English Hebrew by Subject – New Language Learning Book Resource

Posted by Jami in Featured Articles, Study Material on Apr 26th, 2010 | no responses

I just got a copy of the new English Hebrew by Subject by Hanna Perez the other day and I thought I would take the time to share a few things about it with everyone who is also interested in learning or improving on their Hebrew language skills.

English Hebrew by Subject (or EHBS, as the title is shortened inside the book) includes 41 chapters of vocabulary broken down into different subject matter covering topics ranging from family, food, education, politics, etc. There are also 10 different chapters that are focused only on grammar (much needed information for beginners!). After all that, the book also includes an audio CD that covers ALL of the vocabulary chapters so that you know exactly how a word is pronounced.

After using the book for the last week, I felt immediately that it would be perfect for all types of Hebrew language students because, let’s be honest, we all have different reasons for learning Hebrew. Some are learning for recreation, some are new immigrants to Israel, some are tourists, and some of us are professionals who are working next to Israelis. I think the great thing about this Hebrew language book is the way it cators to all of these different types of students in its own way.

This book is not meant to teach you how to read or write Hebrew. It already assumes that you know these basics and does not waste any time getting into the “meat” of the subject. With that in mind, I wouldn’t recommend this book for someone who does not know the aleph-bet or how to read Hebrew. Even though there is English translation next to the Hebrew text (with nikudote), you’ll still need to have at least a basic understanding of Hebrew pronunciation to feel comfortable with this book.

The most valuable part of this book is using it in a pinch. I’ve found that when I’m straining for a quick word, it’s easy to flip to the topical section the word falls under and immediately finding the English to Hebrew translation of it. For example, I was straining for the word “greenhouse” (חֲמָמָה) the other day and found it right away in the “Plants” section of the book. It was that simple. Beyond the usual sections translating basic greatings, numbers, and family, other more helpful sections in the book include “The Army”, “Sciences”, “Life Cycle” (words about pregnancy, childhood, and death), and “Computing”.

In the past I’ve found myself exhausted with Hebrew study guides because they always fall short of what they promise. Either they aren’t comprehensive enough, or, they’re too complicated. With English Hebrew by Subject, I’ve found a wonderful happy medium and it’s helping to solidify the foundational words along with pushing me to learn and try words that will help me be more conversational in real life situations.

Enjoy the following video which helps explain how the books works really well with the audio CD: