Language Courses
Language Courses
Hebrew 001 Elementary Hebrew I
Shelli Plesser
Syllabus
This course assumes that students enter with either little or no background in the language. Typically, students begin the course without any prior study or, at most, some knowledge from after-school Hebrew programs. We begin with a review of the Hebrew aleph-bet, and quickly move to develop students' skills in conversation, reading, writing, and aural comprehension. Grammar is taught based on communicative needs. By the end of the first semester, students will be able to conjugate active verbs in the present tense, and will be introduced to active past-tense constructions; recognize and use simple syntactic structures; read and write texts with non-compound sentences. This course is taught in the fall semester only.
Hebrew 002 Elementary Hebrew II
Shelli Plesser
Syllabus This course is a continuation of Hebrew 001. Based on the skills learned in the first semester, this course continues with a similar method, developing skills in all areas of language acquisition. Grammatical stress is placed on active past tense verbs with an introduction to the future tense and passive morphologies; more complex syntactic structures; and, the development of vocabulary in specific semantic areas. Students with sufficient background may join the class without first taking Hebrew 001. By the end of Hebrew 002, students will be able to use active verbs in all tenses and will be able to converse on a variety of subjects from everyday life. They will be able to read simplified texts. This course is taught in the spring semester only.
Hebrew 063 Intermediate Hebrew
I
Shelli Plesser
Syllabus
This course is a continuation of Hebrew 002. Based on the skills learned during the first year of study, this course continues with a similar method, developing skills in all areas of language acquisition. Verb study will be taught according to the binyanim, and in general, grammar study will be more structured. Conversation will continue to be emphasized with stress on creating flexibility and elasticity in students' skills. Formal presentations will be required, and students will begin to write texts requiring critical thought. Toward the end of the semester, standard Hebrew texts drawn from literary sources will be read, analyzed, and discussed in class. By the end of Hebrew 063, students will have completed a introduction to the grammar and basic syntactic structures of modern Hebrew. They will also be able to converse on a number of topics and to discuss simple critical ideas. This course is taught in the fall semester only.
Hebrew 064 Intermediate Hebrew
II
Shelli Plesser
Syllabus This course begins the upper-level sequence in Hebrew, and will focus on developing students' commuicative and literary skills in the language. Students will begin to read literary texts as they appear in their original forms, and will begin to use critical vocabularies in discussing and writing about these texts. Emphasis will also continue in conversation and the development of fluidity in speaking skills. Several oral projects will be assigned, including student-led trips to places around campus (in hebrew, of course) and the completion of a video project. This course is taught in the spring semester only.
Hebrew 125 Advanced Hebrew I
Shai Ginsburg
Syllabus While further developing all areas of language skills, this course will emphasize individual expression in writing and speech. Grammar study will concentrate on a review of verb morphologies to gain flexibility of use in both speaking and writing, and advanced syntactic forms in writing. Several oral presentations will be required throughout the semester, including a video project and a teaching project in the lower Hebrew levels. We will also begin to look at different language registers, including newspapers, literary forms, and film. This course is taught in the fall semester only.
Hebrew 126 Advanced Hebrew II
Shai Ginsburg
This course is taught in the spring semester only.
Hebrew 183 Topics in Modern Hebrew
Shai Ginsburg
This upper level course integrates reading and listening comprehension as well as written and oral production aimed at guiding students to be independent learners of advanced level Hebrew while challenging the student's ability to process authentic Hebrew materials (written as well as aural).
The course is tailored to address the weaknesses of the particular students enrolled and activities include:
1. Discussions and exercises of reading strategies, using authentic texts
2. Clarification and expansion of thoughts about topics discussed in class and the students ability to express themselves effectively.
3. Presentation of opinions in various presentation modes
4. Cooperative work, including discussions, peer corrections/feedbacks, and student projects
5. Observation and analysis of communication styles of Hebrew using video materials
6. Regular written assignments