I'm Not the Only Lucky One...

...you too can study Arabic in Palestine! I have had people ask me what the options are for studying Arabic here, so let me lay it on you.

First, I have to give props to my teacher Issa. My language classes are through the Kenyon Institute which is a division of The Council for British Research in the Levant. Classes have just ended for this session but begin again on April 30th - June 28th. After that, he then starts classes back up in September. The class is mostly colloquial and is held two days a week. It is probably one of the better deals around at 1,200 NIS. (Approximately, $325) You can reach Issa directly at issa.faltas@gmail.com or contact the Kenyon Institute at kenyon@cbrl.org.uk

I met two cool people in Ramallah last week at an Advocacy Fair sponsored by AIDA and PNGO. The gave me info about their summer language programs that include homestays. The first was The Palestine Summer Encounter through The Middle East Fellowship. http://www.middleeastfellowship.org/pse2007

The second was Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies. http://www.sirajcenter.org/courses.htm
Both are definitely worth checking out. If you plan on just doing a short course, I would suggest going with a homestay.

There are also options through
Birzeit University http://home.birzeit.edu/pas/
Al-Quds University http://www.alquds.edu/qiss/index.php?page=about

I would suggest that anyone coming to study Arabic at a Palestinian institution should enter Israel on a tourist visa and keep their yap shut about their linguist aspirations. No need to risk getting turned back at Ben Gurion Airport--and people do get turned back.

If you're the adventurous type, I would even recommend not signing up for any course until you've arrive. There are quite a few options available that you won't find through an internet search. (That's how I found the Kenyon Institute)

As I hear of more, I'll post.