Considering Learning Hebrew?
If you are interested in learning the language that has survived centuries of history, that is spoken in Israel and beyond, learning Hebrew by doing a Hebrew language course may be perfect for you. It is an ancient and unique language that continues to fascinate and spark interest in people across the globe. Learning an additional language has many benefits for your personal and professional life. It can also be a fun activity that gets you out of your head and allows you to meet new people and make new friends. The good news is there are tons of Hebrew language courses currently available making it easy for you to learn Hebrew.
About the Hebrew Language
The Hebrew language, the Semitic language of the Northern Central, also known as the North-western group, is closely related to Moabite and Phoenician, with which it is often placed by scholars in a Canaanite subgroup. Spoken in ancient times in Palestine, Hebrew was supplanted by the western dialect of Aramaic beginning around the 3rd century BC; the language continued to be used as a literary and liturgical language, however, it was revived as a spoken language in the 19th and 20th centuries and is the official language of Israel.
The history of the Hebrew language is generally divided into four major periods: Biblical, or Classical, Hebrew, until about the 3rd century BC, in which most of the Old Testament is written; Rabbinic or Mishnaic, Hebrew, the language of Mishna, written around AD 200; Medieval Hebrew, from around the 6th to the 13th century AD, when many words were borrowed from Greek, Arabic, Spanish and other languages; and Modern Hebrew, the language of Israel in modern times. Scholars often agree that the oldest form of Hebrew is that of some of the Old Testament poems, in particular, the ‘Song of Deborah’ in chapter 5 of Judges.
About Israel
Israel is a country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded by Lebanon to the north, to the northwest by Syria, to the southeast and east by Jorden, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital and seat of government, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition. It is a rather small country with a relatively diverse typography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the central and north regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its easter border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.
Why Learn Hebrew?
Learning Hebrew provides excellent potential for connecting people to the culture and life of Israel, however, that is not all. The unique historical phenomenon of Hebrew’s revitalisation, secularisation and modernisation, in addition to its transformation into a spoken cultural medium, enables meaningful opportunities for learners to explore the purposes and evolution of the language and its function to sustaining and building communities worldwide. Hebrew is one of the two official languages of Israel. It is the primary language for over five million people and it is spoken by over nine people across the globe. Prior to its revitalisation, Hebrew served as a connector of communities across the world and thus powerfully exemplifies the capacity of the language to unite people across space and time.
Hebrew is becoming incredibly relevant in the world of international business, and mastering the Hebrew language has pragmatic benefits given Israel’s influence in world markets which continues to expand. Israel has the third biggest number of companies listed on the NASDAQ exchange, and is recognised across the globe at the cutting-edge of industry developing the technology for the future. Israel is a giant when it comes to innovation: a global leader in VC investment and R&D spending, and home to global R&D centres for the likes of Apple, Google and IBM. In light of their growing influence, fluency in Hebrew is a profound asset for a student’s future.
Course Content
You will learn about vocabulary and basic phrases and grammar. In other words, you will be able to greet others and introduce yourself, communicate in restaurants and shops and ask people how they are and questions about their lives. Students will be provided with cultural content, learn the alphabet, numbers, days of the week and months.
If you’re serious about learning Hebrew, check out courses near you in the Nightcourses.co.uk national course finder.
