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September 6, 2002
I did it, you can do it too
The JCC offers many opportunities to learn Hebrew.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Imagine days full of singing, chatting with friends, reading stories,
watching videos and playing games. That's how I spent part of my
summer "working" at the Bulletin: I left the office
for a week to attend the Vancouver Summer Mini-Ulpan. OK, I did
have to study grammar and I did have to do all that fun stuff using
my rudimentary Hebrew language skills, but I learned a lot, got
a break from my daily routine and I would do it again in an instant.
This was the third year of the ulpan, which takes place at the Jewish
Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC). The curriculum is prepared
by Rahel Halabe and is taught by Halabe and Shoshana Hofman. Both
are experienced Hebrew teachers and the two have a great rapport
with each other and with the students.
I took part in the second session, in which there were 10 students;
five in the beginner's plus class, five in the intermediate. By
hitting the books a week before the course started, I managed to
squeak into the intermediate level. My comprehension was way beyond
my ability to communicate, yet, as much as I stuttered and stammered,
I felt comfortable with Halabe and Hofman, who advised us all to
have patience. There was a mutual respect among the students for
everyone's commitment to learning and an understanding that everyone
had different trouble spots.
Each day went from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., starting with the translation
and singing of a couple of Hebrew songs. Then there was about an
hour of conversation, which we (ideally) prepared at home the night
before using vocabulary sheets provided by Halabe. After a short
break, we delved into the wonder that is Hebrew grammar. It is an
amazingly simple language in that it has definite verb groups and
patterns for the past, present and future tenses. It is an incredibly
difficult language in that there are, of course, exceptions to every
rule and, in Hebrew, there seem to be a half-dozen slightly different
words for something that, in English, could be described with one
word.
During lunch, we watched Hebrew videos. Afterward, we listened to
and read about the adventures of young Itamar, who could enter into
the pictures hanging on his wall. It was a charming story –
once we figured out what it all meant. The last hour of the day
was spent in games, chat or more songs. Our group played Monopoly
one afternoon, buying property in Israel, paying rent and even going
to jail, all in Hebrew. As well, there were extracurricular activities,
such as shopping at Oakridge Mall and a movie night.
I am hopeful that over the next couple of months I will be able
to sort out the enormous amount of information that we covered.
This process will be aided by reviewing the binder of educational
material, including an audio cassette, that Halabe created for the
course. Then I should be ready to sign up for other courses at the
JCC – I don't want to lose, yet again, the knowledge I have
gained.
Five years ago, in an attempt to get into cantorial school (I ended
up at the Bulletin instead), I took Hebrew classes for one
semester at the JCC. My instructors included Naava Soudack, who
is still part of the JCC Hebrew program. That I learned a lot then
was proven by the fact that I could make it through the intermediate
level of the mini-ulpan this summer.
The JCC offers both daytime and evening Hebrew classes for beginners,
those at an intermediate level and those who possess an advanced
knowledge of the language. All of the JCC instructors have at a
minimum 10 years of teaching experience.
This fall, Fay Hassall will teach Basic Hebrew on Wednesdays, both
in the morning from 10 a.m.-noon and in the evening, 7-9 p.m. The
course focuses on elementary skills in reading, writing and conversation,
and is suitable for people with no Hebrew background. Hassall will
also lead Hebrew Level III, a more advanced course that takes place
Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m.
Soudack teaches Intermediate Hebrew Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m.,
and Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. A basic knowledge of Hebrew is needed for
these classes.
Hofman teaches Advanced Hebrew Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m., and Wednesdays,
1-3 p.m. She leads Chug on Thursdays, from 7-9 p.m., which is for
more advanced students who wish to maintain or improve their conversation
skills.
Tuesday classes run Sept. 10 to Dec. 10, Wednesday classes go from
Sept. 11 to Dec. 11 and Thursday classes start Sept. 12 and go till
Dec. 12. All class offerings are contigent on adequate enrolment.
For JCC members, each course is $149 plus GST; $203 plus GST for
non-members. Call Annica Carlsson Hyman at 604-257-5111, ext. 208
or e-mail [email protected].
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