July 11, 2005 (Vol. 1, No. 10)

Returning This Fall to Lehman: Beginner's Hebrew

The Department of Languages and Literatures will offer a new beginner's Hebrew course this fall–the first to be offered in ten years. By the end of the semester, students will have learned to read and write in an entirely new alphabet, one that moves from right to left.

Professor Zelda Newman, who will teach the course, plans on incorporating songs into the curriculum. "Songs not only are absorbed faster," she says, "they linger longer. You may forget the words or grammar of a language you learn in school, but if you learn songs, you're not likely to forget them."

Speculating about the reasons for the renewed interest in Hebrew, Professor Newman said that in the three other courses she teaches– "The Immigrant Jewish Experience," "Classics of Yiddish Literature" and "The Short Stories of I.B. Singer"–"we come across concepts and names of people and places found in the Bible. Inevitably there are students who know their Bible and know the references. Since Hebrew is the language of the Bible, some of these students are naturally drawn to Hebrew."

Fall registration begins Tuesday, August 9. Classes will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

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