Bruchim Haba'im! Welcome to Hebrew language and literature at Carleton.

Think beyond the Bible! Modern Hebrew is a vitally important language, and knowing it gives students a tremendous edge in a wide range of professional fields: international relations and diplomacy, international trade and development, public or private sector business, social work, teaching and research in literature, history, or religion, archaeology, environmental protection, the computer industry, mathematics, biochemical engineering, and more.

For students who like logic or a language with many intriguing cultural layers, Modern Hebrew is definitely for them. Hebrew is the language of the Jewish people, but students do not have to be Jewish or have prior exposure to Hebrew to master it quickly and well from the ground up.

A professor who has lived in several settings in Israel, most recently as a Fulbright scholar, directs the Modern Hebrew program at Carleton. Specializing in contemporary Israeli literature and society, drawing on a combined background in Hebrew language, comparative literature (Israeli and Spanish), and international relations, she works closely with students as they progress in their Hebrew studies and as they integrate into their wider academic program and experience at Carleton.

The introductory sequence integrates listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Modern Hebrew at all levels, with steady exposure to a variety of texts by and for native Israeli speakers. Classroom activities involve popular Israeli music, radio programs and advertisements, and films, and introduce students to different aspects of contemporary Israeli culture and life in the Middle East. The more advanced language classes (HEBR 103 and 204) focus on Israeli and global Jewish history, as themes through which students strengthen their proficiency in modern literary, conversational, and newspaper Hebrew.

For students interested in an off-campus experience, there is a wide array of study options in Israel, and it is possible to create a program that specifically meets a student’s interests and career ambitions. In many cases it also will be possible to arrange for noncredit work experiences in Israel before or following a program.

Literature and Culture Courses: The special seminar for first-year students in Israeli and Palestinian literature and film, as well as the course offerings in Israeli and Middle Eastern literatures, are given in English, with all readings in translation. A portion of the course work beyond the first-year seminar is in Modern Hebrew, as determined by the language level of those enrolled.