How to Study Arabic in the Middle East? Are you fascinated by the rich and diverse histories and cultures of the Middle East? Do you dream of learning Arabic, the fourth most spoken language in the world that over 420 million people speak? The Middle East, with its abundance of respected language schools and intensive language programs, is the ideal location for studying Arabic. No matter your level of Arabic, whether you are a total beginner yet to start your Arabic learning journey, or have previously studied Arabic, to study Arabic in the Middle East is sure to be an unforgettable and transformative experience.
From the deserts of Morocco to the beaches of Oman, there are many exciting locations throughout the Arab World for traveling or studying, such as Engage in Palestine. However, first, we must consider that while there are many exciting destinations, there are also around 25 different dialects of Arabic, which gives Arabic learners many options!
What Type Of Arabic Is Best For You?
First of all, it is important to consider what type of Arabic is best for you. The broadest distinction is between fus’ha (Modern Standard Arabic), which is the more formal Arabic used in newspapers and on television, and aamiya, which refers to the local regional dialect. Choosing which type of Arabic is the best fit for you depends entirely on your goals and ambitions whether for personal, professional, or academic reasons.
If however, you’re more interested in socializing with locals when you are in the Middle East or taking up volunteer opportunities through various available programs in the Middle East, then learning the local dialect might be the better choice for you. This of course means, to some extent limiting yourself to one region, but you will be able to branch out into a different dialect and region at a later stage if you wish.
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What Are The Most Popular Dialects?
While there are around 25 dialects of Arabic, the three main ones in the Middle East are Mesopotamian, Shami, and Khaliji. Mesopotamian refers to the Arabic spoken in the historical region of Mesopotamia – Iraq and the North East of the region. Shami (also called Levantine Arabic) refers to the Arabic dialect spoken in the Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine). While Khaliji (also called Gulf Arabic) is the most popular dialect spoken in the Gulf States.
These are certainly not the only dialects in the Middle East, but they are the most popular. There are other dialects in North Africa, although these (with the possible exception of Egyptian) tend to be quite different from the Middle Eastern dialects.
If You Choose To Study A Dialect, Which Dialect To Choose?
Each dialect of Arabic has its utility as well as advantages and disadvantages, depending on your own specific needs and goals. If, for example, your husband is from Morocco and you wish to learn his language, then learning Moroccan Arabic would be most beneficial.
If you are living in the UAE for work, then learning Gulf Arabic is much more sensible. However, if you don’t have specific circumstances like this but want to choose an Arabic dialect that will be useful and understood in a wide variety of circumstances, we recommend Shami Arabic.
Shami/Levantine Arabic
Shami is useful for several reasons. First of all, Shami is the most recognizable of all the dialects, so Shami speakers are generally understood from Morocco to Oman, even if the reverse is not always necessarily true. Additionally, many refugees around the world are originally from the Levant, so if you wish to work, support, communicate with, or befriend them in their language – Shami is the perfect choice for you. Finally, if you are interested in traveling through or volunteering in the Levant, then Shami will be a huge asset and benefit and it can open up a world of opportunities for you, both personally and professionally.
Studying Arabic In Palestine With Engage In Palestine
Engage in Palestine is an organization located in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine, with a great reputation and hundreds of positive reviews from our former participants. We offer a range of short-term volunteer programs and we also provide flexible, intensive Arabic courses from one week up to three months in duration. You can choose whether to take a course in Modern Standard (i.e. fus’ha) or in the Shami dialect, depending on your preference.
Equally, we can personalize your course to provide a mixture of the ShamiI dialect and Modern Standard Arabic as we often find university students need the latter for their course but want the former so that they can communicate with locals.
Local Palestinians generally speak in the dialect, but they may speak some fus’ha or use more fus’ha words with you if they think it will help you understand what they are saying better. Palestinians are very friendly and hospitable people, so they want you to feel comfortable. Additionally, the spoken dialect in Palestine takes around 50% of its words from fus’ha, so if you have studied MSA before, it will be of some benefit to you.
Improve Your Arabic Level Rapidly With Us
You will be able to improve your Arabic level with us rapidly, as we offer you the opportunity to take between three and six hours of Arabic language class per day (including breaks), up to five days per week. You will also have a ton of opportunities to reinforce your Arabic language skills through being fully immersed in a native Arabic-speaking environment.
Our Location In Hebron
Palestine is a fascinating place to take such a program – you will have a first-hand view of the ongoing occupation and situation with Israel, whilst learning about the history and culture of Palestine in the language of its people. In your free time, you have many options, such as going shopping, to the gym, or for a walk, or you can go to a restaurant or visit the old city or a local coffee shop to smoke argila (the Arabic name for shisha/hookah). Hebron is a large city with access to all the facilities necessary for daily life and our center is located in the heart of the city, on the busy Ein Sara Street.
Our Different Course Intensities
To cater to a diverse range of needs, goals, and learning styles, we offer our short-term Arabic programs at three different intensities, allowing you to choose which best meets your needs. It is also possible to add additional hours to your Arabic course, which will of course incur an additional cost.
The course intensities we offer are:
Super Intensive Courses
Our most intensive courses, with 5-6 hours of class (including breaks) per day, five days per week.
Intensive Courses
Our intensive courses will give you 3-4 hours of class (including breaks) per day, five days per week.
Non-Intensive Courses
If you would like to study Arabic with us but feel like an intensive course doesn’t meet your needs, consider our non-intensive courses. They will give you 3-4 hours of class (including breaks) per day, three days per week.
Study Arabic in the Middle East Over Summer With Engage In Palestine
If you wish to enroll in a short-term summer Arabic program in the Middle East, in the areas of Palestine, the West Bank, or Israel, or close to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, or Tel Aviv, Engage in Palestine has courses for you. At Engage in Palestine, we provide an immersive and friendly environment with top-notch Arabic instruction from well-qualified English-speaking native Arabic teachers.
Dedicated Summer Small Group Intensive Arabic Courses
We offer special small group intensive Arabic programs over the summer, lasting four weeks and starting on the first of each month from June through September. Our summer courses are available in each of the dialects we offer (MSA, Levantine/Shami, Colloquial Palestinian Arabic) and at all of the Arabic levels we offer. This allows you to spend as much as three months (due to visa limitations) learning Arabic with us.
What Levels of Arabic Do We Offer?
Depending on which dialect of Arabic you choose, we have between 4 and 6 different levels available for our short-term summer intensive Arabic courses. If you have previously studied Arabic before but aren’t sure of your level, we will happily provide a free placement test for you.
For Shami/Levantine Arabic and Colloquial Palestinian Arabic (Ammiya), we offer the following four levels: Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced. For Modern Standard Arabic, we have the following six levels available: Beginner, Elementary 1, Elementary 2, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, and Advanced.
Learn Arabic In A Small Group Setting
In each of our short-term summer courses, there are normally 2-5 students. Because of this small class size, our teachers can devote a lot of one-on-one time to each student. It also gives you lots of opportunities to interact, participate in discussions, and practice your Arabic, while also getting to know your classmates better. You can always meet up outside of class to study, learn Arabic, or simply hang out.
Our Summer Intensive Arabic Programs Help You Learn Quickly
The intensive nature of our Arabic courses will help you learn and develop your Arabic abilities at a rapid pace. In addition to having 3-4 hours of classes per day, five days per week, you will also have homework and plenty of free time in which to study and relax.
Our friendly Arabic teachers are here to support you throughout your program and they are well-qualified and experienced in teaching Arabic to international participants. You will also have a ton of opportunities to hear, use, and speak Arabic in an immersive and authentic atmosphere. Not only that but you will be surrounded by native Arabic speakers at our center and in Hebron generally.
Spend Your Summer Learning More Than Just The Arabic Language
A once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn Arabic as well as the culture and customs that are intertwined with the language is to spend your summer with us in the West Bank. As part of your summer Arabic program, we will take you on excursions and tours to locations in and around Hebron that are noteworthy from a cultural, political, or historical perspective, such as the old city of Hebron. This will make your experience more enjoyable, increase your knowledge of Hebron and Palestine, as well as give you more time to socialize with our other international participants.
We hope you will join us to make the most of your summer while improving your Arabic, making new friends, and having fun.
The Benefits Of Studying Arabic With Us
Students who study Arabic with Engage in Palestine benefit from a warm, friendly, and immersive learning environment. As well as classes taught by well-qualified and experienced teachers who will encourage and facilitate your learning. But, Engage in Palestine also has several benefits that go beyond this. We list a few of these major benefits below.
Flexible Course Options
Engage in Palestine offers all of our Arabic students a range of flexible options. You can decide how long your Arabic program will be, starting from 1 week and up to 13 weeks (due to the 90-day limitation of the visa). We run our courses year-round and students are free to choose the start and end dates of their course.
Additionally, as one of our students, you can choose which intensity (super-intensive, intensive, non-intensive) your course will be and which dialect (MSA, Levantine/Shami, Colloquial Palestinian Arabic, or a mix) you will study. It is also possible to extend your Arabic course after you arrive in Palestine, or would like to add additional hours to your program.
One-on-one Or Small Group Classes
We teach our Arabic classes either one-on-one or in small groups of between 2-5 students. This will depend on availability as well as your preferences and there are advantages to both.
One-on-one classes will mean that you will have all of your teacher’s attention throughout your lessons. While small-group classes will mean you have a lot of individual attention from your teacher, you will also have other students to practice with during your lessons.
In either case, our Arabic courses have a big advantage over larger classes, as our courses can be personalized to your individual needs.
The Opportunity To Engage With The Local Palestinian Community During Your Program
Throughout your short-term Arabic course, you will have several chances to engage with local Palestinian residents. For instance, your teacher may at times take you out of the classroom and into the city of Hebron, to allow you to learn, practice, and build your confidence in a real-life situation. This might include places such as a cafe, restaurants, clothing stores, fruit and vegetable markets, grocery stores, and so on.
Outside of your class times, you will also have the chance to go on tours and visits that we organize. This will enhance the immersive nature of our Arabic programs, as well as increase your knowledge and understanding of Hebron, Palestine, Palestinian culture, and daily life, as well as the issues Palestinians face. Of course, you will also have chances to practice your Arabic and get to know our other international participants better during these visits.
Some of the visits we organize are to places such as the old city of Hebron, refugee camps, local artists, the keffiyeh factory, glass and ceramics factories, various local organizations as well as other places of cultural, political, or historical importance in and around Hebron.
Your Accommodation Is Included
Engage in Palestine provides accommodation for all of our international participants for the duration of their short-term program. Female students will generally live with a local Palestinian host family. While it is usually challenging to place male students with a Palestinian host family, due to the conservative nature of Hebron, it is possible sometimes. If you are interested in this option, let us know as soon as possible. Otherwise, male students share an all-male dorm that we organize. An alternate option is private accommodation, which we can arrange for you for an additional cost.
Breakfast Is Also Included
Additionally, we provide you with a traditional Palestinian breakfast daily (except Fridays), shared with our other Arabic students, volunteers, and interns.
Explore Palestine In Your Free Time
If you are taking our super-intensive or intensive Arabic course, you will have two days off per week (usually Friday and Saturday), while non-intensive students will have four days off per week. This leaves you with plenty of time to explore and travel on your days off, either alone or with other internationals at our center.
There are a range of different local and international cities you can visit, including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho and the Dead Sea, Nablus, Tulkarem, Qalqiliyah, Jenin, Haifa, Eilat, Tel Aviv, Masada, Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Tiberias, Nazareth, Netanya, Safed, Amman, Aqaba and Wadi Rum.
Pre-Departure And In-Country Support
Traveling abroad to study or volunteer can be daunting and you probably have a lot of questions. So we provide you with pre-departure support before your arrival and then ongoing in-country support for the duration of your stay with us.
Are You Looking For Academic Credit?
If you are a current university student and would like to obtain academic credit towards your studies at your home university or college, we can offer this to you. We can do this courtesy of our partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education. If you are interested, just let us know and we can tell you more.
A Certificate Of Completion
Finally, we provide all of our Arabic students with a certificate upon completion of their program.
Studying Arabic At Engage In Palestine Has A Range Of Impacts
Through all of our short-term Arabic courses and volunteer programs, we aim to make a long-term difference for both the local Palestinian community and you. Studying Arabic with Engage in Palestine in Hebron, Palestine can have a meaningful impact on both the individual learner and the local Palestinian community.
As a student, you will gain a deeper understanding of Palestinian culture and the issues that Palestinian society faces when you study with us. You will gain this via cultural and linguistic immersion, forming relationships with local Palestinians, through the trips we will take you on around Hebron and exploring in your free time.
Through forming connections, you can have a positive impact on local Palestinians’ lives by taking part in cultural exchanges. Palestinians are very friendly and hospitable people, especially towards foreigners. All of these things will enhance your experience in Hebron and create lasting memories and impressions.
Finally, studying Arabic in Palestine will provide you the chance to develop several skills in addition to your Arabic abilities. You may hone skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability in addition to your cross-cultural communication abilities. They will benefit you both personally and professionally in a wide range of situations and contexts long after the conclusion of your Arabic course with us.
Reviews and Awards
Engage in Palestine has been honored with several prestigious Community Awards, recognized as the Best Language School and Top Volunteer and Internship Program Provider for the years 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. For more details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.
Summary
Overall, the journey of learning Arabic is an incredibly rewarding (although often challenging) one, no matter which dialect of Arabic you choose to learn. While we think the Levantine or Shami dialect of Arabic is a great well-rounded dialect to learn, another dialect may be a better choice for you, depending on your circumstances, needs, and goals. Choosing to study Arabic in the Middle East is one way to make your Arabic journey much more exciting, and enriching as well as progress faster.
We invite interested prospective students to study either MSA, Shami, or Colloquial Palestinian Arabic with us in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine. If you are looking to study Arabic in the Middle East, in the region of Palestine, the West Bank, or Israel, and nearby Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, or Bethlehem, we offer high-quality individual or small group Arabic courses at a competitive price.
There are many ways Arabic students can benefit from our short-term flexible Arabic courses. In addition to well-qualified and attentive native Arabic teachers, we offer a range of other benefits and inclusions such as daily breakfast (except Fridays), accommodation, and excursions in and around Hebron.
Whether you are a total beginner, an advanced learner, or anywhere in between, we have the right courses for you. So we invite you to pack your bags and get ready to have an unforgettable experience that will teach you so much more than just the Arabic language.
We look forward to welcoming you to Engage in Palestine at some point shortly!
Find Out More
Should you have any further questions on how to study Arabic in the Middle East, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
WhatsApp:+972 599 479 880
Website: https://ecpalestine.org/
EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/
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