Language Courses

This intermediate Hebrew course will prepare you to watch a 5 minute Hebrew video that is both a short history of how Hebrew slang has evolved as well as an introduction to some key Hebrew slang words and phrases, including unique slang that comes from the Jerusalem 'dialect' of Hebrew. As is covered in the video, Hebrew slang derives from many different linguistic and cultural sources that have left their impact on the language whether that be Arabic, Yiddish, Ladino, or even the English-language. Some key slang vocabulary from the course includes: הוא אהבל - he's a moron; אבו יו יו / שק קמח - piggy back; חיים בסרט - living in a dream world / detached from reality; טוּדוֹ בּוֹם - everything's fine.

As election day is upon us, what better way to understand the complexities of our electoral system than to have an Israeli break it down for us with toys. For this course, you'll prepare to watch a brief video of an Israeli man puzzled by the US electoral system explain how it all works using toys and comparing the system to high school. In the video, the presenter touches on everything from the roles and responsibilities of the House of Representatives v. the Senate, to the popular vote, and also the electoral college and why it exists. As to be expected, the vocabulary for this lesson is focused on election-related terms and phrases but also contains a good amount of Hebrew slang such as פראיירית - a sucker; and חנונים - nerds. Some other vocabulary from the course includes: מאוד מבלבלת אותי - very confusing for me; מעומד - candidate; רודנות הרוב - the tyranny of the majority; להתפשר , מתפשר - to compromise; המרוץ לנשיאות - the presidential race

This course takes a look at the Ethiopian-Israeli identity in Israel by examining the challenges facing the Ethiopian community as well as popping into an Ethiopian restaurant to take a close look at the rich cuisine that has come to serve as an ambassador of Ethiopian culture around the world. Lessons 1 - 3 will prepare you to watch a Hebrew news report in which the reporter interviews a group of Ethiopian-Israeli teens about their feelings following the shooting of Solomon Teka and the resulting demonstrations in 2019. The teens express a variety of emotions towards the discrimination and racism they have experienced as members of the Ethiopian community in Israel and their frustrations with the challenges that come with being an Israeli of Ethiopian descent. Lessons 4 - 5 will prepare you to read a Mako food article about a news team visiting the Ethiopian restaurant Addis Alem in Israel. The team learns the backstory to the founding of the restaurant and are exposed to a variety of rich Ethiopian dishes, both vegetarian, vegan, and meat. Some sample vocabulary from the lessons includes: הקורבן הבא - the next victim; לקחו לנו את הזכות - they took away our right; ממוצא אתיופי - of Ethiopian descent; בשלנית מחוננת - gifted cook; אל תוותרו - don't pass up

This course will take a close look at the lives of the deaf and blind in Israel and the challenges that these people face and overcome in their daily lives. The course will prepare you to read and watch five separate Hebrew articles and videos related to this topic. Lesson 1 introduces you to a deaf Israeli lawyer who overcame all the odds as well as a youth center for the deaf and hearing-impaired in Israel that faced serious economic difficulties and was on the brink of closing. The article for the lesson focuses on the lawyer while the video interviews children at the center who discuss the role the center has played in their lives and why it is vital. Lesson 2 will introduce you to a man who became blind and deaf as an infant as the result of a bad vaccination but who has turned his enhanced senses of smell and taste into a profession as a wine taster in Israel. Lesson 3 will prepare you to read and watch Hebrew media reporting on a blind man and his service dog who were denied service at a restaurant in Israel, primarily because the restaurant did not allow dogs in the restaurant, effectively denying the man to enter the restaurant with "his eyes". Lesson 4 will prepare you to watch a brief video of an Israeli sign language translator/interpreter who covers the main reasons why you should learn sign language and she also teaches some high-level signs.  Lastly, Lesson 5 will prepare you to read and watch Hebrew media reporting on an Israeli running group that was established for the blind and visually-impaired to offer them an equal opportunity to participate in sports and fulfill their dreams. Some sample vocabulary from the lessons include: מוגבלות מסוימת - a certain, specific disability; כלב נחייה חביב - lovable guide-dog; החירש עיוור - the deaf-blind (man); אנשים כבדי שמיעה - hearing-impaired people; לקויי ראיה - visually-impaired people

This course will prepare you to read and watch Hebrew media reporting on Eid al-Adha celebrations in Israel under the shadow of the coronavirus epidemic. Eid al-Adha is one of the holiest holidays in the Muslim calendar and is associated with the pilgrimage to Mecca as well as the story of Ibrahim's (Abraham) binding of Ismail ("Ishamel"). In the Jewish and Christian traditions, Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. Lessons 1 through 3 will prepare you to read a Ynet article on Eid-Adha celebrations in Israel and contain a variety of religious, economic, and health-related vocabulary. Lessons 4 and 5 will prepare you to watch an Israeli news report that tackles the same topic. Both the article and the video report note how Israeli authorities have been urging Muslims to celebrate the holiday amongst their inner families in order to contain any spread of the coronavirus. As in other Middle Eastern countries, Muslims in Israel are also struggling economically as a result of the virus and the economic shutdown, with many choosing to forgo purchasing sacrificial meat, visiting family, and donating to the needy in place of basic survival needs. Some sample vocabulary from the lessons include: חג הקורבן - Eid al-Adha; חשש מרשלנות - fear of negligence; הולך ומחריף - getting worse; העלייה לרגל - the pilgrimage; שים מסכה - put on a mask

This course is dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement and the life of George Floyd. The lessons for this course will prepare you to read and watch Israeli media reporting on the Black Lives Matter movement and George Floyd's death, which sparked nationwide protests calling for change. Lessons 1 - 3 will prepare you to read a Walla article reporting on the ongoing BLM protests and also covers the transition from the initial outburst of rage to peaceful protests. Lessons 4 and 5 will prepare you to watch an Israeli news analyst from כאן חדשות analyze the protests' significance and also how George Floyd's death was the spark that ignited a call for change. The video highlights the factors contributing to the protests, such as social inequalities and police brutality. The vocabulary for this course is focused on human rights, discrimination, and protest/demonstration terms. Some sample vocabulary from the course includes: הפגנות שלוות - peaceful demonstrations; לנתב את הזעם - to channel the anger; תנועת זכויות האזרח - civil rights movement; להביע סולידריות - to express solidarity; אני לא יכול לנשום  - I cannot breathe