Hebrew is the language of our people. The department applies the “Bishvil Ha-Ivrit” Program, a cutting edge curriculum bringing Hebrew alive with print and digital media, and face–to-face and virtual training for teachers. The curriculum consists of six books designed for six years of study in secondary schools in the Diaspora and offers materials for all Hebrew levels, from beginner to advanced. It integrates six dimensions: language skills, subject area content, thought processes, communicative activities, linguistic grammatical topics, and genres. It is driven by the belief that mastery of Hebrew will promote students’ understanding of their history, culture, and tradition; excite them about lifelong Jewish learning; foster a sense of belonging to the Jewish people; and cultivate strong ties with Medinat Israel and Am Israel.
The program cultivates all aspects of Hebrew language learning–grammar and content, conversation and literature, poetry, songs, moral dilemmas, writing assignments, independent reading and current events. It focuses on the four major language acquisition skills–listening, speaking, reading, and writing–by immersing students in a wide range of genres and in a whole language approach to everything from classical Hebrew texts to Israeli music, and from historical documents to drama. Modern Hebrew is taught in its linguistic, cultural, and spiritual context with concrete reference to Hebrew in different periods: Biblical, rabbinic, Mishnaic, medieval, enlightenment, and the revival of Hebrew.
Active linguistic ability is built gradually from the simple to the more complex and from passive knowledge to creative activity. Technology enhances and supports learning with audio recordings, interactive technology, documentary films, and more. Students are assessed by classroom tests and unit standardized tests, involving listening, reading comprehension and writing.
During the course of each level, a set number of gateway units are covered, each devoted to a conceptual theme. Relevant vocabulary and level-appropriate linguistic concepts are introduced through the media of poetry, Modern Hebrew songs and fiction, and dialogues, non-fiction articles, and excerpts from the Tanach, the Midrash, and the Talmud. We would like to create a community of Hebrew speakers who can enjoy a lecture in Hebrew, read a Hebrew book, participate in a serious discussion or casual conversation in Hebrew, read an article in an Israeli newspaper, and write a letter to the editor in Hebrew.
This level is designed for students with no or very little knowledge of Hebrew. The Mechina offers innovative tools for learning to read and write in Hebrew while building vocabulary. Letters and vowels are taught and each student learns how to write, pronounce and understand new vocabulary words, and to use these words in sentences. The Mechina also helps students develop their speaking ability, as the sequence of new vocabulary words is arranged to help students progress step-wise in basic speech patterns. Students who complete this level will be able to speak in short dialogues, write paragraphs, memos, and assertions, read paragraphs of information or description and stories or folk tales, listen to and comprehend short dialogues, and recognize and use appropriate morphology and syntax.
Students who complete this level will be able to speak in dialogues and interview, to express and support opinions, write short notes, personal and impersonal letters, read and comprehend informative paragraphs, read short stories, poems, and a few Biblical verses, listen to and comprehend short dialogues, songs, and short informative lectures, and recognize and use appropriate morphology and syntax.
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