Hebrew Courses
For students with no previous knowledge and those with a minimal background. Intensive training in the basics of Hebrew grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Usually offered every semester. Four class hours per week with additional half-hour to practice speaking skills.
A beginner course for those students with some previous exposure to Hebrew. Builds upon the initial exposure, continuing to teach the basics of grammar, vocabulary, speaking, and writing. Usually offered every fall. Four class hours per week with additional half-hour to practice speaking skills.
Continuation of HBRW 10a, employing the same methods. Intensive training in Hebrew grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Prerequisite: HBRW 10a 0r HBRW 19a, or the equivalent as determined by placement examination. Several sections offered every semester. Four class hours per week with additional half-hour to practice speaking skills.
An intermediate Hebrew course for students who have acquired an intermediate level of Hebrew and who wish to develop greater fluency in conversation. Prerequisite: HBRW 20b or equivalent as determined by placement exam. Yields half-course credit; does not satisfy the core world language requirement or general university foreign language requirement. Does not meet requirements for Hebrew minor or NEJS major/minor.
Continuation of HBRW 20b. A beginner- intermediate level course that helps students strengthen their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Contemporary cultural aspects will be stressed and a variety of materials will be used. Usually offered every semester. Prerequisite: Any 20-level Hebrew course or the equivalent as determined by placement examination. Four class hours per week with additional half-hour to practice speaking skills. [fl]
An Advanced Intermediate Hebrew course for students who have acquired an intermediate level of Hebrew and who wish to develop greater fluency in conversation with emphasis on aspects of Israeli Culture. Usually offered every second year. Four class hours per week with additional half-hour to practice speaking skills.Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or the equivalent.
Reinforces the acquired skills of speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing at the intermediate level. Contemporary cultural aspects are stressed; conversational Hebrew and reading of selections from modern literature. Usually offered every semester. Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or the equivalent. [fl hum]
An advanced-intermediate conversation course for students who wish to improve their speaking skills. Role playing, vocabulary building, and guided speaking activities develop conversational skills for various situations. Reading and discussion of contemporary texts, based on the popular Israeli TV series, "Yellow Peppers", assist in vocabulary building. Usually offered every year. Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. [fl oc]
An advanced-intermediate conversation course for students who wish to improve their speaking skills. Role playing, vocabulary building, and guided speaking activities develop conversational skills for various situations. Reading and discussion of contemporary texts, based on the popular Israeli TV series, "Yellow Peppers", assist in vocabulary building. Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. [fl hum oc]
Provides students with tools and competence to deal with the Israeli business community. For advanced-intermediate Hebrew students who wish to gain cultural understanding and business language speaking skills. Usually offered every second year. Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. Does not meet the requirement in the school of humanities.
Focuses on critical reading and analysis of authentic and contemporary Israeli short plays and studying the comparison between plays in Israel and those in the U.S. We will examine theories in aspects of drama and implement drama techniques including improvisation, movement, and creative expression. Readings cover topics such as social diversity and justice, as well as human rights and awareness of world identities. This course cumulates in the writing of an original scene or one-act play in Hebrew. Usually offered every second year. Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. [ca djw fl hum oc wi]
For advanced-intermediate students who wish to enhance their language proficiency and work toward improving fluency and communication through analysis of selected materials covering literature, poetry, history, politics, and art that depict the unique tradition and culture of Jerusalem. Usually offered every fall. Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. [djw fl hum wi]
In this course, Israeli media, films, clips from TV shows (e.g. Srugim), and on-line resources will be used to promote discussion, enhance oral communication skills, and also broaden cultural awareness and understanding of diverse societal perspectives. Usually offered every second year. Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. [fl hum wi]
Promotes cultural awareness and global understanding through the reading and analysis of plays. Student creativity develops through participation in acting and creative writing assignments. Usually offered every second year. Prerequisite: Any 30-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. [ca djw fl hum oc wi]
An advanced course that surveys the origins of the Hebrew language and its development throughout the centuries, focusing on its major stages (biblical, rabbinic, medieval, and modern). Explores the unique phenomenon of its revival as a spoken language and its adaptation to the modern world. Usually offered every second year. Prerequisite: Any 40-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. [dl fl hum]
Introduces students to various aspects of Israeli society as portrayed in Israeli films and TV. In addition to viewing films, students will be asked to read Hebrew background materials, to participate in class discussions, and to write reviews and criticism about the films. The course prepares students to deepen their analytical skills in order to gain broader understanding and intercultural knowledge as well as transform their personal and global thinking. Usually offered every second year. Prerequisite: Any 40-level Hebrew course or permission of the instructor. [deis-us djw fl hum wi]
For graduate students, Hebrew Practicum or Readings in Assessing the Learning and Teaching of Hebrew. For more information, email hebrew@brandeis.edu
Surveys the core theory-based methodologies for teaching Hebrew as a second/world language, focusing on the power of Hebrew to impact the world view of its learners by contextualizing it in its ideological origins and its connections to the array of the cultures it represents.
The role of a language educator is to provide learners with opportunities to learn. Mastering the core principles that are the foundations in the field of language acquisition (SLA) allows educators to maximize the learning opportunities for their learners in real time. Therefore, we will focus on both the “why” and the “how” in the teaching of Hebrew including the historical and the cultural background of the language and its role in the creation of the state of Israel.
The course will incorporate hands-on, experiential components, which will allow participants to acquire the fundamental tool box that each Hebrew educator should own, as well as to develop their skills to innovate and create their own methods for teaching Hebrew to learners from different age groups. Usually offered every year. Prerequisite: Proficiency in Hebrew.