How to Teach the Hebrew Language
Hebrew is an increasingly popular choice for a foreign language for school children. Not only is it a language with a rich religious history--which appeals to many who home-school for religious reasons--but it is a language that is spoken in a dynamic technological society. There are plenty of materials, online and elsewhere, to make teaching Hebrew easier than it might seem.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Start with the alphabet. The Hebrew alphabet is particular to the language, so anyone who learns Hebrew starts with the alphabet. First teach the basic letters and, only when this is mastered, teach the diacritical marks. It is a good idea to teach the ancient numbering system--where the first nine letters of the alphabet represent the digits--as this helps fix the letters in the mind. Flash cards are a very helpful aid for most students. Flash cards make it possible to study anywhere--even while standing in line or waiting for class to start.
-
2
Use online resources for teaching Hebrew. For beginners, the Akhlah site teaches the alphabet in several different forms and includes sounds so the learner can associate sounds with the letters. For intermediate students, the NBN Ulpan site provides books, software, podcasts, dictionaries and online grammar lessons. For the advanced student the Columbia University Free Online Hebrew lessons provide excellent portals into news services, online learning programs and other advanced resources.
-
-
3
Subscribe to an easy-to-read Hebrew newspaper like Bereshit or Yanshuf. The good thing about newspapers is that they contain short topical articles that change every day. Because of their nature, newspapers tend to be read immediately as they will not be around like books. This gives newspapers a sense of urgency that helps with the learning process. The articles are easy to follow, as the stories are already known--they are on TV, radio and in conversations.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It is important to impress on your students that the human mind is uniquely disposed to learn language. They should not try to acquire language by memorizing words and grammar. They should expose themselves to the language and let it sink into your subconscious. Going to Hebrew language movies or listening to Hebrew radio will help them get used to the rhythm and sounds of the language at a subconscious level--even if they can not understand every word. Exposure leads to fluency.
Do not go too fast. It is important to solidify and internalize each level before going on. Language is a cumulative process, and it does not matter how fast you learn to get it almost right. Take the time to do it correctly, with plenty of practice at every level.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit hebrew letters and prayer books image by leprechaun from Fotolia.com
