Hebrew III: Language and Culture (211-0-1)
Instructors
Hanna Tzuker Seltzer
847/467-5684
Crowe 5-159
Office Hours: Mondays/Wednesdays 11:00am - 12:00pm, or by appt.
Meeting Info
Kresge 3354 German Seminar Rm.: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM
Overview of class
Hebrew 211 is given in the Fall quarter and is meant for students who either completed Hebrew 121-3 or students who wish to expand their Hebrew knowledge and strengthen their grammar foundations. The purpose of this course is to serve as a bridge between Hebrew second year and the advanced classes of Hebrew about literature and culture (Hebrew 216) or about Israeli media (Hebrew 245). In this class students will review previous forms (such as past tense) and will learn the future tense forms, the imperative and the conditional forms, advanced connectors (such as ללגב ,...ש ינפמ ,ןכל ), impersonal phrases with infinitive forms, more prepositions, and the condensed form of possessive. This class revolves around themes of leisure and volunteering, and each theme lends itself to certain grammatical forms, so the grammar is intertwined in the contents of these themes. Some of the themes we will engage with are food, music, trips, Israeli non-profit organizations, and more.
Hebrew 211 is a quarter-long class, planned to take place during the Fall out of the assumption that students who finished the second year in the previous spring will be able to expand their Hebrew knowledge and skills so they will be better equipped to take more advanced classes in the 200 level (Hebrew 216, 245) that are given in the following winter and spring quarters. For students who placed out of Hebrew due to their previous experience with Hebrew, this class can be helpful in reviewing forms and vocabulary they learned long ago, and in practicing active usage of the language (through class discussions, presentations, etc.) so they will be able to transition smoothly to the more advanced Hebrew classes.
Registration Requirements
Hebrew 121-3 or equivalent; or instructor consent. Students with prior knowledge of Hebrew (through using the language at home or prior classes) need to take the placement exam to be placed into the correct class.
Learning Objectives
After completing Hebrew 211, students will have an overview of more advanced grammar concepts (in comparison to what they have learnt in the first two years of Hebrew) that are essential to successfully deal with more advanced texts and visual materials Hebrew 216 and 245 composed of. Students will have enough vocabulary to speak about their hobbies, their volunteering projects, and their hopes, desires, and aspirations. Students will be able to recommend places or cultural experiences such as movies, concerts, plays and exhibitions they attended, and they will be able to function in real-life situations such as sitting in a restaurant (from ordering food to paying the bill), ordering tickets to concerts, and more. Additionally, Students will be able to express their opinions about dilemmas such as stray dogs and cats in Israel, public transportation, and more. At the end of the quarter, students will be able to transition more smoothly into third year classes (Hebrew 216, 245) and deal more successfully with literary texts, articles, and visual materials that comprise these classes.
Teaching Method
The lessons will involve reading and discussing of texts of various genres (ads in newspapers, short articles, posts in social media, etc.), as well as watching clips and segments of episodes from TV shows. The advanced grammatical subjects will be weaved into topics of leisure and hobbies that lend themselves to these subjects. Students will prepare presentations where they will make use of the learned materials to talk about their hobbies or to research cultural topics. The learning will involve several hands-on projects like cooking, touring the campus guiding classmates on how to get to places on campus, and more.
Evaluation Method
A student's grade for this course will be based upon (1) Participation, homework, and preparedness for class; (2) Attendance; (3) Attendance in two cultural events; (4) Presentations in class; and (5) Final Project which may vary between presentation/essay / oral interview and could be a combination of these assessing tools.
Class Materials (Required)
Segments from various Hebrew textbooks (to be provided by instructor) as well as articles from Israeli newspapers, clips, and segments of Israeli movies and TV series, blogs, and more. All materials will be accessible via the Canvas class site.
Class Notes
This class is taught in Hebrew. Homework assignments and occasional presentations are an integral part of the class to maximize students' successful learning.