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Brandeis Modern Hebrew

Hebrew in Context

Vardit Ringvald, Bonit Porath, Yaron Peleg, Esther Shorr, and Sara Hascal

Written by the core faculty of the Hebrew Program at Brandeis University, Brandeis Modern Hebrew is an accessible introduction to the Hebrew language for American undergraduates and high school students. Its functional and contextual elements are designed to bring students from the beginner level to the intermediate level, and to familiarize them with those linguistic aspects that will prepare them to function in advanced stages. This volume reflects some of the main principles that have shaped the Brandeis Hebrew curriculum during the past decade. These include: • an emphasis on the learner’s ability to use the target language in all four skills areas: speaking, listening, reading, and writing • an effort to contextualize each unit within a specific subject or theme • exposing the student to authentic and semi-authentic materials (texts written by native speakers) • exploring different elements from Israeli and Jewish culture in the language drills, reading passages, and in selections of sources from the Hebrew literary canon The text in this edition comprises a short introduction to the instructor, 11 units, supplementary Hebrew proficiency guidelines, and a vocabulary list. Audio-visual components for all reading passages are available online for download.

PDF: $85 | Paper: $85
ISBN-13: 9781684580552
Date Published: July 1, 2003
Screenshot-2023-10-11-at-16.51.58

A remarkably fun textbook to read through.

Jewish Eye

Reviews

  • “Brandeis Modern Hebrew” is a good textbook, containing valuable material. Students are given suitable directions for completing tasks. The book is effective in reaching its goals in terms of subject matter, functions and grammatical complexity.

    Hebrew Higher Education
  • A remarkably fun textbook to read through. But, most important, it is one that will provide you with a solid foundation in all areas of Modern Hebrew, with a heavy emphasis on learning proper Hebrew grammar and the various verb forms.

    Jewish Eye
  • “Brandeis Modern Hebrew” maximizes the students’ ability to advance quickly and to become proficient in all four language skills. It provides a strong grammatical foundation and creatively contextualizes the Hebrew language in Jewish and Israeli culture and literary traditions. It is bound to become the standard textbook for Hebrew language study on American college and university campuses.

    Esther Robbins
    Princeton University
  • “Brandeis Modern Hebrew” offers a fresh perspective on learning Hebrew in a university setting. The exercises promote speaking and the vocabulary is useful in real-life situations. This is the first Hebrew textbook that enables the teacher to integrate fully the communicative approach in the classroom. Following ACTFL guidelines, “Brandeis Modern Hebrew” meets Stanford University’s first-year language standards.

    Vered Shemtov
    Stanford University
  • “Brandeis Modern Hebrew” is a pleasure to teach with. This innovative program incorporates the study of Modern Hebrew with Israeli culture and history. The graphics add to student interest and understanding. I am very satisfied with the progress my students are making with this textbook and its CD.

    Ellen C. Rothfeld
    Michigan State University

About the Author

Esther Shorr

Esther Shorr is Senior Lecturer in the Hebrew program at Brandeis University, where she has taught a variety of Hebrew courses specializing in beginning and intermediate levels. She also teaches at the Brandeis Hebrew Language Summer Institute and at the Middlebury School of Languages in Middlebury, Vermont.

Vardit Ringvald

Vardit Ringvald is director of the Institute for the Advancement of Hebrew and director of the School of Hebrew at Middlebury College.

Bonit Porath

Bonit Porath has been a Hebrew lecturer at Brandeis University since 1981.

Sara Hascal

Dr. Hascal’s research focuses on the effect of using modern short Israeli plays to improve communication skills and cultural awareness for Hebrew language learners. In her courses, she integrates the improvement of language skills while focusing on teaching about Israeli culture and literature. Her goal is for her students to gain better intercultural knowledge and understanding, develop critical skills and broaden and transform their worldviews while simultaneously improving their proficiency in Hebrew.

Dr. Hascal has developed courses which enhance the subject matter through the study of traditions, history, politics, business, arts and cultural aspects of Israel. Together with her colleagues, she has published the widely used textbook Brandeis Modern Hebrew. She is currently the Assistant Director of the School of Hebrew at Middlebury college.

Yaron Peleg

Yaron Peleg is an Assistant Professor of Hebrew at George Washington University and is the coordinator of the Hebrew Program there.

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