Shalom Xaverim (friends),

People often refer to learning a new language as a difficult task, Hebrew (or Chinese) in particular. One of the first phrases newcomers (עולים חדשים, ‘olim xadashim, new immigrants to Israel) learn is “עברית שפה קשה” (’ivrit safa kasha = Hebrew is a difficult language), but Hebrew is a beautiful language and learning it is one of the most satisfying adventure many people experience. In this post I would like to share with you my experience of teaching Hebrew - one of the most satisfying challenges I have been facing (besides raising children).

Teaching via the internet is a unique experience. Teaching Hebrew via the internet is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Sometimes I feel like a Genie who fulfills the one biggest dream of a person - learning Hebrew. When I tell about my work (most often with bright eyes) people here do not really understand why others want to learn Hebrew. I feel that most of my students study Hebrew for emotional rather than practical reasons (although some plan to go to Israel or have a common language with the grandchildren who made aliya). They feel an urge to learn Hebrew - the language of the holy scripts, the language that was kept alive for thousands of years, the language that was revived after 2,000 years, the language of a young nation, the language of loved ones, the language of the Torah.

I meet students from all over the world - Jews and non-Jews - who make major efforts to study Hebrew. Learning a new language is not an easy task - after participating in the lessons, students review the materials, listen to the recorded lessons, trying to pronounce the Hebrew words with the guttural sounds, and practice writing from right to left. My students don’t need exams or grades because they have this inner urge to know the language, to master it.

The internet and eLearning provides many people with the opportunity to learn Hebrew in places where Hebrew schools are not present or in times that fit their unique schedule. It puts together people from different countries or continents, with different backgrounds, and of different ages to inspire each other and to learn from each other. In some classes I have students from various time zones, different professions like a physician, a truck driver, a retired person, a teacher of English as Second Language, and an artist, sitting together, each one at the comfort of their home - learning about shopping and dining in Israel in Hebrew.

I sit at home in Israel - in the holidays, I bring my students the flavor of the holiday - my children may sing the holiday songs to them in Hebrew. When we learn about the Seven Species the land of Israel was blessed with, I turn my webcam and show them the olive tree out of my window. When the lesson takes place at the break of the day, my students hear the birds waking up in Israel chirping and announcing the new day. And when we conclude our course, we often have virtual parties with virtual food and presents sent by the students and the teacher.

Last week we learned about the family - the various family relations like mother, father, grandchildren and the like. I asked my students to send in advance some family photographs. In class each student presented his or her family in Hebrew - it was a lovely opportunity to make these virtual students real - to see their pictures and to meet their families, to hear their stories and to feel their joy (at the wedding of a loved one) or worries (about the son who serves in Afghanistan). These students, who had first met the Hebrew language about 6 months ago, were able to articulate all their family relations, and express their feelings about them. I am very proud of them - I believe they feel major satisfaction.

Teaching Hebrew to young children is a different yet very rewarding experience. These young children come from various backgrounds. Their parents may speak Hebrew or have some Hebrew background but find it difficult to keep their children’s Hebrew at age level. I have been there and I can fully understand them. We used to live in the States for many years and our children were born and raised there. My Israeli husband and I spoke Hebrew at home, but the “street” is stronger - the level of their Hebrew was not satisfactory and when a parent attempts to be a teacher, it doesn’t always have positive psychological effects. Therefore, I wish I could have the option of having someone Israeli teaching my children Hebrew while we were away. It is funny, but when we lived in the States I felt that my son spoke Hebrew fluently - I guess that was what I wanted to believe in. When we watched the video tapes later on (preparing for his Bar-Mitzvah last year), we were amazed from the strong American accent and lack of Hebrew understanding he had.

This is a wonderful opportunity to tell you that HebrewOnline has just opened the registration to the yearly Ulpan for Kids. I think that it is a lovely opportunity for children (ages 7-17 years old) to learn Hebrew. The lessons are interesting, energetic and dynamic; the teachers are wonderful. The lessons are live, online, and conducted in small groups. There is no need to chauffeur the children or detach them from their computer - the lessons are delivered straight to your home computer through advanced video conference technology. You may sign up now for a trial lesson.

Would you like to share with us your experience of learning Hebrew? We would love to hear from you and publish your story.

You may watch the Aleph-Bet Song (written by Na’omi Shemer) performed in an alternative way in this Youtube page.

You may also familiarize yourself with the Hebrew letters and the transcription rules we use.

Would you like to learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teacher?
sign up now for a trial lesson at www.HebrewOnline.com