My Experience Studying Levantine Arabic in Germany

By The Excellence Center In Europe / In Learn Arabic in Germany

My Experience Studying Levantine Arabic in Germany: “My time at the Arabic Excellence Centre in Halle, Germany has been incredibly educational, challenging and rewarding. I have spent the last two weeks taking part in the intensive Arabic course, with one-to-one lessons with Rafat every day. I had very little notice from my work that I would have the time to take this course, and consequently was only able to give Rafat little notice to organise a 2-week intensive course for me. However, Rafat Shantir was very understanding and organised my Arabic lessons and accommodation in Halle with only 5 days notice.

I am particularly interested in learning the Levantine dialect of Arabic, rather than Modern Standard Arabic. I have had a difficult time finding learning material for the dialects, and Rafat has been able to help me with this goal, both by finding a textbook for learning the dialect and also by giving me the time and space, inside and outside the classroom, to speak with native Arabic speakers. Rafat has paced my lessons well, making sure that I am always being challenged with new content while reinforcing the content I have already learned. This has allowed me to progress very far in a very short space of time. He has also given me regular assessments in order to measure my progress, as well as keeping me using the material I have learned.

The Excellence Center in Europe is not only a place for learning languages, it is a community and a family. This was made very obvious to me from the moment I arrived, with everyone welcoming me warmly and helping me throughout my stay. The staff, students, and volunteers frequently eat together, which reinforces the sense of community, as well as giving everyone the opportunity to get to know each other and to practice the language they’re learning.

While studying Arabic in Halle, Germany I have been staying with Abboud, from Syria, who is learning German at the Excellence Centre. This means that I have had the opportunity to speak Arabic for almost all of my time in Halle. While this has not always been easy, it has been absolutely necessary for my development. Abboud has been a very hospitable host, making sure that I do not want for anything while staying in Halle. I am very glad to have met him and made friends with him.

My goal in taking this Arabic intensive course at the Excellence Centre was to improve my ability to converse in the Levantine dialect of Arabic, and I have had many, many opportunities to do so during my time in Halle. I have also had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, including the Middle East, and learn more about them and their culture, as well as sharing my culture with them. I would not hesitate in recommending this course to anybody with similar goals, and my only regret is that I did not have the opportunity to stay in Halle longer.” – This Article of My Experience Studying Levantine Arabic in Germany was written by Daniel Mullaney from the UK