What to Know Before Studying Arabic in Palestine: One of the world’s most-spoken languages, Arabic can be found across the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA), as well as in many diaspora communities around the globe. Learning Arabic is a challenging and rewarding journey. One of the best ways to learn any language is through immersion.

While apps like Duolingo are great, they pale in comparison to the opportunity to speak Arabic with real native speakers and hear Arabic conversations on a day-to-day basis. Immersion offers the opportunity to develop your listening, comprehension, and speaking skills rapidly and apply them in everyday situations. Local people will be thrilled to know you’re trying to learn their language, and will gladly practice with you. 

One of the key questions many people have when they start learning Arabic is ‘Which Arabic?’ In the same way that English is spoken differently in the US than it is in the UK, Arabic is spoken differently in different places. However, there are many more distinct dialects of Arabic. Modern Standard Arabic (also known as MSA or FusHa) is a kind of universal formal Arabic that can be read and understood across countries. It is especially used in media, news, official Arabic resources like the United Nations, and for reading the Quran. Palestinian colloquial Arabic, also known as Ammiyah, is a sub-dialect of the Shami Levantine Dialect spoken across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. 

Should You Learn Modern Standard Arabic or a Dialect?

The answer depends on your goals. While MSA is read and understood widely, it is not really useful for speaking to people in everyday situations. There are a few distinct dialects of Arabic that are spoken in the MENA region, each quite different from the other. Choosing to study a dialect is helpful if you plan to live or work in a particular area.

Our Answer? Why Not Both!

Having a solid foundation in MSA can be helpful in being able to keep up with the news, and can be a great springboard into a spoken dialect – especially Palestinian Arabic which shares a lot of vocabulary with MSA. 

Why learn Arabic in Palestine specifically? Because your support helps keep our wonderful teachers in employment, and supports us to continue providing English language and community development initiatives to the palestinian community. 

Choosing the Right Arabic Program

Once you decide what kind of Arabic you want to learn, the next step is choosing the right program! Some of our volunteers have studied Arabic at universities in the United States or Australia. While this can grant a strong grammatical knowledge, these courses are often only offered for MSA and aren’t focused on spoken communication with people in everyday settings. Immersion programs, run by native speakers, are often the best way to learn. 

Usually, there will be the option of intensive or non-intensive language study. Choosing the right one for you depends on your goals. People who undertake intensive study might have a time-bound goal, where they have to reach a certain level for employment or study purposes. Intensive programs are a great way to get speaking quickly. However, they can also be very demanding – especially if you are learning from scratch! Part-time or non-intensive courses might be a better choice for people who are learning casually, for leisure, or who have no time limit on their goals. 

Some other important factors to consider when learning a language are:

• Class size: How big are the classes? In order to make the best possible progress, class sizes should be small so the teacher can better focus on your individual strengths and needs. 
• Curriculum: Does the course teach the kind of Arabic you want to learn? What topics are they going to cover? What level can you expect to be at by the time you finish your course? These are all great questions to ask your prospective study location before you apply. 
• Teaching Methods: Not every teacher is going to gel with every student, and some methods resonate with some students more than others. If possible, try to meet your teacher online first, and even do a session or two with them that way, to gauge whether it’s a good fit. 

Entry Requirements & Travel Logistics

As Palestine does not have its own operational airport, entry into the West Bank does not happen the way you might normally travel to another country. We have outlined some travel tips below to help you navigate your planning:

Visa Requirements

Currently, in order to travel to Palestine, you need to secure a visa from Israel. Tourist visas are issued on arrival at the border and can last for up to 90 days, although the immigration officer you get may issue a visa for less time than this at their own discretion. As of January 1st, 2025, you will need to fill out an Electronic Travel Authorization prior to departure. 

How to Travel to Palestine

There are two key crossings into the West Bank; a land crossing through Jordan at the King Hussein Bridge, or arriving at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport just outside of Tel Aviv. Travel through Jordan is currently highly recommended as many people have recently faced difficulty entering Israel through Ben Gurion Airport. The way takes a bit longer and is a bit more complicated, but there is generally a better chance that you will be granted entry. 

To go through the King Hussein Bridge crossing, you will arrive at Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan. To go through Israel, you will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and pass immigration. You will then take public transport to Jerusalem and catch a Service (local shared taxi) down to Hebron. For more information, please read our full article outlining entry to Palestine via both Jordan and Israel. 

We have an article outlining travel into Palestine with far more details. For more information, please reach out to our team at Info@ecpalestine.org.

Safety and Internal Travel

Travel in Palestine is generally safe, and most people enjoy their time here without any problems. Like traveling anywhere, it is important to take some safety precautions like having good health insurance and knowing the contact for the local emergency services. However, there are also some safety and security tips that are unique to travel in Palestine. 

The restriction of movement in the West Bank is a tactic of the Israeli occupation. Since October 7th and the January Ceasefire in Gaza, travel between cities in the West Bank has become incredibly difficult due to Israeli checkpoints, increased gates in and out of cities that can close at any time, and long wait times to enter or leave some areas. When you are planning your travel within Palestine, it is important to keep these restrictions in mind – a trip that should only take an hour can sometimes take over four, depending on the day. 

Due to the current security situation, we recommend you keep an eye on the news and talk to the Center staff before travelling – some places, like Jenin in the north, are currently not possible to access because of increasing attacks and deteriorating security. 

Accommodation and Daily Life

At Engage in Palestine, our volunteer’s days usually start at 10am with a communal breakfast in our kitchen. We have everything you’ll usually find on the table for breakfast in a Palestinian home – bread, hommus, avocado, tomato, eggs, za’atar and olive oil served with tea or coffee. This breakfast is an important start to the day, allowing staff and volunteers to mingle, speak about their days, and get to know each other better. 

After breakfast usually comes the Arabic classes with our wonderful teachers. The length and frequency of your Arabic classes will depend on whether you are in an intensive course or studying Arabic as part of another program. 

In the afternoon, program-specific activities occur, including teaching English at a nearby refugee camp, visits to Bedouin areas like Masafer Yatta, interactions with local journalists, lawyers, activists, and visits to local organisations. At the end of the day, volunteers usually like to go out for dinner at one of the many restaurants on bustling Ein Sara Street, sit at a cafe and study together, or return home and cook for themselves. 

Engage in Palestine has a variety of accommodation options to suit different needs. Most commonly, volunteers will reside at one of our shared flats located close to the center. There is one for men and one for women. The apartments are modern, spacious, and equipped with everything you need for daily living. Rooms might be shared depending on the number of volunteers, but it is possible to request a private room if you prefer. Another option (for female volunteers) is placement with a Palestinian host family. This immersion is a great way to experience the local culture and language. 

Weekends in Palestine are Fridays and Saturdays, while the start of the working week is on Sunday. The local public transport system consists of shared taxis called Services (pronounced Servees). These are usually quite affordable and easy to catch. Many volunteers like to travel on the weekends, taking local transport to cities like Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tel Aviv, and Nablus. Just make sure you agree on a price with the driver before you start the journey! 

Understanding Palestinian Arabic (Levantine Dialect)

Palestinian Arabic is a dialect of Levantine Arabic, which is spoken in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. While it shares many features with other Levantine dialects, it has some key differences compared to other Arabic dialects, such as Egyptian, Gulf, or Maghrebi Arabic. 

The first key difference is in pronunciation. In MSA, the letter ق (qaf) is pronounced similarly to a ‘q’ sound in English, but at the back of the throat. In Gulf Arabic, the qaf takes on more of a ‘g’ sound. In Palestinian Arabic, it is pronounced more like a glottal stop, taking on a short ‘ah’ sound. Also, in Palestinian Arabic, some letters are simplified to help with pronunciation. Due to its history and geopolitical location, Palestinian Arabic takes some influence and loan words from other languages like Turkish, Armaic, and Hebrew. 

Some common phrases used in Palestinian Arabic are:

• Hello – MarHaba
• Good Morning – SabaH Al Khayer 
• Response to Good Morning – SabaH Al Noor 
• How are you? – Keef Al Haal?
• Sorry – Aasif (m), Aasifa (f)
• No Problem – Mish Mushkila
• How Much? – Aadesh 
• Thank You – Shukran 
• Goodbye- Ma’a Salama 

Cultural Awareness & Etiquette

Before traveling to Palestine, it is important that you are aware and happy to live as part of the local culture, customs, and traditions. While there are a mix of different religions in Palestine, it is a primarily Islamic society. If you have lived in a Muslim-majority country before, this will be like coming home! If you haven’t, some things can be a bit different than what you’re used to, especially in Hebron, which is a more conservative city. 

One of the key considerations is about gender. Men and women do not usually shake hands or otherwise show physical affection in public. Similarly, it’s not really common for mixed gender groups to hang out together. Some things, like gyms, are segregated, often having open hours for men and women separately. There are also some gyms that are just for women and some that are just for men. 

Another consideration is clothing. While some other parts of the West Bank (like Ramallah in the north) are less conservative and have a heavier population of internationals, it is better to dress conservatively. For men, this usually means no shorts. For women, it is best to wear long, loose clothing to the wrists and ankles. Women in Hebron tend to be very stylish, so conservative doesn’t have to mean boring! 

Palestine is a very welcoming and hospitable place, especially Hebron. It is very common for people to call out ‘welcome’ on the street, to stop and speak with you in the street to ask where you’re from, ask for your contact details, or even invite you to their house for coffee or a meal. This is not as common in many Western countries, so it might seem odd at first, but we recommend that you just do what you’re comfortable with,  keep an open mind, and try to embrace your new surroundings.

Safety & Security Tips

Travel in Palestine is generally safe, and most people enjoy their time here without any problems. Like traveling anywhere, it is important to take some safety precautions like having good health insurance and knowing the contact for the local emergency services. However, there are also some safety and security tips that are unique to travel in Palestine. 

The restriction of movement in the West Bank is a tactic of the Israeli occupation. Since October 7th and the January Ceasefire in Gaza, travel between cities in the West Bank has become incredibly difficult due to Israeli checkpoints, increased gates in and out of cities that can close at any time, and long wait times to enter or leave some areas. When you are planning your travel within Palestine, it is important to keep these restrictions in mind – a trip that should only take an hour can sometimes take over four, depending on the day. 

Due to the current security situation, we recommend you keep an eye on the news and talk to the Center staff before travelling – some places, like Jenin in the north, are currently not possible to access because of increasing attacks and deteriorating security. 

Above all, listen to the safety and security advice from Engage in Palestine staff, and make sure to ask if you’re not sure. 

Engaging with the Local Community

Coming to spend time in Palestine is a rich and fulfilling experience. People often talk about how spending time with the local community and getting to know their stories has been life-changing. Below are some of our top tips for making the most of your stay in Palestine. 

People are incredibly friendly and will want to talk with you. Even though it can be a lot sometimes, making the time to speak with local people is a great way to learn more about their day-to-day experiences living under occupation. Everyone has a story about how it has touched their life, and living within the community is an incredible opportunity to learn more than you could online or by reading the news. 

One great way to connect with life here is to attend cultural activities and events – there is no doubt that you will be invited to do so! Weddings, celebrations, religious events, Iftar dinner during Ramadan – all of these are great opportunities to dive deeper into the local culture (and sample some delicious food) – as well as to practice your Arabic! 

Making the Most of Your Language Learning Experience

It makes sense to deep dive and learn as much as possible during your time in an immersive Arabic course. In addition to your textbooks and resources provided by teachers, there are some great ways to learn Arabic quickly. We recommend using flashcards to help learn new vocabulary, writing sentences in Arabic on topics of interest and reading them to native speakers, and practicing speaking Arabic with your teachers and fellow volunteers as regularly as possible! 

There are some great resources available to help you learn your chosen Arabic. Below are some of our favourite resources for learning and practicing Palestinian Arabic. 

• Palestinian Colloquial Arabic by Shireen Sayyad. This book is the foundation of our Arabic instruction at Engage in Palestine. It is a great resource to build a strong foundation in spoken Arabic. 
• English-Arabic Colloquial Levantine Dictionary. The accompaniment to the above textbook is a great way to broaden your vocabulary. 
• Mango Languages: This app offers learning in different Arabic dialects and has a great recording feature where you can test your pronunciation against a native speaker. 
• Kaleela: This app specialises in Arabic, offering different Arabic dialects, and includes lots of progression levels covering different topics and vocabulary. 

These tools can not only help you practice and learn while in-country, they can also help to support the continuation of your learning once you leave. Many teachers at Engage in Palestine also offer online Arabic classes, so it’s possible to continue your studies with us once you return home. 

Summary

Arabic is a rewarding and challenging language to learn. Choosing the right kind of Arabic, the right provider, and the right course for you can be difficult. That’s why Engage in Palestine makes it easy for people to come and learn Arabic in Palestine. Our range of Arabic courses suits people from any level, and our expert teachers make language learning a joy. 

Don’t take our word for it! Hear from some of the hundreds of people who have come to spend time with us in Palestine. Want to learn more? Feel free to reach out to our friendly team at Info@ecpalestine.org.

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