“I am a 20F and a master’s student in America studying Palestinian politics. I had not been in Arabic classes for over a year, and I wanted to improve my Arabic in an immersive way for a reasonable price. After searching on the internet, I found the Excellence Center.
I was worried about starting Arabic again since I hadn’t been in classes for over a year, but I was blessed to be in a class with one of the best teachers I have ever had. Haya met me exactly where I was and has helped me grow tremendously. Not only in vocabulary, reading, listening comprehension, and writing, but most importantly, I gained confidence in speaking Palestinian Arabic that I didn’t have before her class. Haya is a fantastic teacher; I can attribute much of my success in Palestinian Arabic and navigating Palestine to her. She pushed me in the best way, and everything we did in class was set up to help me succeed.
Haya is incredibly attentive and meticulous in her lessons and tailored each class to what I needed and even my interests! It is easily visible how much she cares about her students. Even now, I know I can continue to build upon my Palestinian Arabic because she set up an incredibly firm foundation for me to continue on my own. Everything I learned from Haya applied to my daily life in Palestine. I could visibly see my progress even though I had only spent four weeks in class with her.
The Center was welcoming, and it was great to be placed with a host family to have an
immersive experience. The other teachers at the Center were also incredibly supportive. They were always willing to practice speaking with me and answer my questions about the ongoing Nakba, occupation, and general things about Palestine and traveling around the country.
I traveled to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nablus during my month here. I visited multiple refugee camps in numerous cities. Even if you have followed the news and studied Palestine, nothing can compare to seeing what is happening firsthand.
I cannot speak highly enough of Haya and the other teachers at the Center. They are genuinely some of the best Arabic instructors I’ve ever had. But this is tied directly to Palestinian hospitality. This was my first time out of the United States, and I never once felt uncomfortable or unsafe. I knew that if I ever needed help, all I needed to do was turn to a random Palestinian on the street, and they would go above and beyond to help me. I am incredibly grateful for my experience here, both in and outside the classroom, and I cannot wait to return to Palestine.” by: Addison, United States
