, and the kuffiyeh factory, along with local organizations or areas of political or cultural significance.
In addition to being immersed in Palestinian culture during your time, the combination of permanent Palestinian staff and temporary international volunteers, interns, and students at our center makes for a fantastic melting pot of different cultures and influences, which ensures you will thoroughly enjoy your time here.
Finally, you will have two days off per week, leaving you with plenty of time to organize your own trips to explore the fascinating nearby cities and places such as Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. You will be able to explore by yourself or with the new friends that you will undoubtedly make here.
These are just a few of the benefits of studying with us!
The Impact Of Volunteering with Each English With Us In Palestine
With all of our volunteer programs, we aim to make a long-term difference for both the Palestinian local community and you, through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Our programs are well researched and targeted to ensure they foster shared learning for both our community and you. Volunteering is a unique opportunity for you to genuinely make an impact on your life and the lives of local Palestinian students and the wider community.
During your volunteer English teaching program in the West Bank, you will gain so much more than experience teaching English and the opportunity to grow your skills. You will have the opportunity to study Arabic and gain insight into Palestinian culture and customs, as well as the political situation in Palestine, while immersing yourself in daily life. You will have many opportunities while outside the classroom to practice your Arabic naturally and authentically, as well as engage with Palestinians while navigating your new life in Hebron.
Additionally, when you volunteer as an English teacher, you will not only be teaching students, but they will also teach you. You will have the opportunity to help students improve not only their English and communication skills, but also their self-confidence. You will be able to give students much-needed practice communicating with fluent or native English speakers, as well as engaging in cultural exchanges with them.
Reviews and Awards
How to Teach English in Palestine? – Summary
Teaching English in Palestine is a valuable and enriching experience, both personally and professionally. In this article, we have included some tips to help you find a reputable organization to work or volunteer with, as well as tips to help you prepare yourself for the trip to Palestine and entering the classroom. Whether you are looking to volunteer your time for a worthwhile cause or gain teaching experience for your future English teaching career, we offer volunteer opportunities tailored to your needs. You don’t need to be a native English teacher to volunteer with us, nor do you need prior teaching experience or a teaching qualification.
When you volunteer with us, you’ll not only gain valuable practical teaching experience that enhances your professional development, but you’ll also have the opportunity to grow personally as you immerse yourself in a new culture and form new friendships. You’ll learn a lot about Palestine and enjoy daily life with us, while also learning some Arabic. If you are a current university student, we can even provide you with credit towards your degree.
Palestine is a fascinating country with a rich history and culture, and we would love for you to experience it with us. If you are interested, we would love to receive a volunteer application from you and meet you in Palestine!
Contact Us
Tags: English teaching opportunities in the West Bank, Volunteer teaching English in Palestine, Volunteering as a teacher in Palestine
