The story behind Learn Levantine Arabic Online started in 2011, when the Excellence Center opened its doors in Hebron, Palestine. In the years that followed, our educational and community work grew to include Germany and, eventually, online learning, bringing together students, volunteers, educators, and local communities from many countries.
Along the way, we have built programs in education, Arabic language teaching, cultural exchange, community engagement, youth empowerment, and intercultural dialogue.
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Today, our work links the Levant, Germany, and learners around the world through both in-person and online education. Here is a brief look at how we got here.
2011: The Excellence Center in Palestine
The Excellence Center was founded in Hebron in June 2011 to run educational, cultural, social, and community development programs.
From the start, the center has hosted international students, interns, and volunteers, while also supporting local children, youth, women, refugees, and community members.
Its programs have covered Arabic language learning, education, volunteering, internships, cultural exchange, human rights, community development, and youth activities. Together, these programs have given international participants a chance to understand local society while working side by side with the community.
2018: The Excellence Center in Europe
As our work in Palestine matured, we carried our educational and community activities to Germany.
The Excellence Center in Europe opened in Halle (Saale) in 2018, offering educational, intercultural, and community programs for both local residents and international participants.
Since opening, the center has built ties with local organizations and community initiatives and has given international participants ways to take part in everyday life in Germany.
2021: Engage in Palestine
In 2021, we added Engage in Palestine, based in Hebron, to our growing network.
Engage in Palestine offers international participants educational, social, and cultural programs that open a window onto local culture and community life. It also runs Levantine (Shami) and Palestinian Arabic programs, so students can build practical language skills while learning about the society around them.
Participants can get involved with local communities and join activities in education, youth work, women’s empowerment, community development, and cultural exchange.
2022: Volunteer in Palestine
A year later, Volunteer in Palestine gave international volunteers and students even more ways to connect with local communities.
The program centers on educational, cultural, social, and community-based work in Hebron and the surrounding area, where participants learn from local people while contributing their own time, skills, and experience.
2025: Our Arabic Lessons Go Online
In 2025, we took our Arabic language teaching online, making it possible for learners anywhere in the world to study with our tutors. Today, Learn Levantine Arabic Online carries this work forward with a clear focus on the spoken Arabic of the Levant.
Students take personalized one-to-one or group lessons with experienced native tutors and choose their course based on their level, goals, interests, and available time.
At the center of our teaching is spoken Levantine Arabic (Shami), with dedicated lessons in Palestinian, Jordanian, Syrian, and Lebanese Arabic. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is also available for students who need it.
Our students learn Levantine Arabic for many reasons, including:
- Daily conversation
- Travel across the Levant
- Family ties and cultural roots
- Volunteering
- Work and professional communication
- University study and research
- Personal growth
From complete beginners to advanced speakers, every student receives practical, flexible, and personalized lessons, wherever they happen to live.
Recognition from Our Community
Over the years, our work in Palestine and Germany has earned community and educational awards.
These awards recognize our efforts in language education, volunteering, internships, and community engagement. They belong to the teams, tutors, volunteers, students, and partners who have been part of our story.
You can read more about our organizations, along with reviews from past participants, on our Go Overseas and GoAbroad profiles.
The Journey Continues
What began as a single educational center in Hebron in 2011 has grown into programs in Germany and online Arabic courses for learners across the globe.
Our purpose has stayed the same throughout: bringing people together through education, language, culture, and community.
With Learn Levantine Arabic Online, we continue this journey by helping students worldwide speak Levantine Arabic, communicate with confidence, and build a lasting connection with the language and cultures of Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at:
Website: https://ecpalestine.org/
EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter