Courses:

(1)  ELEMENTARY HEBREW (HEBREW 105)
 
HEBR-105-010;  Cross-listed with JWST-105-010
Credits: 4
Professor:  Dr. Eynat Gutman
E-mail:      eynat@udel.edu

Ever wanted to learn how to speak Hebrew? Would you like to go to Israel and begin to understand the language millions now speak? This is your chance! No previous knowledge is assumed in this Elementary course. Come learn some basic conversational and written skills in an enjoyable way!

Description: In this course, we are going to get acquainted with Modern Hebrew as spoken in Israel. No previous knowledge is required. We will work on speaking, listening, reading and writing in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Students will be introduced to the Hebrew alphabet and will learn to read and write simple texts. The class will also put significant emphasis on basic oral skills such as introducing oneself, interviewing classmates, talking about all classroom routines, and a variety of university-related topics, etc. Basics of the Hebrew grammar will be acquired as well. Exposure to Israeli culture will be enhanced by video clips and Israeli movie viewing.

The course is cross-listed with JWST, and may be taken towards the minor in Jewish Studies, see the professor for details.


(2)  ELEMENTARY-INTERMEDIATE HEBREW (HEBREW 106)

HEBR-106-010  Cross-listed with JWST-106-010
Credits: 4
Note:  Offered only in the Spring Semester
Professor:  Dr. Eynat Gutman
E-mail:      eynat@udel.edu

Pre-requisite: Hebrew 105 or professor’s permission: students who had 7-8 years of Hebrew day-school (i.e., up to 8th grade) are usually also at the right level. Other students may qualify! See description below.

Ever wanted to learn how to speak Hebrew? Would you like to go to Israel and begin to understand the language millions now speak? This is your chance! No previous knowledge is assumed in this Elementary course. Come learn some basic conversational and written skills in an enjoyable way!

Description: In this course, we continue developing our speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Coming to this course, the students are expected to feel comfortable expressing themselves on basic self-introduction topics, as well as on university-related topics. Basic knowledge of present tense verbs is required, as well as basic reading and writing skills. This semester mainly concentrates on expanding our vocabulary on a variety of topics related to Food and Family. We cover topics such as Fruit, Israeli Food, Family-members, Age, Numbers up to a 100, etc. Grammatically, we concentrate on Nouns, Adjectives, Adverbs, more Verbs, etc. Throughout the semester, we listen to various auditory material and study written texts. Exposure to Israeli culture is enhanced by video clips and Israeli movie viewing.

The course is cross-listed with JWST, and may be taken towards the minor in Jewish Studies, see the professor for details.


(3)  INTERMEDIATE HEBREW (HEBREW 107)

HEBR-107-010     
Credits: 4
Note:  Offered only in the Fall Semester
Professor:  Dr. Eynat Gutman
E-mail:      eynat@udel.edu

Prerequisite:  Hebrew 106 or equivalent. Students who had 9-10 years of Hebrew day-school (i.e., up to 10th grade) are usually also at the right level. Students with 11-12 years (or complete Hebrew education in high school) are usually placed out and recommended a higher level course. Other students may qualify! See description below.

Description: In this course, we continue developing speaking, listening, reading and writing. The student is expected to be comfortable using the present tense to discuss (orally and in writing), listen or read about a variety of topics concerning the present, such as the University, Food and Family. Only minimal knowledge of past tense is expected in the beginning, since the past tense is a major grammatical topic this semester. Some topics that will be covered this semester include being able to discuss body parts in detail and one’s external appearance, aches and pains, describe one’s activities throughout the week, and tell the time. Grammatically, we will extend our knowledge of verbs in the present tense and concentrate on learning a variety of past tense patterns. We will be exposed to texts, song and video throughout the semester.

The course is cross-listed with JWST, and may be taken towards the minor in Jewish Studies, see the professor for details.


(4)  HEBREW CONVERSATION (HEBREW 205)

HEBR-205-010; Cross-listed with JWST-205-010
Credits: 3
Professor:  Dr. Eynat Gutman
E-mail:  eynat@udel.edu

Pre-requisite: Hebrew 107 or professor’s permission: students who had 3-4 years of Hebrew in high school are usually also good candidates for this course. Other students may qualify! See description below.

Come and strengthen your conversational skills, learn/(improve) future tense, and be exposed to Israeli culture, through discussions, conversations, texts, audio and visual material, and have fun! You will feel much more comfortable if you travel to Israel!

Description: In this course, our main focus is improving our speaking and listening skills, although some emphasis is put on reading and writing. The students who come to Hebrew Conversation are expected to be proficient in the present and past tenses, and able to apply all language skills to many of the following topics: The University, Food, Family, Body Parts, Aches and Pains, the Days of the Week and Time. Throughout the course, the students will carry discussions, conversations, perform pair-work, and listen to auditory and visual materials. The topics of this semester will include The Revival of Hebrew, My Home (past, present and future) and Future Plans. Grammatically, we will focus mainly on acquiring the future tense in conversation and writing. Also, the students will be coached and then perform a presentation of an oral report on a topic of their choice, given several options.

The course is cross-listed with JWST, and may be taken towards the minor in Jewish Studies, see the professor for details.


(5)  CONTEMPORARY ISRAEL THROUGH FILM (HEBREW 209)
 
Credits: 3
Professor:  Dr. Eynat Gutman
E-mail:  eynat@udel.edu

Prerequisite: Hebrew 205 or professor’s permission (see below).
Requirement: The course satisfies a group B requirement and a multicultural requirement. It also counts towards the minor in JWST, regardless of any other Hebrew course one has already applied towards the minor.

If your Hebrew level is (at least) intermediate, this 200 level course is for you. The following background is a prerequisite: 2 years of Hebrew at the university, OR 4 years of Hebrew high school education, in a good program. People who lived a year in Israel may also be ready for this course, etc. etc.

This course presents a fascinating introduction to topics in Israeli society through Israeli cinema. While you strengthen your abilities in Hebrew, you will enjoy watching films, and learn a great deal about Israeli history, culture and society.

Description: This course is designed to introduce English-speaking students to Israeli culture and society. The primary objective is to help learners improve their skills in Hebrew for the purposes of oral and written communication and reading comprehension, while acquiring an extensive knowledge on Israeli society, history and culture.

The course’s subtitle, The construction and deconstruction of the myth of the Israeli Sabra, focuses on movies that reflect ideological and social changes in the Israeli society, dating from The War of Independence (1948) and before, to the Lebanon war (1982). It is a survey of a journey from the pre-state and state-initial days of strong commitment to Zionism, to more modern times, where the Zionist ideology is seriously challenged. In the Zionist ideology, the Sabra, the image of a native Israeli Jew, was portrayed as a strong land worker, who is brave and always willing to sacrifice his life to defend his land. Through the development of the young state, this image is seriously questioned and challenged.

QUESTIONS? Please e-mail the professor!


(6)  MODERN ISRAEL: CULTURE AND IDENTITY (FLLT 345)
 
Credits: 3
Professor:  Dr. Eynat Gutman
E-mail:  eynat@udel.edu

Requirements: The course satisfies a group B requirement.

Interested in the study of modern Israeli culture? This course will enlighten you in many ways: what are the origins of Zionism? Who is an Israeli Sabra? How did factors and events like the Holocaust and the Arab-Israeli conflict shape the Israeli society of today? Taught in English, the course will address such questions.

From the inception of Zionism until today, many factors have contributed to a diverse and intriguing Israeli society. "Modern Israel: Culture and Identity" looks into topics such as the following: the roots of Zionism, the concept of the Israeli Sabra, the effects of the Holocaust and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Through historical background and the study of film, literature and music, we try to arrive to an understanding of this complex culture.

The course is cross-listed with JWST, and may be taken towards the minor in Jewish Studies.

No knowledge of Hebrew is required; the course is taught in English.


(7)  INDEPENDENT STUDIES (HEBREW 366 AND 466)
 
Credits: 1-3
Professor:  Dr. Eynat Gutman
E-mail:  eynat@udel.edu

* See professor for more information and for section number.

These courses are provided for interested individuals on advanced conversation, grammar, reading or modern Israeli literature.