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Conference taveng::bagels

Title:BAGELS and other things of Jewish interest
Notice:1.0 policy, 280.0 directory, 32.0 registration
Moderator:SMURF::FENSTER
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1524
Total number of notes:18709

1240.0. "What's a good source for learning Hebrew?" by BROKE::STONE () Sat Jun 06 1992 01:51

   I've learned a *little* Hebrew by listening to the Pimsleur tapes while
commuting back and forth 40 minutes each way.  This leaves me with very little
vocabulary, no experience conjugating verbs, the ability to order chicken
(but not soup) in a restaurant or ask "where is the eg. Post Office?", but not
to understand any directions ... 

   I could go on in detail, but what I'd like is recommendations for 
practising / listening / reading / learning what would have to be elementary.
(I'd like to be able to read a newspaper or understand the news, but I'm sure
that would take a very long time.)  Are there radio programmes or television
shows for children of Israelis?  Since I spend a lot of time driving, I do have
a bias to learning through tapes.

   I live in the Boston area, and work in Nashua.  Any suggestions would be
appreciated.
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1240.1FSITAV02::FEINBERGDon FeinbergSun Jun 07 1992 23:0517
	I would suggest the tapes produced by the US Government Foreign
	Service Institute. They are "public domain", so they are a
	lot cheaper for what you get than the "for profit" tapes, such
	as linguaphone.

	I bought the FSI tapes about a year before we made aliyah, and I 
	listened to them principally while driving.  They are quite
	orally interactive, so you can do exercises while driving.

	Set of 25 tapes + big book was $200 about 4 years ago.

	Available from a place in Connecticut.  I've long since forgotten
	the name, but Icould look it up....


don feinberg

1240.2How about Computer Programs?MRKTNG::WEBERNancy Weber @TTBMon Jun 08 1992 17:225
    Are there any good computer programs that teach the letters as well as
    words? I've seen one that someone more advanced, also it's only capital
    letters. I'd want one that teaches script and small letters as well.
    
    
1240.3My 2 centsDECSIM::HAMAN::GROSSThe bug stops hereMon Jun 08 1992 18:148
There are no small letters in Hebrew. There is only the printed typeface and
script.

There are teaching programs...I've seen them. But, sorry, I don't have any
pointers. The next time "The Jewish Reporter" shows up in my mailbox I'll
check out the ads and post what I find.

Dave
1240.4On learning HebrewCRLVMS::SEIDMANMon Jun 08 1992 20:1518
    re: .0
    
    I used the Pimsleur tapes before visiting Israel and found that,
    although I could not carry on a philosophical discourse, I did just
    fine when it came to asking directions, buying bus tickets, etc.
    (I must concede that I could read some Hebrew, so that made it easier.)
    What I found was that the tapes conditioned my ear to Hebrew spoken at
    normal speed, and to hearing the admittedly limited vocabulary directly
    so that I didn't have to go through a slow mental translation.
    
    re: .2
    
    I think you'll find that a book and a couple of days of practice are
    all you need to learn the cursive alphabet.  After that, it's a matter
    of using it enough to read it easily.  The first part is usually easy;
    it's the second that requires some discipline.
    
    						Aaron
1240.5Berlitz tape is pretty goodVSSCAD::COHENTue Jun 09 1992 20:3110
    I found the tape offered by Berlitz as rather informative.  It has
    several hundred phrases as well as individual words spoken in English
    and then the literal Hebrew translation.  Without  practicing daily
    one looses some of the words, but I think the Berlitz tape provides
    a reasonable good vocabulary for ordinary conversation.
    
    As the originator of this note stated, I found it convenient to learn
    while commuting.
    
    Ron
1240.6Check out the Barron's tapesMR4DEC::RICHTue Jun 09 1992 23:0419
    Another set of tapes that are out now are the Barron's tapes - these 
    are available in most book stores I've been in lately for about $75.
    They are based on the Foreign Service Tapes mentioned by Don in .1
    They also include reading practice and get substantially further in
    in grammer than the Pimsleur tapes -covering several of the
    "conjugations" as well as practice in future and past tense.
    
    I've also just finished the Pimsleur tapes and plan to start the
    Barron's tapes soon. I can already read prayer book Hebrew, but I like
    both sets of tapes in that they give you "hearing" and "thinking"
    practice. They also cover modern "street" Hebrew as opposed to prayer
    book, biblical, and Mishnaic Hebrew - that is they give you colloquial
    expressions.
    
    By the way the Pimsleur tapes and some of the others are available
    through the DEC library system. VTX DLNCATALOG. Unfortunately the
    Barron's and FSI tapes are not. 
    
    Neil (who plans to visit Israel in August)
1240.7the *best* way to learn HebrewERICG::ERICGEric GoldsteinThu Jun 11 1992 19:274
Come to Israel and attend a good ulpan.  Outside of class, force yourself to
use whatever Hebrew you have as much as possible.

Of course, this isn't practical for everyone.
1240.8Todah rabah; ulsi efshar lilmod l'daber ivritBROKE::STONESat Jun 13 1992 02:193
Since I'm not planning to move to Israel, and nobody has mentioned ulpan classes
here for prospective aliyot, commuting provides fairly convenient time, I'll be
looking for Barron's tapes (or directly the Foreign Service Institute).
1240.9Update on Baron's tapesMR4DEC::RICHTue Aug 25 1992 19:5021
    My experience with the Baron's tapes was very positive.
    
    They are a lot more work than the Pimsleur tapes (but much cheaper).
    
    Even though I didn't complete the tapes before I left for Israel, I was
    very surprised at how well I could converse. The basic dialogues
    contain very uselful models -  most of what I wanted to say. And the
    drills are very good.
    
    This is not a "superficial" course. This covers all binian
    (conjugations), offers lot's of advice on such things as use of
    pronominal sufixes, contractions heard in everyday speech, different
    ways to form questions, etc.
    
    It also covers some things you might not use much like third person
    plural imparatives, and vocabulary related to the US Emabassy. ("How
    do you do? I am the new Director of the American Embassy")
    
    Great buy for the price.
    
    Neil