The Study Palestinian Arabic Immersion Program is a great opportunity for those wishing to learn the colloquial Palestinian dialect of Arabic (Ammiya), connect with the wider Palestinian diaspora, and immerse themselves in the diverse culture of Palestine and the greater Levant. This Ammiya Arabic immersion program is also ideal for those who would like to learn about this region’s rich history and culture or who wish to better understand Palestine’s contemporary situation, while it is also a good opportunity for building relationships. 

As our Ammiya Arabic immersion classes span from one week to three months year-round (spring, summer, fall, and winter), if you are seeking a short intensive Arabic course in the area of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the West Bank, Israel or are interested in the full cultural experience, we can easily accommodate you, especially as you are free to choose the timings and level of studies to suit your needs, language ability, learning preferences and any other wishes. 

Explore Palestine/Israel

During the Palestinian Arabic Program, you have the opportunity to travel independently and discover unique tourist attractions from a local perspective. Visit places like Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin, and the Dead Sea in Jericho.

Furthermore, weekends in Israel offer the chance to explore renowned historical cities such as Jericho, Jerusalem, Akko, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, Eilat, Tiberias, Nazareth, Be’er Sheva, Ashdod, and Masada. Venture to Jordan to visit ancient sites in Petra, Amman, Wadi Rum, Irbid, and Aqaba, expanding your experiences in the Middle East!

Ammiya Courses for Palestinian Arabic

Engage in Palestine offers Ammiya courses for Palestinian Arabic at four different levels: Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced. The Center offers intensive and non-intensive variations for each level. Arabic Language Ammiya courses are offered throughout the week from Saturday to Thursday, with the Center closing on Fridays.

Scheduling is dependent upon the level and intensity of the selected program, however courses are generally conducted five days a week for those studying intensively and three days a week for those in non-intensive programs. For those wishing to join Engage in Palestine in a volunteer or community service capacity, they will have the option to enroll in 3 complimentary hours of intensive Arabic per week. 

A Wide Spectrum of Participants

Studying Palestinian Ammiya Arabic through this Immersion Program should appeal to a wide spectrum of participants, with students, young professionals and retirees being just some of the likely interest groups. It will also be of benefit to those looking to travel throughout the Levant or wishing to expand their professional profile.

People who want to explore their ancestry or simply learn more about Palestine and the Levant will also find this program interesting. Additionally, Engage in Palestine is able to provide academic credit through our partnership with the Palestinian Educational Authority, so university students are especially encouraged to apply. 

Summer Intensive Arabic Programs 

Many students like to study in Arabic-speaking countries during the summer. Engage in Palestine has a program called the Intensive Palestinian Arabic Summer Study. This program has intense Arabic courses along with less intense Arabic and other subjects.

The Summer Palestinian Intensive Arabic Programs by Engage in Palestine run from June to September. Students study Arabic for 4-6 lessons each day. They also visit Palestinian refugee camps and schools, explore nearby communities, visit local organizations and businesses, media outlets, municipal offices, and infrastructure. Students get invitations to family events and local celebrations. Through these activities, they fully immerse themselves in Palestinian culture, politics, and history.

Winter Intensive Arabic Programs 

While summer study programs are indeed more popular, Engage in Palestine also offers Intensive Palestinian (Ammiya) Arabic Winter programs.

Students who wish to improve their Arabic through an accredited study abroad program for four weeks during the winter break will find our December and January sessions to be the ideal opportunity to do just that.

Online Arabic courses

Alongside the Palestinian Arabic Immersion programs offered in Hebron, the Center also offers intensive and non-intensive online Palestinian Arabic lessons, taught by qualified Palestinian teachers and instructors. More information on these programs is found here: Levantine and Palestinian Arabic online lessons.

Intensive Arabic Semester or Year Programs

Intensive Semester Programs in Palestinian Arabic are ideal for university students seeking an immersive Arabic language and cultural experience for their semester abroad. Engage in Palestine provides not only intensive Palestinian Arabic courses through this program, but also offers academic courses in a variety of specialised subjects.

If any of these courses sound right for you, you are welcome to begin the registration process immediately! Further down the page you will find all the information you need about start dates, pricing and how to register for these Arabic courses.

What is Palestinian Arabic?

Palestinian Arabic is a colloquial Arabic dialect native to Palestine as well as the wider Palestinian diaspora. With approximately 13 million native Palestinian speakers worldwide, it is one of the most widely-spoken and recognizable dialects of Arabic.

Palestinian Arabic is a subdialect of Levantine Arabic, the colloquial variant of Arabic spoken throughout the Levant. This region is located in the Eastern Mediterranean region of the Middle East and includes Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine, though broader definitions may also include Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt and a small portion of Iraq. The population of the Levant totals about 44.5 million people, with a rich diversity of cultures and ethnicities to be found throughout the region.

Palestinian Dialectal Variants

Palestinian Arabic, although a subdialect of Levantine Arabic (Ammiya), can itself  vary between villages. There are further variations originating from the rural Fellahi and Bedouin and the urban Madani tribes. 

Despite these many variants and subdialects, Palestinian Arabic remains recognizable throughout Arabic-speaking countries and the Arab diaspora. 

Why Learn Palestinian Arabic? 

The culture of Palestine is rich and diverse due to its long history, geographical position and religious significance. Palestine lies at a crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean, and has played host to at least 5 major empires. Because of its significance in one of the most influential regions in the world, Palestinian Arabic is widely spoken and understood. 

Palestinian Arabic closely resembles Modern Standard Arabic – the standard form used for writing and official purposes – making this dialect ideal for those wishing to study written Arabic or to use Arabic in professional environments. Either way, learning Palestinian Arabic is an ideal means for gaining a foothold in the Arabic-speaking world.  

Benefits of Learning Palestinian Arabic:

• To gain access to one of the most widely spoken and understood Arabic dialects
• To simplify communication while travelling throughout the Levant 
• To learn about Palestine’s diverse history and culture through language

General Information about Palestinian Arabic

What Do You Get From Engage in Palestine?

Included in your the Study Palestinian Arabic Immersion Program will be:

• Assistance from well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers with excellent educational backgrounds

• All books and learning material 

• Palestinian hospitality and a pleasant climate         
• Breakfast with other students, interns, volunteers and staff members  six days a week

• The opportunity to live in one of the most politically ambivalent regions in 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

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

• Support before departure and during your time in Palestine

• Accommodation with a Palestinian host family or in a shared flat

• 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 organisations.

Great Reviews and Community Awards

Engage in Palestine has been welcoming individuals from all over the world since 2011. While we continuously develop our programs to provide the best possible learning experience, our fundamental mission remains the same: to connect, teach and develop individuals within the local and international community.

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”. 

We continue to strive towards excellence. In 2021 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide for offering volunteer opportunities. We received the community choice award from Go Overseas in the category of “best language school”, and were also voted best for “fun” and “instruction.” 

In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Award” in acknowledgement of Engage in Palestine’s impact on the community of world travellers. Engage in Palestine continues to be highly rated by travel organizations across its range of programs. Check out our many great reviews here:

• +730 Reviews and ratings (95%) on Gooverseas.com
• Reviews and ratings (91%) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Specific Course Information

The Study Palestinian Arabic Immersion Program is available at 4 distinct course levels, with each course being offered at an intensive or non-intensive pace. The variety of Palestinian Arabic courses are designed to give students the maximum number of learning options to fit their specific language needs.

Each Arabic immersion course offered by Engage in Palestine is designed to immerse students in Arabic language and culture, as well as preparing them for the lifelong process of learning another language. Below you will find the list of courses available in this program.

Palestinian Colloquial Arabic Course Levels on Offer

1. Beginner 

The Beginners Palestinian Colloquial Arabic course is designed for students with no previous Arabic language experience of any kind. This course will introduce students to basic concepts such as the Arabic alphabet, writing systems, fundamentals of grammar, phonetics, vocabulary and common colloquial phrases. The Beginners course will create a strong linguistic foundation from which students can leap into the diverse, complex and ever-expanding world of spoken Palestinian Arabic.

2. Elementary

This Palestinian Colloquial Arabic course continues where the previous course left off, building on the student’s foundational Arabic language knowledge. This entails introducing new vocabulary and slightly more complex grammatical rules into the curriculum, as well as regular reading, writing and speaking exercises.

Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to converse, read and write about elementary subjects such as shopping, asking for directions and expressing preferences. The Elementary course is also a good choice for those who have previously studied Arabic at a Beginner’s level but want to learn the Palestinian dialect specifically. 

3. Intermediate

The Palestinian Colloquial Arabic intermediate course will introduce students to a more immersive curriculum than the previous levels. This will entail venturing into the Palestinian community of Hebron in order to communicate with native speakers and complete everyday tasks. Students for example may be instructed to purchase items from a Palestinian market, order from a restaurant, discuss preferences on a certain topic as well as other activities.

Students will also be introduced to subjects which touch upon specific issues such as culture, art and politics, and will learn the vocabulary needed to converse about these topics in a concise and well-informed manner. 

4. Advanced

This Palestinian Colloquial Arabic course will combine elements of all the previous course curriculums, maintaining the immersive nature of the Intermediate level while expanding into more complex reading, writing and spoken materials. Additionally, students will conduct research in the community of Hebron on a variety of subjects.

When all these methods and materials are combined, students will be able to establish a firm understanding of, and a grammatical competency in Palestinian Arabic. Upon completion of this course students will be able to articulate their thoughts and opinions on complex matters such as politics, history, the environment and the arts of Palestine. 

What is the Difference Between Course Intensities?

The level of immersion and difficulty between non-intensive, intensive, and super intensive courses varies. We recommend that students interested in a long-term program of from 1 to 3 months duration enroll in a non-intensive course, which will provide them with plenty of in-class instruction (about 12 hours a week) while still leaving ample time to explore the city of Hebron and immerse themselves in Palestinian culture. 

For those looking to study in less than one month, we recommend enrolling in the intensive or the super intensive Arabic courses. This level offers (20 hours for the intensive) and (30 hours for the super intensive) of instruction per week and will include additional assigned homework and extracurricular activities. The intensive Arabic program in Palestine is for anyone looking to totally immerse themselves in Palestinian Arabic while residing in Hebron, West Bank.

Which Course is for Me?

If you are having difficulty deciding on which course to enroll in, Engage in Palestine offers a free placement test to evaluate students’ Arabic language skills in 4 crucial areas: speaking, reading, writing, and listening.

We are happy to consult with you if you have any questions regarding course levels or intensities. Our contact information can be found at the bottom of this page, along with our address on Facebook and other social media platforms. 

Qualified Teachers

Engage in Palestine prides itself on its faculty and staff, all of whom are native Palestinian Arabic speakers. Many of our teachers also have degrees in related fields such as Teaching Arabic to Non-native Speakers, Teaching Arabic as a Second Language, Arabic Cultural Studies, Arabic Literary Studies and many more. 

A Unique Experience

Although the Center hosts volunteers and students from all over the world, many people are unaware of the diversity within Palestine or of its culture which stretches back thousands of years. 

This program presents students with a unique experience that is sure to change their perspectives and dispel any preconceived notions about Palestine and the wider Arabic-speaking world. Additionally, the opportunity to live in Hebron with a Palestinian host family will provide students with a level of Arabic immersion that is second to none, creating many opportunities for cross-cultural and linguistic learning. 

Are the Courses Taught in English? 

The short answer is that yes, all of our Arabic courses are geared towards English speakers. The higher the course level, however,  the less English will be utilized in the classroom.

It is also worth bearing in mind that when living in Hebron students will need to utilize their Arabic and rely on their own skills to the best of their ability, thereby creating a fully immersive experience. 

General Information Regarding Courses

Additional Information

• 30€ one-time registration fee
• No charge for study materials, including books 
• Free placement test
• Certificate of completion

Monthly program fee covers:

• Arabic courses
• Breakfast
• Accommodation
• Center-led excursions in Hebron
• Operational costs

Enjoy Small Class Sizes

Essential to intensive Palestinian Arabic language courses is participation in lively class conversations. Engage in Palestine’s intensive Palestinian Arabic courses employ a communicative approach and limit class size to five students, leaving ample opportunity for discussion and inclusive participation, as well as for receiving individual attention from Arabic teachers.

Living with a Palestinian Host Family

One of the more attractive parts of this program doesn’t occur at the Center at all. During their time in Hebron, students will have the opportunity to reside with a Palestinian host family! This valuable experience will immerse students completely in the local dialect of Arabic, as well as providing them with a rare look into Palestinian home life and culture. Students will take part in family meals, attend local cultural events, become familiar with daily life in Hebron and much more! 

However, homestay is only guaranteed for female students and is subject to availability for male, students, so we recommend applying to the program of your choice as early as possible to secure your place and homestay.

Why Hebron, Palestine?

By studying Palestinian Colloquial Arabic in Hebron, students will not only take part in the rewarding process of learning the regional dialect, but will also immerse themselves in the daily life and the unique culture of Palestine while improving their Arabic language skills. 

While living in Hebron, students will inevitably interact with the local community as they utilize their Arabic on a daily basis, whether it be in local shops, grocery stores, cafes or restaurants. Throughout the program students may become acquainted with local attendants, will speak to taxi drivers as they find their way around Hebron and Palestine and will have chance encounters with various locals. Students should not feel self-conscious about their Arabic language skills during these interactions, as Palestinians appreciate the effort foreigners put into learning their language and customs. 

The opportunity that Engage in Palestine provides to its participants while learning spoken Levantine Arabic (Palestinian Ammiya Arabic ) is second to none, placing students firmly in the heart of Arabic language and culture. Students are often surprised at how quickly they are able to learn and utilize their Arabic effectively in real-world scenarios, making use of everything from street signs to conversations with locals to develop their Arabic skills. Every day provides new opportunities for students to learn and build their vocabulary. 

Are There Any Criteria for Studying in Palestine? 

There are only 3 main criteria for applying, the first being that students enrolled in the program must be between the ages of 18-70. This age restriction may however be waived if granted special permission by the Center’s director.

Additionally, we require all prospective students to have colloquial knowledge of English and/or Arabic, since these are the primary languages used during the program. Finally, we ask all participants to have a positive attitude, an open mind, and an eagerness to learn. 

Placement Test

To ensure targeted instruction, students with prior knowledge of Arabic are required to complete a placement test after submitting their application. This test helps assess their proficiency level in Palestinian Arabic.

Which Course Should I Enroll in? 

Our free placement test will evaluate your skills in 4 crucial areas: speaking, reading, writing and listening.

Furthermore, we are happy to consult with you if you have any questions about course level or intensity.  

Can I Add More Arabic Hours to My Study Program?

Of course! Students in all our Palestinian and Levantine programs are free to add additional Arabic lessons to their program, with each extra hour costing 25 Euros. If you are interested in adding Arabic hours, please mention this in your email and we will be more than happy to organize them for you.

Summary

For anyone wishing to learn spoken Palestinian Arabic, expand their knowledge of Palestinian history and culture while residing in a dynamic and bustling city in Palestine, the Study Palestinian Arabic immersion program is for you! This Ammiya Arabic program promises to be a transformative and enriching experience for all who pursue it, as you will have the opportunity to formally study Ammiya Arabic while living with a Palestinian host family. 

Whether your reason for travelling is business, recreation, education, language enhancement, tourism, cultural enrichment, ancestral heritage or just out of sheer curiosity, exploring Palestine with Engage in Palestine promises to be one of the most rewarding adventures of your life. We at Engage in Palestine would be more than happy to have you as part of our family here in Hebron.

How to Apply

If you are interested in participating in our Study Palestinian Arabic Immersion Program, please write to us at Info@ecpalestine.org. We should be able to respond to your initial inquiry within 1-3 business days.

In the subject line of your email, write “Study Palestinian Arabic 1-13 Weeks” and we will reply with an application form attached. Please fill this out and return it to us to begin the process.

Related Arabic Programs

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