The Study Palestinian Arabic Immersion Program is a great opportunity for those wishing to learn the colloquial Palestinian dialect of Arabic, connect with the wider Palestinian diaspora, and immerse themselves in the diverse culture of Palestine and the greater Levant. 

Volunteer in Palestine offers courses at four different levels and three different intensities, depending on your needs. Our Palestinian 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. Another benefit of this program is that it is also a good opportunity for building relationships. Students may also get to reside with a Palestinian host family for a fuller immersion into the culture and life of Palestinians.

What is Palestinian Arabic?

Palestinian Arabic is a colloquial (‘Ammiyya) dialect native to Palestine as well as the wider Palestinian diaspora. It is a sub-dialect 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.

With approximately 13 million native speakers worldwide, Palestinian ‘Ammiyya is one of the most widely-spoken and recognizable dialects of Arabic. ‘Ammiyya is a term that refers to the regional varieties or vernaculars across the Arab world used for everyday speaking situations. In fact ‘Ammiyya is the first language of every Arab, as they later acquire Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) in school. Unlike MSA, ‘Ammiyya does not adhere to the strict rules of grammar and word order and often loses other structured linguistic features.

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. 

Semester Programs in Palestinian Arabic

Intensive Semester Programs in Palestinian Arabic should appeal to a wide spectrum of participants, with students, young professionals and retirees being just some of the likely interest groups. Our Palestinian Arabic Immersion Program is ideal for university students seeking an immersive Arabic language program and cultural experience for a semester abroad. It can also be a great way to rapidly improve your Arabic abilities if you are searching for internship opportunities in the future in an Arabic-speaking context. 

Additionally, Volunteer in Palestine is able to provide academic credit through our partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, so university students are especially encouraged to apply. 

How Are Classes Conducted?

Volunteer in Palestine offers international students Arabic classes that are second to none, creating a completely immersive experience for its participants. We are able to provide this due in part to its prime location in the bustling center of Hebron, which allows participants to intimately engage with the Arabic language on a daily basis. 

Our courses ensure students quickly build their Arabic skills since we use the immersion methodology of language acquisition, meaning a student’s formal studies will be reinforced by their use of the language outside the classroom in their daily life.

To cater to the diversity of our volunteers, classes are personalized, and can be offered one-on-one or in small groups, depending on availability. 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. 

Start and End Dates

Classes at Volunteer in Palestine are available year round, for any timeframe from one week to three months. However, many students choose the summertime to take language courses in Arabic-speaking countries. 

Intensive Palestinian Arabic Summer Study

For an immersive Arabic experience, Volunteer in Palestine offers the Intensive Palestinian Arabic Summer Study program, which includes intensive Arabic courses in addition to non-intensive classes of another study.

This is perfect for students on a summer break seeking an opportunity to study abroad in the months of June through August. It is also a very beneficial program to take to quickly develop your Arabic abilities if you wish to pursue internship opportunities in the future and are required to speak Arabic. 

Palestinian (Ammiya) Arabic Winter programs

While summer study programs are indeed more popular, Volunteer 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.

Are the Courses Taught in English? 

Yes – all of our Palestinian Arabic classes are geared towards English speakers. However, for the sake of immersion, the higher the course level, the less English will be utilized in the classroom. Please also keep in mind that while Volunteer in Palestine’s center is geared towards English speakers, the city of Hebron is predominantly Arabic speaking. When navigating through Hebron, students will need to utilize their Arabic and rely on their skills to the best of their ability, thereby creating a fully immersive experience.

Qualified Teachers

Volunteer 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. 

Essential to our intensive Arabic language courses is participation in lively class conversations. We 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.

Palestinian Arabic Course Level

• Beginner: This 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 work into more advanced courses.

• Elementary: This 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 completion, students will be able to converse, read and write about elementary subjects such as shopping, asking for directions and expressing preferences. 

• Intermediate: The 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 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. 

• Advanced: This course maintains 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. Students will be able to establish a firm understanding of, and a grammatical competence 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. 

Course Intensity Options

• Non-Intensive: This course load would mean students spend approximately 12 hours per week in Arabic classes. We recommend that students who are interested in a long-term program with a duration of 2-3 months enroll in our Non-Intensive course. This will provide you with plenty of in-class instruction while still leaving ample time to explore the city of Hebron and immerse yourself in Palestinian culture when not completing homework.

• Intensive: This course load would mean students spend about 20 hours per week in Arabic classes with additional assigned homework and extracurricular activities on top. For those looking to study for a month or less, we recommend enrolling in our Intensive courses.

• Super Intensive: This course load includes up to 30 hours of in-class Arabic lessons per week. This intensity is for those looking for a challenge, and for anyone who wants to make great gains in their language abilities. However, this does not account for the extra-curricular activities for which Volunteer in Palestine is well known for, and may be an overwhelming study-load for some. There is no doubt you will leave Palestine with an accentuated and advanced knowledge of Arabic after this course.

Which Course is for Me?

If you are having difficulty deciding on which course level to enroll in, Volunteer 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. 

Our location in Hebron is famous for Palestinian hospitality and a pleasant climate, with access to nearby cities such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus, and the Dead Sea. As a member of the community and international student learning Arabic in Palestine, you will also have the opportunity to meet Palestinian students and members of the Hebron community and local organizations.

Living with a Palestinian Host Family

One of the more attractive parts of this program doesn’t occur in the classroom at all. During their time in Hebron, students may 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 may get to share some family meals, attend local cultural events, and become familiar with daily life in Hebron and much more. 

Previous participants have found the time spent with their host families to be as rewarding, fulfilling and educational as their time in class. Cat, a participant from the UK, remarked that “during my stay here I was able to immerse myself in the local culture and learn a lot about life in Palestine which was [just] as important to me as the academic side. The people of Hebron are overwhelmingly generous and friendly, making my stay here a wonderful experience.” 

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.

Student Requirements

Volunteer in Palestine does not discriminate on any basis; this includes nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or by any other discernible means. There are only 3 main criteria we request from participants:

• Students should be between 18-70 years of age. This age restriction may be waived, however, if granted special permission by Volunteer in Palestine’s director.

• We require all prospective students to have working 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.

Competitive Pricing

Our Palestinian Arabic courses are priced competitively in comparison to other study abroad programs, and cover a wide range of expenses aside from mere Arabic lessons. The price of a course depends on the intensity, and is charged by the week. Tuition per week is as follows: 

• Non-Intensive: €370
• Intensive: €450
• Super Intensive: €700

All Students also pay a one-time registration fee of €30. Program prices listed on this webpage are the complete and final costs students will pay; there are no hidden or additional fees.

Program Fees Cover

• Placement Tests
• Language courses
• Study Material and Workbooks
• Housing for the duration of your stay
• Arrival and pre-departure assistance
• Operational expenses
• Breakfast 5 days a week
• Excursions led by Volunteer in Palestine in Hebron, including the old city of Hebron, local companies, refugee camps as well as local universities such as the Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University
• A certificate upon completion

How to Apply

If you are interested in participating in our Study Palestinian Arabic Immersion Program, please write to us at Info@ecpalestine.org and CC Mr. Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org.. We should be able to respond to your initial inquiry within 1-2 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.

Reviews and Community Awards

Volunteer in Palestine in Hebron, West Bank has been offering Arabic courses for non-native speakers since 2011 and we have hosted more than a thousand international visitors. Throughout these years, we have been developing and delivering many Arabic immersion programs and online lessons, using the most advanced teaching methods which we enhance year after year. 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. 

In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Award” to acknowledge our impact on the community of travelers around the world.

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

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 5 Go Overseas Community Choice Awards in this year alone! 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”. And if you still aren’t convinced, check out our many great reviews here:

• +630 Reviews and ratings (96%) on Gooverseas.com
• +130 Reviews and ratings (94%) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Conclusion

Volunteer in Palestine offers an opportunity to learn colloquial Palestinian Arabic, connect with the Palestinian diaspora, and immerse oneself in the diverse culture of Palestine and the Levant. We offer Non-Intensive, Intensive, and Super-Intensive variations for each level – beginner, elementary, intermediate, and advanced. Students can choose the timings and level of studies to suit their needs, language ability, and preferences. This program is also ideal for those who want to learn about the region’s rich history and culture, gain academic credit, or expand their professional profile. 

With approximately 13 million native Palestinian speakers worldwide, Palestinian Arabic is one of the most widely-spoken and recognizable dialects of Arabic, while still similar to MSA, making it ideal for those wishing to study written Arabic or to use Arabic in professional environments. 

Students will also immerse themselves in Palestinian culture and possibly family life if they are able to live with a host family. Students will become a member of the community and have the opportunity to see the many nearby historical sights. 

From all of us at Volunteer in Palestine, we would be more than happy to have you as part of our family here in Hebron. Apply today and begin your linguistic journey! 

Related Arabic Programs

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