So You Want To Learn Hebrew
Guest post by Sarah Rubenstein
Before making Aliyah to Israel, my adviser said to me, “You know you can live in Jerusalem, work in English, and never have to speak Hebrew.” And he was right. I could.
But I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to be like so many people I have met that proudly say, “I have lived in Israel for 20 years and don’t speak a word of Hebrew.” I work as an English teacher, so the majority of my day is spent speaking English. All the Hebrew that I’ve learned has been picked up along the way. I could only order a taxi, give basic directions (as long as the land marks contain either traffic lights or bus stops! ), and make an appointment.
One day I noticed that the only Hebrew conversation I could have was with my friend’s four year old. This was the moment that I decided that my language skills should be better than a four year old. After deciding to make the move to Israel, I had to take the plunge and learn. I found myself at a stage of my life in Israel being totally hindered by my lack of Hebrew. I had to move forward with my language studies!
I knew it wouldn’t be easy for me at 58 not only finding the time & energy but also the right method of learning (My experience at ulpan was a short lived at only six days for a variety of reasons). However I normally rise to a challenge, found the motivation, and started to take pleasure in communicating with others. Knowing myself as well as I do, I know I will get frustrated by having to remember masculine and feminine, (so much easier if I was French) but I wasn’t going to be thwarted. I concentrated solely on conversational Hebrew. I found it fit my schedule better to learn online with a cup of tea next to me and my cat on my lap (it truly did help to encourage relaxation as I enter the world of the virtual classroom.)
I’m several weeks into my adventure and I’m hoping you wish me luck as this almost to be “Safta” immerses herself in Hebrew every Sunday evening with my class at Hebrew Online.
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