If you’re searching for where to study Palestinian Colloquial Arabic, look no further than Volunteer in Palestine. We offer one of the best Arabic language programs in Palestine, making us a top choice for learners worldwide. Situated in the vibrant city of Hebron, an affordable and culturally rich destination in the West Bank, our school provides an ideal environment to immerse yourself in the Ammiya Arabic dialect, a branch of Levantine Arabic spoken throughout Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Hebron’s unique location near the Israeli Occupation offers a rare opportunity to witness the Israeli-Palestinian conflict up close. However, the city remains relatively safe, with peaceful streets that you can navigate even at night. While conflicts do occur, they are typically confined to specific areas, allowing you to avoid them with a bit of caution. As an international visitor, you will gain access to places that are off-limits to many locals, giving you a deeper and more nuanced understanding of life in Palestine.
Why Study Palestinian Colloquial Arabic?
Volunteer in Palestine welcomes you to join any of their Palestinian Arabic Language Programs in the West Bank. It is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in learning the colloquial Palestinian dialect of Arabic, connecting with the larger Palestinian diaspora, and immersing themselves in the unique culture of Palestine and the Levant. These programs are also ideal for people who want to learn about the region’s rich history and culture, have a deeper understanding of Palestine’s current predicament, and better create impactful relationships.
There Are Four Main Levels of Courses
Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of Palestinian Colloquial Arabic language courses are all available at Volunteer in Palestine. For each level, the Center also provides both intense and non-intensive versions. Saturday through Thursday are the days of the week when language classes are provided; Fridays are the only days the Center is closed. The level and intensity of the chosen program will determine the scheduling, but generally speaking, classes are held three days per week for students in non-intensive programs and five days per week for those who are studying intensely. Those who want to work with Volunteer in Palestine in a volunteer or community service role will have the choice to sign up for 3 hours of free weekly intensive Arabic courses.
To provide students with a top-notch completely immersed experience, they will also be placed with a Palestinian host family throughout their time in Hebron. This will guarantee that students use Arabic constantly, thereby extending their education outside of the classroom and into the home. Additionally, this type of lodging provides students with an exceptional chance to get a closer look into Palestinian culture and daily living.
Students, recent graduates, working adults, retirees, and anybody in between are all excellent candidates for the Study Palestinian Arabic Program. This program will be entertaining and instructive for anybody who wants to learn more about Palestine and the Levant or who wants to travel around the Levant, further, their professional careers, discover their heritage, or just learn more. University students are particularly encouraged to apply because Volunteer in Palestine may also offer academic credit thanks to our collaboration with the Palestinian Educational Authority.
What Makes It Special to Study Palestinian Colloquial Arabic?
Palestinian Arabic is a regional Arabic dialect that is indigenous to Palestine and the larger Palestinian diaspora. It is one of the most widely spoken and identifiable dialects of Arabic, with over 13 million native Palestinian speakers worldwide.
Levantine Arabic, the regional dialect of Arabic spoken throughout the Levant, is the parent language of Palestinian Colloquial Arabic, which is a sub-dialect. In larger definitions, this region may also include Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, and a tiny piece of Iraq. It is situated in the Eastern Mediterranean of the Middle East and often includes Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. The Levant has a population of 44.5 million, representing a wide range of cultures and ethnicities.
Variants of Palestinian Dialects
While being a sub-dialect of Levantine Arabic, Palestinian Colloquial Arabic can vary considerably, even within villages. Palestinians’ regional and social backgrounds have a significant impact on the dialect they speak. Urban (madani), rural (falahi), and bedouin dialects are the three primary different types. Even with all of these variations and sub-dialects that make up Levantine Arabic, spoken Palestinian Arabic is still easily distinguishable throughout the Arab diaspora and in all Arabic-speaking nations.
- Madani: Palestinian Urban Dialect.
The urban dialect of Palestine (madani) is similar to the northern Levanitinan Arabic that is spoken in Lebanon and Syria. The “hamza” pronunciation of the Arabic “qaf” sound makes the urban accent most famous.
- Falahi: Palestinian Rural Dialect
Arabic spoken by farmers or peasants (falahi) has a close connection with rural dialects in Lebanon and the outer southern Levant. Male and female plural pronouns may be distinguished from one another easily.
- Bedouin: Old Palestinian Arabic
Native to the deserts of the Middle East Bedouin Arabic is most commonly seen and heard within the Gaza Strip, Hebron, and Jerusalem. It is fairly simple to distinguish them from any other dialect in Palestine because of their distinctive vocabulary and preservation of interdental consonants. The Bedouin dialect is the oldest in the region and is still in use and spoken by Bedouins today.
Why Learn Palestinian Arabic?
Due to its lengthy history, unique geographic location, and religious significance, Palestine has one of the richest and most diversified cultures in the whole world. Palestine, which has hosted at least five significant empires, is situated at the confluence of many continents, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean. A very simple reason why to study Palestinian Colloquial Arabic is that it is well-known and extensively spoken due to its importance in one of the most significant locations in the world.
Palestinian Arabic is the best dialect for anyone who wants to read more Arabic literature or use it professionally because it is also very similar to Modern Standard Arabic, the standard version used for writing and official reasons. Learning Palestinian Arabic is one of the finest methods to integrate into the Arabic-speaking community, regardless of your situation.
Learning Palestinian Arabic Has Many Advantages:
- Gain knowledge of one of the Arabic dialects that is most often spoken and understood.
- You will be able to travel around the Levant with ease.
- Language can also help you understand more about Palestine’s complex history and culture.
General Information about Palestinian Arabic
Number of Native Speakers | Approximately 13 million |
Language Family | Afro-Asiatic > Semitic |
Dialects | FellahiMadani |
Writing system | Arabic alphabet |
Course Levels on Offer
Beginner
Students with absolutely no prior knowledge of the Arabic language are ideal for the Beginner course. The Arabic alphabet, writing systems, principles of grammar, phonetics, common vocabulary, and everyday expressions are just a few of the key components that this course will present to the students. The Beginner Palestinian Colloquial Arabic course will provide students with a strong linguistic foundation to learn spoken Palestinian Arabic from which they may delve into the rich, diverse, and continuously evolving world of spoken Palestinian Arabic.
Elementary
This course aims to build on the student’s existing understanding of the Arabic language at the fundamental level. This calls for the inclusion of new vocabulary and a mix of grammatical rules that are a little more sophisticated in the curriculum, in addition to frequent reading, writing, and speaking assignments. Students who complete this course will be able to communicate, read, and write about everyday topics including shopping, asking for directions, and expressing preferences. For people who have taken beginner Arabic classes before but wish to focus on learning the Palestinian dialect, the Elementary course is an excellent option.
Intermediate
Students will be introduced to a more intensive curriculum in the intermediate course than in the previous levels; this will involve traveling to the Palestinian neighborhood of Hebron to interact with locals and carry out daily duties. Students can be asked to make purchases from a Palestinian market, place a restaurant order, talk about their views on a certain subject, or engage in other informal activities. Additionally, students will be introduced to themes in class that deal with certain concerns, such as politics, art, and culture, and they will gain the terminology required to further discuss these topics clearly and knowledgeably.
Advanced
This course will incorporate all of the previous course curricula, retaining the immersive aspect of the Intermediate level while also extending into more advanced reading, writing, and spoken content. In addition, students will perform research on several topics in the Hebron community. Students will be able to build a strong grasp and grammatical proficiency in Palestinian Colloquial Arabic by combining all of these approaches and materials. Students will be able to explain their views and opinions on difficult issues including politics, history, the environment, and Palestinian arts after completing this course.
What is the Difference Between Course Intensities?
Intensive and non-intensive courses provide varying degrees of immersion and challenge. We advise students who are interested in a long-term program of 1-3 months to enroll in a non-intensive course, which will give them plenty of in-class instruction (roughly 12 hours per week) while still leaving them with plenty of time to explore the city of Hebron and fully immerse themselves in Palestinian culture.
We advise enrolling in the intense Arabic classes for individuals wishing to complete their studies in less than a month; this level will involve 20 hours of teaching per week in addition to additional allocated homework and extracurricular activities. Anyone seeking to completely immerse oneself in Palestinian Colloquial Arabic while simultaneously living in Hebron can enroll in the Arabic language immersion program.
Online Palestinian Arabic Programs
We provide online intense and non-intensive Palestinian Arabic courses taught by certified Palestinian teachers and instructors in addition to the Arabic programs provided in Hebron. You can click on this link to learn more about these programs: Levantine and Palestinian Arabic online lessons.
Which Course is for Me?
Volunteer in Palestine offers a free placement exam to assess students’ Arabic language proficiency in four important areas: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. If you’re having trouble picking which course to enroll in, take it. If you have any inquiries about the difficulty or intensity of the courses, we are always delighted to speak with you. You may find our contact information, our Facebook page, and links to our other social media pages at the bottom of this page.
Program Fees Cover:
- Language courses
- Housing
- Operational expenses
- Breakfast
- Group excursions
Qualified Teachers
The instructors and employees at Volunteer in Palestine are all native Palestinian Arabic speakers. However, a large number of our instructors also hold a variety of degrees in subjects that are closely connected. These go from teaching non-native speakers of Arabic, to teaching Arabic as a second language, Arabic cultural studies, Arabic literary studies, and many more.
A Unique Experience
Although the Center welcomes volunteers and students from all over the world, many individuals have only a cursory awareness of a culture that dates back thousands of years and are ignorant of the variety inside Palestine. Students who participate in this program will engage in a singular experience that guarantees to shift viewpoints and refute any preconceptions they may have about Palestine and the larger Arabic-speaking world. Moreover, the chance for students to live in Hebron with a Palestinian host family would provide them with an unrivaled degree of Arabic immersion, opening up numerous chances for cross-cultural study and linguistic immersion.
Are the Courses in English?
The simple answer is yes, all of our Arabic courses are designed with English speakers in mind. The higher the course level, however, the less English is present in the classroom for immersion purposes. Please bear in mind that to properly immerse themselves in the experience, students will need to use their Arabic as well as their talents to the best of their ability when traveling through Hebron.
General Information Regarding Courses
Colloquial Palestinian Arabic Courses | Intensive Program | Non-Intensive Program |
Program Duration | 1-12 weeks | 1-12 weeks |
Lessons Per Week | 20 | 12 |
Days Per Week | 5 | 3 |
One Teaching Hour | 45 minutes | 45 minutes |
Average Class Size | 1-3 students | 1-3 students |
Maximum Class Size | 3 students | 3 students |
Program Levels | Beginner Elementary Intermediate Advanced | Beginner Elementary Intermediate Advanced |
Lesson Periods | Morning 8:30-12:30 Afternoon 12:30-16:00 | Morning 8:30-12:30 Afternoon 12:30-16:00 |
Program Fee Per Week | Click Here | Click Here |
Start/End Dates | Flexible | Flexible |
University Credit | Available | Available |
Additional Pertinent Information
- No charge for study materials including books
- Free placement test
- Certificate of completion
- The monthly program fee covers:
- Arabic courses
- Breakfast
- Housing
- Center-led excursions in Hebron
- Operational costs
Where Else Can You Study Palestinian Colloquial Arabic in Palestine?
The West Bank is one of the best choices for studying Arabic. Palestinians love meeting new people, introducing their Arabic culture, and supporting students in any way they can. Furthermore, the spoken Arabic in Palestine is Levantine Arabic, which is the closest to Modern Standard Arabic. This is why it makes Palestine a great place to study Arabic. Additionally, there are many intensive Arabic programs with great reviews at affordable prices. Below, we will offer some of the best language centers and organizations that offer Arabic lessons in Palestine.
For those looking to engage and study Arabic in Palestine in more ways than just school, and perhaps combine that with Arabic language learning, there are a few other language schools that you should check out:
1. Travel to Palestine
The Travel to Palestine organization aims to enable tourists to come to Palestine and experience its rich culture. This is a land rich with history, hospitality, and generous people, and you can experience all of that through the Travel to Palestine organization. They offer intensive Palestinian Arabic courses as well as online lessons.
2. Excellence Center
The Excellence Center in Palestine has the experience of more than 13 years of offering Arabic programs (Levantine Arabic, Modern Standards Arabic as well as Ammiyya Arabic) for nonnative speakers in the West Bank, founded in Hebron in 2011, serves as a language school offering Arabic language education to international students, interns, and volunteers. It also provides cultural immersion activities and community development services to Palestinian children, refugees, youth, women, and community members in Hebron.
3. Salam Palestine
Salam Palestine, a community project in Hebron, Palestine, works with international volunteers to facilitate social and community development initiatives. Through workshops, events, and outreach programs, volunteers collaborate with residents to promote cultural exchange and improve social cohesion. The Center offers super intensive, intensive, and non-intensive Arabic courses for people who would like to stay for 1-13 weeks.
4. Engage In Palestine
Engage in Palestine, based in Hebron, offers immersive experiences for international students who would like to go to Palestine and study Arabic in the West Bank, it is known for its Levantine (Shami) and Palestinian Arabic intensive lessons. Through diverse Arabic programs, participants engage in educational, social, and cultural initiatives, working alongside residents to support youth empowerment, women’s initiatives, and the well-being of Palestinian refugees.
5. Volunteer In Palestine
Volunteer in Palestine offers Levantine, Palestinian, and Modern Standard Arabic courses at different levels such as super-intensive, intensive immersion as well as non-intensive programs for anyone interested in studying Arabic in the West Bank, Palestine. The organization has a lot of reviews and is famous for its community development programs.
6. Study In Palestine
Study in Palestine offers a broad range of options to include intensive Arabic courses and summer Arabic programs at multiple levels. These Arabic programs cover super-intensive, intensive immersion, and non-intensive Arabic choices, designed for those looking to study Levantine (Shami Arabic), Palestinian dialects, and Modern Standard Arabic in the West Bank, Palestine.
Reviews and Awards
Volunteer in Palestine has been offering its services since 2011. Throughout the years, we have been developing many in-person and online courses to study Palestinian Colloquial Arabic. We use the most advanced methods which we develop and enhance year after year. Education and learning through volunteering is an active process. It is always advancing, and you will be part of the development.
Despite continuous program improvements for the best learning experience, our core goals remain the same. We focus on connecting, teaching, and developing individuals for the benefit of them and the community. Additionally, we aim to promote and encourage exchange in the local and international communities.
We continue to strive towards excellence:
In 2022, we ranked as “one of the top three organizations worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities”. We also ranked as “one of the top three language schools worldwide” by Go Overseas. We also received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards. Among others, Volunteer in Palestine earned recognition as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits”. Besides that, we were also one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”.
In 2021, we were one of the top three volunteer programs in the world. Go Overseas awarded us the community choice awards in the categories of “best language school”, “fun”, and “teaching”.
In 2019, we received our inaugural “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards”. This award was a recognition of Volunteer in Palestine’s positive effect on the global travel community. You can check our ratings below.
- +800 Reviews and ratings (96.8%) on gooverseas.com
- +160 Reviews and ratings on goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
How to Apply to Study Palestinian Colloquial Arabic?
Please send an email to Info@ecpalestine.org if you want to join our Study Palestinian Arabic Program. Within one to three business days, we should reply to your initial query.
Please write “Study Palestinian Colloquial Arabic” in the email subject line. We will get back to you with an application form attached. To start the onboarding procedure, please fill out this form and send it back to us.
In Conclusion
Our Arabic immersion programs in Palestine are for anybody who wants to study spoken Palestinian Arabic, deepen their understanding of Palestinian history and culture, and live in a vibrant and busy city in Palestine. This Arabic program promises to be a life-changing and enlightening experience. This is because it gives you the chance to formally learn Ammiya Arabic while residing with a Palestinian host family.
For those who want to learn Arabic, get in touch with the greater Palestinian diaspora, and also become fully immersed in the unique customs of Palestinian culture and the Levant, Volunteer in Palestine in the West Bank provides a unique opportunity. People who wish to gain a greater knowledge of Palestine’s present situation, learn more about the region’s rich history and culture, and build more meaningful connections can take advantage of these programs.
One of your life’s most rewarding journeys awaits you at Volunteer in Palestine. Would you like to join our family here in Hebron? We at Volunteer in Palestine would be more than glad to welcome you. Start your language adventure by applying right away!
Find Out More
Do you have any questions? Then please do not hesitate to contact us: Info@ecpalestine.org and on Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880. We look forward to hearing from you!
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