Our intensive Arabic language program in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine enables students to learn Arabic rapidly through full language and cultural immersion. We offer year-round (spring, summer, fall, and winter) classes in Palestinian and Levantine colloquial Arabic, Ammiyya dialect and Modern Standard Arabic. We also offer Individual Arabic classes. 

Our intensive Arabic immersion courses range in length from one to thirteen weeks, and take place year-round. Whether you are looking for a short but intensive Arabic course in the West Bank, Israel, Middle East or are more interested in the full cultural experience, we can easily accommodate you.

The startup date is up to you, and the intensive Arabic course will be designed to reflect your needs, language ability and learning preferences.The classes you take will enable you to enhance your Arabic skills through a range of study options. You will be also be able to practise the language daily with local Palestinians and other students at the center.

Our Arabic intensive classes take place in the city of Hebron, where you will get to experience plenty of Palestinian culture, politics and daily life. You will also have the opportunity to see at first hand the human rights situation of Palestinian refugees by visiting local refugee camps and Palestinian villages. Visits to various Palestinian universities, factories and local families will also be organized, in order to help you engage fully with the program.

List Of Arabic Immersion Programs

We offer immersive Arabic programs here at Engage in Palestine, covering a variety of dialects and intensity levels, as outlined below:

Intensive Arabic Course Highlights

The intensive Arabic courses at Engage in Palestine are facilitated by knowledgeable teachers and dedicated student advisors, and include a wealth of cultural immersion activities. 

The Best Way To Learn Arabic Rapidly

For students looking to fast-track their Arabic language acquisition, intensive courses and our summer Arabic immersion programs provide the best option. We offer students 4-6 hours of Arabic classes per day, which provide them with a sustained engagement with the language. 

With Engage in Palestine, you will typically cover the equivalent of one semester of Arabic language study in just 4 weeks, leading to a higher language retention rate and an accelerated fluency.

A complete Arabic Immersion Experience

Engage in Palestine’s intensive Arabic courses seek to strengthen your relationship with the Arabic language through total immersion in Palestinian life and culture. 

For this reason, intensive Arabic courses are conducted entirely in Arabic, and students are encouraged to participate in the cultural activities and site visits that Engage in Palestine organises. This allows you to practise your language skills in authentic settings while simultaneously building connections with the local community in Hebron, Palestine.

Learn With A Dedicated Team Of Arabic Language Experts

Engage in Palestine’s teachers are highly-trained professionals with advanced academic degrees in linguistics, Arabic studies, education and related fields. 

Currently we have over 10 full-time Arabic teachers, all of whom are passionate about teaching Arabic as a foreign language. Having undertaken specialised training in teaching Arabic as a foreign language, they are well-equipped to pass on their Arabic language skills to their students.

Engage in Palestine has been offering Arabic language courses to non-native speakers from all over the world since 2011, and we have hosted more than one thousand international visitors.

Our Success

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 ranked as one of the top three programs in the world for providing volunteer opportunities, demonstrating our continued commitment to “excellence.” In the categories of “best language school” and “fun” and “education,” we won the community choice awards from Go Overseas.

Our inaugural “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” were given to us in 2019 to recognize the influence Engage in Palestine has had on the global travel community. Across its range of programs, Engage in Palestine continues to receive excellent reviews from travelers. 

Check out some of the many fantastic reviews we have here:

• +730 Reviews (94%) on Gooverseas.com
• +150 Reviews (96%) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Enjoy Small Class Sizes

Essential to all intensive Arabic language courses is participation in lively class conversations, and as a result, our intensive courses employ a strong communicative approach. 

Furthermore, by limiting class sizes to five students there is ample opportunity for discussion and inclusive participation, as well as individual attention from our Arabic teachers. 

Guaranteed Availability

Our intensive courses are available at all levels on a year-round basis, meaning that you are guaranteed a place on a course at the time of your choosing. 

Upon joining a class it will also be possible for you to progress from one level to the next without gaps or interruptions. 

Why Should I Join The Intensive Arabic Immersion Program?

Here are a few reasons for joining the Intensive Arabic Immersion Program in Palestine:

• Diverse Arabic courses to choose from, such as Modern Standard Arabic, Levantine (Shami) dialects, Ammiya, Classical and Palestinian Arabic, all of which use up-to-date teaching techniques in an intensive learning environment.

• Tuition from well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers with excellent educational backgrounds
• Breakfast with other participants (6 times a week)

• Support before your departure and during your time in Palestine

• Visits to various sites in the city of Hebron, including refugee camps, the old city and various factories

• An opportunity to learn about Palestinian politics and the experience of occupation in the West Bank 

• An insight into the human rights situation while helping Palestinian refugees.

• Engagement in educational, social and community activities

• Palestinian hospitality and a pleasant climate

• The chance to live in one of the most politically divisive and ambivalent regions of the Middle East

• The opportunity to visit unique tourist attractions from a native perspective, including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin and the Dead Sea near Jericho

• Access to nearby cities such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Nazareth

• A certificate upon completion

As an international student learning Arabic in Palestine, you will also have the opportunity to meet Palestinian university and school students as well as members of the Hebron community and local organizations.

Where Do Our Arabic Students Come From?

Everywhere! Here at Engage in Palestine, we are proud to host people of all nations, religions and cultures. For us there is no such thing as a ‘foreigner’, only those with unique cultural perspectives with whom we are delighted to share our time and experiences.

We have welcomed many Arabic students to Palestine from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Canada, France, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland. Our students have also hailed 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.

Is your country missing from the list? Now is your chance to become the first representative of your nation to join our ever-expanding international community.

Is The Arabic Immersion Program Suitable For You?

Still unsure if this course is for you? Here are some examples of groups who would greatly benefit from our Arabic lessons in Hebron, Palestine:

• Those who want to improve their theoretical language skills by practicing in real life situations
• University Students who want to spend a semester studying abroad for a University Credit
• People who are interested in a Summer Arabic program
• Those who want to learn about their Palestinian family heritage
• Those who are interested in reading the Quran
• Political science students who would like to work in Arabic-speaking countries
• Social workers who are working directly with Arabic speakers
• People who are conducting field work in the Middle East or in an Arabic-speaking country
• Students who are planning to live or work in an Arabic-speaking country
• Students of the Middle East, refugee law or human rights
• People who are interested in studying a language overseas

Intensive Arabic Language Courses

Engage in Palestine’s intensive Arabic courses are open to any student who would like to  learn or progress their Arabic skills rapidly. Whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student, or simply an avid language lover, these classes will help to improve your Arabic through the technique of classroom immersion.

Engage in Palestine’s intensive courses include Modern Standard Arabic, Palestinian Arabic and Levantine Colloquial Arabic. Please find more information below.

Modern Standard Arabic Intensive Courses

Modern Standard Arabic and Classical Arabic are largely considered the same dialect, except for minor differentiations in phrasing and diction. Because Modern Standard and Classical Arabic share identical vocabulary, those who enrol in our Modern Standard Arabic programs will be well equipped to understand Classical Arabic.  

At Engage in Palestine, Modern Standard Arabic is taught at eight different levels, from complete beginner to highly advanced.

 Modern Standard Arabic Course Details: >> 

Palestinian Colloquial Arabic Courses 

The Study Palestinian Arabic program is perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in the diverse culture of Palestine and the Levant or wish to connect with the wider Palestinian diaspora. Travelling to Hebron and acquiring the Palestinian spoken dialect will connect you with the region’s rich history and will better help you to understand its contemporary role in the Arab world and internationally.

At Engage in Palestine, the Palestinian Colloquial Arabic courses are available at six different levels ranging from beginners to intermediate and advanced levels. | Palestinian Colloquial Arabic: Course details: >>

Levantine Colloquial Arabic 

The Study Levantine Arabic program is an ideal opportunity to expand your spoken Arabic to include the Levantine dialect.  

Fortunately for participants of this program, our center is located in the heart of the Levant in the vibrant city of Hebron. As Levantine Arabic is one of the most widely spoken Arabic dialects, its acquisition is the ultimate passport connecting you with the Arabic-speaking world. Levantine Colloquial Arabic Course details: >>

Individual Arabic Courses

Engage in Palestine offers intensive and non-intensive private Arabic lessons in a wide range of dialects, all taught one-to-one by an Engage in Palestine Arabic teacher. As an Arabic student, you will have the opportunity to customize your Arabic course according to your needs and wishes. Our Palestinian teachers will prepare a curriculum to meet your needs, whether your wish is to study Palestinian spoken Arabic, Levantine or Classical/Standard Arabic.

Our wide range of immersive Arabic courses cover both standardised Arabic classes and specific colloquial dialects from Syria, Palestine and other regions of the Levant. As such, our Arabic lessons are suitable for a wide range of learners, from international businesspeople, diplomats and travellers to people wishing to read the Quran. Our flexible private lessons can specialise your curriculum to suit your needs and requirements.

Online Arabic Courses

Alongside the Arabic programs offered in Hebron, we also offer intensive and non-intensive online Arabic lessons taught by qualified Palestinian teachers and instructors. More information on these programs can be found at this link : Levantine and Palestinian Arabic online lessons.

Non-Intensive, Intensive And Super-Intensive Arabic Courses

All Arabic courses are available at different intensities, the level of which will determine the frequency of classes as well as the level of immersion and out-of-classroom coursework.

• Non-Intensive Arabic lessons are taught for a total of 12 hours per week, with three hours of study a day for three days each week. Learning progresses through in-class immersion as well as through your day-to-day interactions with people in the city of Hebron. We recommend students interested in a long-term program (between 1 – 3 months) enrol in a non-intensive Arabic course. 

• The Intensive Arabic course is designed to enhance any previous immersion in Arabic language and culture. These courses are held for 20 hours each week, with approximately four hours of Arabic language instruction per day, five days a week. Intensive Arabic courses include additional homework and out-of-classroom assignments.

• The third and final course intensity, the Super-Intensive Arabic program, is for those who want a completely immersive, high-intensity classroom-oriented experience. These courses offer 30 hours of instruction per week, with five hours of language instruction per day, five days a week. We generally recommend super intensive courses for those enrolling in shorter programs (1 – 4 weeks) due to the larger study load.

General Information Regarding Intensive And Non-Intensive Arabic Courses: 

• One lesson = 45 minutes
• Registration fee: Once-off registration fee of 30€
• Study materials: Free
• Placement test: Free
• Certificate of completion
• Fees include: breakfast, accommodation, Arabic classes and visits to different institutions in the city of Hebron such as the old city, glass and ceramic factories, local companies, refugee camps, public parks and local universities such as the Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University.

Intensive Arabic Programs And Study Options

You may enrol in your Arabic language course directly or as part of the following Intensive Arabic Study Abroad Programs.

1. Flexible Year-Round Intensive Arabic Courses

Intensive Arabic programs can be taken on a year-round basis. Each course has a duration of four weeks and students can continue on to the next level after passing a final exam and giving an oral presentation. 

2. Intensive Study Abroad Programs

The Study Abroad Arabic immersion programs include intensive courses, cultural activities, and trips, making them ideal for students seeking an accredited academic program to improve their Arabic as well as gaining insight into Arabic culture and society. Engage in Palestine offers the following intensive Arabic Study Abroad programs: 

3. Summer Intensive Arabic Programs 

For an immersive Arabic experience, Engage in Palestine offers the Intensive Arabic Study Abroad summer program, which includes intensive Arabic courses in addition to other non-intensive Arabic and area study courses.

| Summer Program details: >>

4. Winter Intensive Arabic Programs 

While summer study abroad programs are more popular with students, Engage in Palestine also offers Arabic Intensive Programs through the winter months. Students who wish to improve their Arabic through an accredited study abroad experience for four weeks during the winter break will be able to study in our December and January sessions.

4. Intensive Arabic Semester Or Year Programs

Intensive Arabic Semester programs are ideal for university students seeking an immersive Arabic language and cultural experience for their semester abroad. Engage in Palestine provides intensive Arabic courses through this program as well as study courses in a variety of other specialised subjects.

Assessment And Placement

With the exception of complete beginners, all students take a written and oral language proficiency assessment on the first day of classes. Teachers will then determine their placement by examining their performance as well as taking prior language study into account.

Staying With A Palestinian Host Family

Engage in Palestine also offers international Arabic students a chance to stay with a Palestinian host family with whom they can practice their Arabic skills, learn more about Palestinian culture and experience daily Palestinian life.

Homestays are only guaranteed for female students and are subject to availability for male students. We recommend that you apply for the program of your choice as early as possible in order to secure a homestay.

Traveling To And From Hebron

You will find all the necessary information about how to get to Engage in Palestine in Hebron in these four articles:

• How to fly to Palestine
• How to get to Hebron, Palestine
• Planning your trip to Palestine
• How to get from the Ben Gurion Airport, Israel to Hebron

How To Fly To Palestine?

The easiest way to get to Engage in Palestine is to fly to Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport in Israel. It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to Hebron via shared taxi. Alternatively you can fly to Eilat airport in the south of Israel and then travel by shuttle or take a bus to Jerusalem and then to Hebron.

The duration of this trip can vary from between six and seven hours. Participants can also fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan and then cross the border to Palestine. This trip, however, takes more time and is more expensive.

How Do I Get A Visa To Visit Palestine?

Most of our international participants get a tourist visa for three months when they fly to Israeli airports or cross from Jordan to the West Bank.

Generally, no prior visa is needed for Americans, Canadians and most Europeans in order to enter Palestine but please refer to the visa exemption agreement for further information. Upon your arrival at the Israeli airports of Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days. This is sufficient for participation in Engage in Palestine’s programs and will enable you to travel around Palestine and Israel easily.

Tel Aviv Airport Pickups

Engage in Palestine 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 to this trip, coming to about 150 Euro in total. Please inform us if you are interested in this option.

Frequently Asked Questions 

I want to study Arabic for a semester or a year. Are there any other long-term study options? 

For those interested in a traditional academic semester-style study program, the Academic Study Abroad Program will suit your needs. You can also of course choose to combine intensive and semester-style Arabic courses during your time with Engage in Palestine.

What is the minimum duration of the Intensive Courses? 

The minimum study duration is 1 week. One intensive course takes 4 weeks to complete, however, so most students register for a period of from 4 to 13 weeks. 

How long does it take to complete one Intensive Course? 

It takes 4 weeks of intensive study to complete a course (around 80 hours of class time). 

What if there aren’t any students at my proficiency level? 

Engage in Palestine hosts roughly 50 students every year. Occasionally we receive students who are the only ones at their proficiency level. When this happens, the student can continue taking the group courses they originally chose, at a reduced number of class hours, until more students join the class.

How To Book Your Arabic Course

Please send an email application request to Info@ecpalestine.org with Intensive Arabic Language Courses as the subject line. We should be able to respond to your email within 3 business days, and we will then send you the application form.

Find us online

Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880

Website: https://ecpalestine.org/

EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/

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Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron

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