Hebrew

HEBR 101, 102, 103: Elementary Modern Hebrew

Think beyond the Bible! Modern Hebrew is a vital language in several professional fields, from international relations to scientific engineering. This course sequence is for students with no previous knowledge of Modern Hebrew or whose test scores indicate that this is an appropriate level of placement. We will continually integrate listening, speaking, and writing in Hebrew, incorporating popular Israeli music, radio broadcasts, and films, into level appropriate class activities and assignments. Hebrew 103 will introduce the Jewish settlement of Pre-state Israel (1880s-1948) as a historical theme through which students will build proficiency in literary, conversational, and newspaper Hebrew. 6; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2007, Winter 2008, Spring 2008 -- S. Beckwith

HEBR 204: Intermediate Modern Hebrew

In this course students will strengthen their command of modern conversational literary, and newspaper Hebrew focusing this time on Israeli independence and nation building, or optionally, on a theme in wider Jewish history (no prior knowledge is necessary). As in the elementary sequence, we will continually integrate listening, speaking, reading and writing in Hebrew. Popular Israeli music, broadcasts, internet sources, and films, will complement the course's goals and class activities. 6; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Winter 2008 -- S. Beckwith

HEBR 221: Israeli Literature in the Middle East

We will survey the development of Israeli fiction, focusing on how Hebrew authors square with the Western and Middle Eastern elements in their surroundings. We will examine how European and Arab Jewish immigrants imagined Israel as a nation (1940s - 1950s). We will then study Israeli literature from the 1960s through the 1982 Lebanon War (a cultural catalyst), and the contemporary peace process. With this chronology we may foreground women's writing in Israel, and we will include one work of Palestinian, Egyptian or Lebanese fiction to extend our regional understanding. In translation; a portion of the coursework in Hebrew for advanced language students. 6; Arts and Literature, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement; offered Spring 2008 -- S. Beckwith