Five Tips for New Kita Aleph Students
It was hard for me when I started studying at Ulpan Gordon because I didn’t know anyone who could tell me what to expect. I searched online but only found random tips about ulpanim that seemed quite outdated.
What I was really looking for was first hand experience.
Here are a few things I’d like to pass onto new ulpan students:
1. Learn the Hebrew alphabet before you arrive!
Do yourself a favor and start the course with at least this knowledge in your Hebrew arsenal. Be sure to learn the block letters and handwritten (or cursive) forms. You’ll only learn how to write in the handwritten form but will also be expected to read the block form too. Two websites demonstrating block letters are here and cursive is here. Be prepared to start reading Hebrew in class after the first week.
Study BEFORE you start Ulpan Gordon with:
2. Sign up for your class at least one month in advance
With the ulpan structure changing in Israel, the classes are filling up FAST. If you have a friend or family member in Israel, provide them with your passport and credit card number to enroll you in advance of your arrival. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait for someone to drop out of the course. If you’re starting with little to no knowledge of Hebrew when you arrive, you’ll need to start from day one. Missing even a few days of class will put you deep into the clueless zone.
3. Be prepared to buy the workbook
After the first several weeks of class, you’ll be expected to purchase a workbook for 65 shekel. Don’t let this come as a shock (like it did for me). Every teacher has their own preference when they start using the workbook but they generally all use “Hebrew from Scratch”. Keep in mind that the ulpan will sell the workbook to you much cheaper than an Israeli bookstore will.
If you’re interested in purchasing the book early to get a head start on the course, it’s available for purchase online at Amazon.com.
4. Be prepared to study
Simply showing up to class isn’t enough. If you’re planning on studying as a tourist, don’t be fooled into thinking that the pace will be any different for you than for a new immigrant. It’s an intensive course. The key word is INTENSIVE.
If you want to stay afloat, you’re going to need to study. If you already know how to read Hebrew, then you’re a huge step ahead of a lot of students. If you don’t know how to read Hebrew or have never spoken Hebrew, be prepared to clock some after school hours. For some it’s a piece of cake. For others (like me) it takes a lot more effort.
5. 30 minute break starts at 10:00 am. Bring shekels for coffee!
This may be the most important tip of all. By the time you reach your 10:00 am break, you’ll be feigning for more caffeine. Strangely, no amount of caffeine prior to class is enough to prepare your mind for the first hour of class. You’ll inevitably need more. There are two automatic coffee machines on the first floor. One is two shekels and the other is three shekels per cup. I suggest taking which ever line is shorter as I haven’t found much difference between the two machines.
Write to me via the contact link at the top of this site or write me at contact@ulpangordon.com with any questions (or additional suggestions) you may have.
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16 Responses to “Five Tips for New Kita Aleph Students”
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i have recently succumbed to the vending machine coffee at school myself for that extra boost. (because i’m too lazy to go get espresso from the crazy cafe guy) they come in 50 and 75 cent increments, and ive discovered that the hazelnut cappuccino is not only the best, but they use the same ammount of powder for the small as the large, which makes the small ones tastier and cheaper. yay for vending machine coffee! may it forever keep us upright!
Nice site!
I just read your post about Ulpan Gordon, which I attended a couple of years ago as a (virtual) beginner. I think your five tips are very good ones and I would agree completely, especially about learning the alphabet beforehand and being prepared to study, study, study.
In reply to the comment above (if that’s OK?) by aviliss, here’s my (rather presumptuous as this is not my site…) take on your questions:
- Where to live depends entirely on your budget, and also on how religious you are. If you are religious then Tel Aviv might not be the place for you. Also, do you want to be near an English speaking community, or do you want more to integrate with the locals? Tel Aviv is a good place to live if you like fast-paced, fun cities with tons to do 24/7, if you like the beach, cafes, nightlife, people-watching and eating out then it’s perfect. Within Tel Aviv itself – well that depends on how much you can afford/ want to pay. The area close to the ulpan is expensive, central – and probably small in terms of apartment size. But worth it if you want to study and work.
- You can work and do ulpan. I did. It was really tough though – but mostly because I worked waaay out of Tel Aviv, it was summer, and I didn’t have a car. I don’t know what you do for a living but finding a “good” job here is tough, so be prepared for it to take time. Continuing on the presumptuous note, I’d advise that you could find a part time job – what I’d call a “student job” – pretty easily during the day, and then you can do Ulpan in the evenings.
-Don’t compromise on the ulpan. Without Hebrew – even basic Hebrew – you’ll miss out on a lot here including job prospects. Study like you never studied before and don’t miss a class. It’s tough. But it’s also fun, and you will definitely meet people.
- If you find the Ulpan is not enough, eventually – get yourself a private teacher. Hebrew is really worth learning.
- Good luck and congrats on making a courageous but amazing move
And again, hope it’s OK for me to leave such a looong comment
@ yaeloush
Thank you for such an informative reply! Feel free to leave loooong comments all you want.
Welcome to my site! Heading over to check yours out now.
Jami, I recently stumbled on your site and it’s chockablock of info. I am in Israel now (J-m at the moment), but after my 3 week volunteer stint in the IDF starting next week, I plan on setting up shop in TA. Do you know if Ulpangordon offers Aleph classes the beginning of the year? And how did you decide upon Gordon as the Ulpan to use? Are there mostly English speakers there or are there many French people (I would love to be able to continue learning French as well). Fyi, I had a prive lesson today that taught me the alphabet. Tnx much.
Hi Keith!
First I just wanted to say thank you for finding my site and leaving a comment! I transferred your comment to my UlpanGordon.com site so that other students could read it easier.
Ulpan Gordon starts new aleph classes every month. It would be best for you to call them now (if you can) and register yourself. They will require payment before they put you on the class roll. They might require you to be present in order to pay (with a credit card, for example). Calling directly now is best especially if you want to start on the first of January.
I personally decided to study at Ulpan Gordon because I simply didn’t have any other choice. I was in Israel on a tourist visa for 6 months and Ulpan Gordon is one of the few (if only) ulpans that welcome tourists with open arms. Not to mention, I lived only 10 minutes away from Gordon in Tel Aviv. Plus, it’s a relatively young crowd that studies there so I fit in really well.
If you’re looking to meet some French speakers there, you won’t be disappointed! In my aleph classes there were at least three French speakers (some native, some not). There were also students from South America, Asia, Russia, Australia, Uganda!, and a MANY others!
I´ll make alyah on 2009 begining and afhter a master course. I was supose to do ulpan in Etzion, but they closed and now is Merkaz Klita Beit Canadá. Anywhay, i really wnat to live in Tel Aviv and my choose was because the everybody sayf that this ulpan that satay in Jersulem is the best prepatory for who wants master.
Someone knows if these ulpan or any other in Tel Aviv is good also for this?
Thank you!!!
Congrats on making aliyah, Simone!
If you are planning on living in Tel Aviv, then Ulpan Gordon is your best choice. You could certainly research studying at the University or Berlitz but they are very expensive and I’ve heard a few negative things about them.
Check out my new post about the current first level classes available at Ulpan Gordon including prices:
http://ulpangordon.com/2008/12/kita-aleph-class-info-dec-2008-feb-2009/
My experience at Gordon was good. The students are great and the teachers are very passionate about teaching Hebrew.
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Just remember this. It is not the Ulpan, but rather the invidual teacher’s methods, an most importantly YOU!
Declare war on the native speakers and do not be their English practice victim or teacher! They tend not to have the patience if you can’t speak it fast, with no mistakes and don’t phrase it the way they do.
Be as assertive and as a aggressive as they are. Carry a little notebook in your backpack or purse and write down new words.
Make them spend just a few minutes making sure you can do that you can conjugate that new verb in past, present and future!
Behatzlecha!
If it makes anyone feel better, some of my Israeli friends are envious of my speaking English and Spanish as native languages and excellent German and Portuguese. I do not use or need Hebrew in my Hitech job at all.
My friends are desperate to practice English for better job opportunities and to express themselves better when they travel.
Yes, we all want to “do the ‘Brew” so we can fit in better and speak the local vernacular, but thank your lucky stars that most of you speak a world wide language or languages, and Hebrew outside of Israel is of little use.
Remember than in certain customer service situations you can be in a situation of POWER if you insist on English. Use language to your advantage.
But nevertheless, learn to “do the ‘Brew” as best as you can!
Hello!
My name is Anders Branderud and I am from Sweden. I want to study in the Open university in Ra'anana in Israel and I would like to improve my Hebrew.
I wonder how many hours homework per day that is required when studying in Ulpan Gordon?
Thanks!
Anders Branderud
This all depends on your level of knowledge when you begin. If you already know how to read and write Hebrew, then the first month is going to be a breeze. I doubt you'll have to study at all. After that, it all depends on how quickly you can memorize verbs and their conjugations (which always seem to be the hardest part of any language).
I entered the aleph level without ANY knowledge of Hebrew and found that I had to study 2-3 hours every day for the first month just so I could "catch up" with the class who mostly knew the letters and pronunciation already.
Generally, however much energy you put into the ulpan is however much you'll receive back.
שלום
:עוד שאלה
יש אולפנים אחרים in the center of Israel that are open for לא יהודים
? (for example רעננה
תודה רבה
Anders Branderud
Non-jews can study at most government funded ulpans like Ulpan Gordon (which is in the center of Tel Aviv) but with some restrictions. If you are simply in Israel on a tourist visa, Gordon will limit your study to the 3 month tourist aleph course.
As far as my understanding goes, they no longer allow non-Jewish TOURISTS to study in the longer 5 month aleph course (the tourist visa is only 3 months long).
Of course, if you have a permanent visa (regardless of if you're Jewish or not Jewish), you can study in whichever course you'd like.
Thanks for your reply!
When I called them yesterday they didn't mention anything about that only 3 months courses was avaiable for registration.
The person I talked with said: "All courses are five months". She also said that they have all levels; and that I should write a test when I arrive.
I have already taken the beginner course at hebrewonline.com ; and I regularly study the material at learnhebrewpod podcasts, and read a lot of Hebrew right now with the help of a translator-application.
I will only have a tourist visa. I hope they will alove me to prolong the Visa, due to that I want to continue to study Hebrew. I want to study at the Open university in Israel, so I must learn Hebrew good and I am ready to continue to put a lot of effort into it!
/Anders
Thanks for the update! It's possible they have changed their policy since last year. When I'm back in Israel next week, I'll be sure to provide updated information here about any policy changes they've had.
As for extending your visa, the Misrad Hapnim is relatively relaxed about extending tourist visas for another 3 months. Just fill out the form, pay the fee, and wait a few hours for it to be
processed. Good luck!
Re: Good luck. I don't believe in luck, but I appreciate for your consideration! I trust in ha-Sheim.
Have you got any updated information?
I will arrive in Ra'anana in two days. I will visit the ulpan in Ra'anana and see what they provide.
All the best,
Anders