tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75413655053351544222024-03-14T00:01:08.648-04:00Strategic HebrewAmy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-49706211749622488132019-07-02T15:17:00.003-04:002019-07-02T18:37:57.110-04:00Creating a Linguistic Landscape in Our Daily Lives<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A recent </span><a href="https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/286444/speaking-camp-hebrew?fbclid=IwAR1FfF7MxoXijXnuC9m799C22FxNuSd4uMibtAvDAltg0MkNc4c5ua6J0gU" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">article in Tablet Magazine</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> described the camper experience of Hebrew at </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">summer camps. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">The article observed that camp vocabulary included mainly nouns </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">sprinkled into camper conversation, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and noted that while “Camp Hebraized English” </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">is a “distinctive cultural phenomenon,” </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">it does not </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">contribute to conversational fluency </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">in an Israeli setting. As a seasonal experience, it adds flavor to </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">American Jewish life, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">which is meaningful with or without true linguistic competency. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-da12bebe-7fff-826f-4c1b-56f6ae93f45b" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Viewed from another perspective, however, the “Linguistic Landscape” can become </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">eminently valuable </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to those students of Hebrew language who wish to build and </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">improve </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">their conversational skills. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">Comfort </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">with a variety of vocabulary will only </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">help speakers </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">move to the next level. In a communicative setting, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">speakers need </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">to draw upon </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">vocabulary from a multitude of experiences and employ these to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">make </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">themselves </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">understood. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So, if the more words we know helps us to build our conversational skills and get our </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ideas across in </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">social settings, how can we boost this number? In other words, how </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">can we create a “Linguistic </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">Landscape” in our own daily lives? </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some ideas: </span></b></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Music</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> and M</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ovies</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> add an auditory element that lets listeners grow accustomed </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the rhythms and </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">flow of the language.</span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Print Media</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - novels, newspapers & magazines- require some concerted effort, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> but </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the value of sinking </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">into good literature and “Scavenger-hunting” familiar </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;"> roots in new </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">frames is priceless. </span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Picture Books </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">- offer vocabulary coupled with pictures. Different levels of books </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> offer </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">different </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">experiences and challenges. Use the pictures to build vocabulary </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;"> and search </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">the text for familiar words. Stories do not need to be “read” exactly </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;"> from the text but can </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">be “told” using accessible language. </span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Poetry </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">- offers a short & accessible text experience. As in one’s native language, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> poems </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">can be </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">understood differently upon each reading. Repeated readings will </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;"> yield more </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">vocabulary, greater fluency </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">and more complete understanding of the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;"> poem. </span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Wall Art </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">- these are casually available for view on a regular basis and add both </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> an </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">aesthetic and linguistic </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">element to home decor</span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Magnets</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - short phrases take less effort to comprehend, while repetition leads to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> recall </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">and memory</span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Cookbooks</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - recipes are short, concise, and offer a challenge with delicious </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> r</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">ewards!</span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 40.5pt; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Labels</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - for household objects, i.e. cabinet, refrigerator, air conditioner, blocks - </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> individual </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">words coupled </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;">with the physical object encourage learning through </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -40.5pt; white-space: pre;"> repetition and exposure</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As we delve into summer, we have more time to incorporate some of these ideas </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">into our </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">daily lives. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">Creating easy and meaningful opportunities to expose ourselves </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">to language </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">(for even five minutes a </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">day) will make a difference if we give ourselves </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">the chance. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Please share success stories (and challenges) in the comments below! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-25342231684382407212017-01-08T22:10:00.003-05:002017-01-08T22:10:38.733-05:00Why Focus on Strategies?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People ask about the name "Strategic Hebrew" all the time: "Why 'Strategic?'" What do you <i>do?</i> </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like to respond that language learning (and any other type of learning, for that matter) is <i>all</i> about strategies. It's a question of how well we can <i>use</i> what we know to help us in our lives.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the proverb goes, if you give a man a fish, you have reached one level of charity. However, if you teach him <i>how </i>to fish, you have rescued him from needing charity in the future, since he will have developed the skills to fend for himself.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All too often we focus on knowledge as finite, measurable quantities. Some knowledge may be finite (times tables, laws of physics, etc.) and much is measurable, but how often do we pay attention to the<i> quality of the thought process</i> that helps us arrive at the answers? Yes, there are certain pieces of information--facts, figures, etc, that are helpful to have at our fingertips through memorization. For everything else, there is time... and strategy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once you know how to read a map, you can find not only the grocery store, but the bank, the library, and the ice cream parlor. Think how much more powerful you feel knowing you have the wherewithal to navigate your own way around town! If you've ever watched a child learning to read, you know how proud they are when they finally connect the sounds to make a recognizable word. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>More than the success of the moment, it's the realization that they can do it again in the future that bolsters the rush. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When applied to language learning, this suggests a new and different approach. If we step away from memorization of verb families for the moment, we can "zoom out" to see the interconnectedness of all the different parts of speech and the beauty and versatility of the 3-letter Hebrew root which serves as the foundation of the language. Once you learn the how to work with roots, you begin to understand how to manipulate them to suit different communicative purposes. Suddenly the value of all parts of the language become clear and the learner can bring the pieces together for practical application. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Strategic Hebrew is about focusing on the forest in order to appreciate the trees that make up the beautiful language, and then using that conceptual understanding to best advantage. </span></div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-58395964523346947522015-11-12T19:38:00.004-05:002021-10-24T06:31:02.652-04:00Disrupting Hebrew Class<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The classroom is abuzz with energetic conversation. Children jump out of their seats with excitement. Discoveries abound, personalizing the experience for each individual student. Every day brings a new depth of comprehension. The teacher guides, answers questions, suggests a new strategy of attack. Students are eager, curious and determined to achieve their objective. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5a158466-fe46-08e6-1a59-b10363e88951" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is this a competitive game or a party? There must be food involved for students to get this excited...</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nope, no food. No games. It’s a serious Hebrew class! Really. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No gimmicks, no competition, no prizes beyond the self-satisfaction of wrestling with the meaning of Hebrew text. Strategic Hebrew focuses on building strategies for independence and agency in language acquisition. It is unlike any Hebrew class I’ve ever seen before. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time flies as inquisitive students plumb the depths of text, engaging in animated discussion about content. Each day brings a greater capacity for understanding, a higher skill level, a deeper comprehension of the prayers and a stronger connection to the Hebrew language. The popcorn cries of “I found it!” “Oh, that’s what that means!” and “There it is!” arise in delightful chorus.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students feel increasingly capable. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They develop tools for parsing the text into meaningful prefixes and suffixes. They learn about syntax of adjectives and nouns. They understand what a root is and how to identify them in context. They teach themselves to recognize vocabulary that repeats and rely on memory to enhance understanding. The test is the text itself… and every student engages on their own level, sharing word attack strategies that propel comprehension forward. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Starting with the text, students themselves are in the driver’s seat of their Hebrew education. Class concludes with a reflection on the new insights developed that day. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every single strategy learned can be applied to numerous real life situations beyond the classroom. Math, science, literature, bnei mitzvah… Students are encouraged to make connections between their discoveries in class and elsewhere in their lives. They learn to ask: Why are these words relevant? Where else have you encountered them? Where else might they come in handy? How did I figure this out?</span></div>
<br /><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The recipe for success is simple: Palpable excitement, durable learning, meaningful process, transferable strategies. With these goals in mind, such engagement with Hebrew text is always possible! </span></div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-58774193324062434692015-03-30T21:07:00.004-04:002021-10-24T06:35:46.529-04:00Celebrating Hebrew Over Dinner and קינוח* <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does it take to bring people to the table to engage with Hebrew?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You might be surprised how infrequently Hebrew is spoken in America. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is there room for more conversational opportunities? Absolutely. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ib8gNy9ZaYE/VRn5BPBYjAI/AAAAAAAAIXQ/XKqHhHD48PQ/s1600/1775e63f2e570f54301596a8741ee02b.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ib8gNy9ZaYE/VRn5BPBYjAI/AAAAAAAAIXQ/XKqHhHD48PQ/s1600/1775e63f2e570f54301596a8741ee02b.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday night’s Celebrate Hebrew Dinner proved this point clearly, as 26 participants took part in a pressure-free evening of delicious food and celebration of language. Throughout the evening, pockets of conversation discussed topics as various as amusing faux paux and prior exposure to Hebrew to career choices and leisure activities. There was a calm vibe in the candlelit room and the majority of the crowd stayed to talk late into the night.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was Hebrew spoken the entire time? Not necessarily. Was the language at the forefront of everyone’s mind for the evening? Absolutely. Conversations occurred on all levels of proficiency and thrived even between speakers on different levels. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few lovely examples:</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A native speaker described her profession to a Hebrew novice, who listened for key words to successfully understand the gist.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A group of ladies discussed challenges of learning Hebrew compared to other languages such as Russian and Spanish. </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many diners explored their Hebrew menus and discussed the catered food with the help of a specially formatted Dictionary Page. </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Others discussed their interest in learning to understand the prayers and build their reading skills. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Between these conversational topics and a variety of available books and games (Harry Potter, Taboo, etc.) there was plenty of fodder for conversation. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Response to initial promotion of the event was mixed: Do I know enough Hebrew to get through the meal? Will I understand anything anyone else is saying? What if I love the language and want to learn… but don’t know many words yet? Will there be enough or any native speakers in the room for me to speak with? These queries led to fascinating conversations. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ultimately, those in attendance agreed that it was an enjoyable and memorable evening that inspired confidence in their ability to communicate in Hebrew. Everyone was sensitive about helping everyone else feel comfortable and welcome. Many asked to be informed about the next one. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s make these opportunities a reality by spreading the word of what is possible in the realm of engaging Hebrew experiences. What themes or activities would you like to see explored in Hebrew in the future? </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">dessert</span></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-87853143573075355762014-09-23T15:10:00.002-04:002022-12-13T01:48:27.068-05:00City Explorers: Sights of NYC 2014<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Last week we celebrated the kickoff of </i>Strategic Hebrew City Explorers <i>with our first "Sights of NYC" tour. From August 25-29, our Explorers (aged 7-12) and their Madrichot toured NYC attractions in Hebrew. At each stop on the tour, students learned new vocabulary and experienced the sights, tastes and history of this great city.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Explorers came from Jewish Day School and public school backgrounds, some had attended Hebrew school and some were fully conversant in Hebrew. Each student was paired with a madricha (Language Guide) who encouraged conversation and supported the learning process. All showed dramatic improvement in their skills during the course of the week.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Madrichot had completed last years' Leaders Fellowship, where they learned about language acquisition, lesson planning and how to foster strategy development in Hebrew language learners. They are</i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> leaders in their own school communities and are committed to the goal of revitalizing Hebrew language in fun settings. </i></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Over the five days, the Explorers learned how to pay attention to the strategies they used to understand the spoken Hebrew and written activities. They spent time drafting scripts for screen plays about the venues and shared helpful tips with each other. </i></span></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We were very pleased to watch the Explorers gain confidence in speaking Hebrew throughout the week and are proud of their linguistic discoveries. </span></i></div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>As they return to school this fall, we expect that their performance in all subjects will benefit from the language strategies and cognitive skills they acquired during this week. </i></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Here is a brief recap of our week and what the Explorers had to say about their experiences:</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DAY ONE: Lower East Side Tasting Tour</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IfjmYAjYhe4/VAAgykT0FgI/AAAAAAAAEnM/BGLM_aayhaU/s1600/IMG_4509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IfjmYAjYhe4/VAAgykT0FgI/AAAAAAAAEnM/BGLM_aayhaU/s1600/IMG_4509.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teambuilding: Find that <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">בָּקְבּוּק</span>! <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">יְמִינָה, שְֹמאֹלָה, קָדִימָה.</span>..<br />
(Find that bottle... right, left, forward...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zNNNqtmhK1U/VAAg5JIQv1I/AAAAAAAAEnU/lhh2c1n8ME0/s1600/IMG_4518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zNNNqtmhK1U/VAAg5JIQv1I/AAAAAAAAEnU/lhh2c1n8ME0/s1600/IMG_4518.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Essex Street Market<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> בִּינְגוֹ</span> (bingo)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"אֵיפֹה פִּיתָה"</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Where's the pita)</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">?</i><br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey... is banana really </i><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">בָּנָנָה</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (banana) in Hebrew?" </i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uldE-3LsAVM/VAAiIKWOfBI/AAAAAAAAEpc/bG6zwvGn2-E/s1600/IMG_4588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uldE-3LsAVM/VAAiIKWOfBI/AAAAAAAAEpc/bG6zwvGn2-E/s1600/IMG_4588.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenwriting at the<br />
Eldridge Street Synagogue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQD4PzLuD9w/VAX59kAFm8I/AAAAAAAAE5s/NMIn6hZexYE/s1600/0825141448d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQD4PzLuD9w/VAX59kAFm8I/AAAAAAAAE5s/NMIn6hZexYE/s1600/0825141448d.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum, <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">חַמוּצִים</span> (pickles)!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I pretended I knew what to do & followed the others. It was my first day hearing spoken Hebrew!"</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I especially enjoyed the pickles!"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I learned the names of lots of foods in the Bingo game."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DAY TWO: </b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">שָֹפָה וְטֶבָע</span> </span></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Language and Nature</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_0RcCk7Oqz0/VAYa9OPEWuI/AAAAAAAAE54/25ZTDLoo5VU/s1600/0826141131d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_0RcCk7Oqz0/VAYa9OPEWuI/AAAAAAAAE54/25ZTDLoo5VU/s1600/0826141131d.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower scavenger hunt in the<br />
Conservatory Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQVPXOQlVDY/VAAjA6gJtrI/AAAAAAAAEq0/JPCMw4wLVEo/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQVPXOQlVDY/VAAjA6gJtrI/AAAAAAAAEq0/JPCMw4wLVEo/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">שִֹיחוֹת </span>(discussions)<br />
at the Jewish Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I learned that it helps to keep repeating new words throughout the day."</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I asked questions." </i><br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I learned to say 'wheels' and 'raccoon'"</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMlpv5ASN9Y/VAAippTjYAI/AAAAAAAAEqU/mk4dRISh-QU/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMlpv5ASN9Y/VAAippTjYAI/AAAAAAAAEqU/mk4dRISh-QU/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" height="150" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">הַמָדְרִיכוֹת הַיָפוֹת</span><br />
(Our lovely counselors!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9iFwdCYcCY/VAAjibkd6ZI/AAAAAAAAEr8/6wZVZneA0bY/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9iFwdCYcCY/VAAjibkd6ZI/AAAAAAAAEr8/6wZVZneA0bY/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflecting on the art of language.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"The painting that I loved is called 'Misunderstandings' because it is so abstract." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I learned names of plants!"</i></span></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I feel more confident speaking Hebrew!"</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DAY THREE: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">פֶּסֶל הַחֵרוּת</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Statue of Liberty)!</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFXDmsUfYWk/VAAmeNivV8I/AAAAAAAAExo/8WtA1db9-_A/s1600/IMG_5002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFXDmsUfYWk/VAAmeNivV8I/AAAAAAAAExo/8WtA1db9-_A/s1600/IMG_5002.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partners in historical discovery...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-st3PENxrkjs/VAAmSso3ggI/AAAAAAAAExU/CDsM9YN-aCo/s1600/IMG_4973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-st3PENxrkjs/VAAmSso3ggI/AAAAAAAAExU/CDsM9YN-aCo/s1600/IMG_4973.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Give me your tired, your poor,<br />
your huddled masses yearning to<br />
breathe free.... I lift my lamp beside<br />
your golden door."<br />
--Emma Lazarus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-40rwH_B6eZY/VAAmqkw6KHI/AAAAAAAAEyE/D6k15sSd5DU/s1600/IMG_5017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-40rwH_B6eZY/VAAmqkw6KHI/AAAAAAAAEyE/D6k15sSd5DU/s1600/IMG_5017.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowning ourselves:<br />
"Lady Liberty's Attendants"<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conversations overheard in Hebrew:</span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I liked speaking in Hebrew because I used new words."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I never knew you could go inside the statue!"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Did you know how long it took to build her?"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning Hebrew </i><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">בָּחוּץ</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (outside) is fun!"</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DAY FOUR: Life and Video </b></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Or6eWbHAxBmeqnjTHaCkdlVe44fq9ZOjMMauhhDatHE=w462-h611-no" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="HAa Eha" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Or6eWbHAxBmeqnjTHaCkdlVe44fq9ZOjMMauhhDatHE=w462-h611-no" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">How long are your <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">כְּנָפַיִים</span> (wings)?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wHZijjJzQ-QhfFRU4dBRH_xRAs8eu2Pi8CoOTsJXtZk=w384-h562-no" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="HAa Eha" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wHZijjJzQ-QhfFRU4dBRH_xRAs8eu2Pi8CoOTsJXtZk=w384-h562-no" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun with the <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">פֶּנְגְוִוינִים</span> (penguins)!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="HAa Eha" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vmHaHroZLei5EA9PCPmLMMQPe_-xv1xkJpN0QKfbPrY=w749-h562-no" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you jump as far as a <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">נַמֵר </span>(leopard)?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"After Tuesday, I found myself thinking in Hebrew... but since I didn't know all the words yet, I couldn't quite understand my own thoughts. Today it's </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">making more sense!</span></i></div>
<div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"At the zoo, I learned how to describe animals and the names of animals I didn't know before. "</i></div>
<div>
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We created a news broadcast and interviewed the animals. We asked them what their names were in Hebrew. I was the Director!"</i><br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DAY FIVE: Nature Walk & Ice cream</b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IdQnohljN8U/VAkWjTsu5NI/AAAAAAAAF1U/09EQd6YObO0/w749-h562-no/0829141414a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="HAa Eha" height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IdQnohljN8U/VAkWjTsu5NI/AAAAAAAAF1U/09EQd6YObO0/w749-h562-no/0829141414a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZfI5cCs2Ok/VBJRWZ9nGjI/AAAAAAAAFkU/ZMvsoTdJ_jI/s1600/0829141411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZfI5cCs2Ok/VBJRWZ9nGjI/AAAAAAAAFkU/ZMvsoTdJ_jI/s1600/0829141411.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ordering Gelato in Hebrew.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>After a week of speaking in Hebrew, Explorers had the following to say about their experience:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3SJ2FtAls5iAocjAlTzERxyE6z5HP-OF8PE3T8GmWn0=w717-h254-no" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="HAa Eha" height="112" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3SJ2FtAls5iAocjAlTzERxyE6z5HP-OF8PE3T8GmWn0=w717-h254-no" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I learned conversation skills and that Mel Bochner is awesome!"</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I feel proud of my progress." </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I didn't know that I knew enough Hebrew to speak for a whole day... but know I know I can. And I feel proud!"</i></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We played Taboo... I see how you can play Taboo in your head when you are looking for the right word"</i></div>
<div>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yum, delicious day!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We invite you to join us for more language adventures with City Explorers during school vacations in December, June and August. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Visit <span style="color: blue;">http://www.strategichebrew.com/strategic-hebrew-city-explorers.html </span>for more details!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-51302678138685005922014-07-24T13:51:00.000-04:002014-07-24T13:51:22.823-04:00How to Have a Conversation About Strategies<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But I never learned Hebrew before now!” a student protests.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-3db35fde-697b-83a5-0346-c10b2b331434" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The question at hand was how students knew how to follow directions given entirely in Hebrew during the preceding activity. This student assumes that the “right answer” involves translating unfamiliar Hebrew words. He feels frustrated as his inability to perform.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do we turn this conversation on its head into a positive learning experience? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step one: diffusing tension</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most important thing is to assure the students that they are not being asked to define vocabulary at this moment. Emphasize “how did you understand?” rather than “what do the words mean?” Refocus the conversation into the realm of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">strategies:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We are so glad you are starting your Hebrew journey now. Of course no one expects you to understand everything in one day! But I noticed that you were able to play the game with us just a few moments ago. Can you tell me how you knew what to do?” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By complimenting the student on his success so far, we empower him to reflect on the tools he already has at his disposal. He may still need time to vocalize his answer. Tell him you will come back to him after giving a few other students a chance to share their strategies. (It’s important not to forget to call on him after two or three other students). </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step two: guided metacognition</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prompt the students to identify their process with some of the following questions:</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How did you know where to go/what to do?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where did you look for help?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you recognize any words that you heard?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Were there any clues besides the Hebrew words? </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many students will acknowledge strategies such as following other students, listening for words they knew, vocal inflections, watching teacher’s hand motions, even guessing. All of these are legitimate strategies. The goal is to encourage the students to be honest about their metacognitive response to hearing the language.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 3: emotional reconnaissance </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once students own up to the “tricks” they used during the immersion part of the lesson, push them to explore their visceral response in greater depth. </span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How did you </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">feel</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when we were speaking only in Hebrew?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you need to know </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ALL </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the words in order to participate, or just </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SOME</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Are there any words you heard more than once? Do you have a guess what they might mean?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What did you learn about your ability to learn the language?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you feel successful? </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step four: reflection and planning</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that the students have unpacked the strategies they used to understand the foreign language, they can begin to think critically about what worked best and what tools they may want to make use of in the future. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was it enough just to follow other students or is it important to start listening for key words among the rush of language? What will help you to build your Hebrew skills?</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which words did you find most helpful? What can you do to help you remember important new words? </span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Repeat them aloud? </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write them down? </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review them at home?</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What might you do differently next time you hear Hebrew? </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What strategies did you hear other students using that you can try in the future?</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Summary</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ultimately, our goal is to prove to students that when it comes to language, there are many different strategies they can use to succeed. As they grow more comfortable applying strategies, their word recognition and familiarity with the language will only grow. They will also see that the same strategies can be applied to many other areas of school and life. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The key is that working from strategies to automaticity (rather than through vocabulary memorization) will afford students the tools to expand their skills beyond the walls of the classroom. </span></div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-38872259128992146112014-06-26T17:56:00.002-04:002022-12-13T01:48:17.346-05:00Frequently Asked Questions: Why learn Hebrew through a touring program??? <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why learn Hebrew while touring NYC?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, the question really should be “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">why not???</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learning a language is about communication and effective sharing of information. It’s not about passing a test in a room with four walls. So, if we can practice making ourselves understood </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">anywhere</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, why not practice while </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">doing something fun?!</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-06834bb5-da29-3578-cb9d-db8bf5f57052" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where does the concept of City Explorers come from?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NYC is home to many different cultural venues. Why not take advantage of the talent and skill of the many native Hebrew speaking tour guides, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, artists and artisans in the city? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sightseeing component adds an extra element of motivation to language studies and creates unforgettable location-centric memories. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What can participants expect to learn?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We know that there are many different ways to learn a language, so we focus on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">strategies</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that can be applied to every situation and every subject. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Participants will be surrounded by the sounds of the Hebrew language and engage in hands-on experiences during the program. Through the lens of language exploration, participants pay attention to their brain’s efforts to make sense of information and develop tools and strategies to advance their understanding. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join us in stepping </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">out</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the classroom and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">into</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the great, wide, communicative world!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who is this geared for?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">City Explorers are children ages 6 -- 11 who are excited about Hebrew language and are looking for a different kind of learning experience. Some (English) writing skills are helpful as students will have opportunities to reflect on their experiences at different points throughout the program.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All levels--from absolute beginner to native speaker--welcome and supported.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does my child need to know any Hebrew to participate? What if his/her Hebrew skills are rusty? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There will be activities appropriate for different levels of Hebrew, and all will be supported throughout the program. The games, scavenger hunts and discussions will be led by our talented Strategic Hebrew fellows who are prepared to work with mixed age and ability groups.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t sweat it… we’ll give your children all the vocabulary and tools they need to enjoy the program!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They will come away with some new vocabulary, but more than that, they will have the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">opportunity to watch themselves figure out what to do and how to make themselves understood</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in this Hebrew centered environment.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What if I am a native speaker and my children are fluent?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your children are welcome to come along and help contribute to the Hebrew atmosphere we strive to cultivate. Of course, they won’t be stuck with the beginning language learners all day! All activities are led by native speakers who maintain a high level of Hebrew exposure throughout the program. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There will be activities appropriate to each conversational level, and really… who doesn’t love a trip to the zoo?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who are the counselors?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Small groups of Explorers are led by Fellows who have taken part in the Strategic Hebrew Leaders Fellowship. American high school students with strong language skills, Fellows have spent time studying the process of language acquisition and are prepared to guide your children through their experience. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For an in-depth look at our training program, check out our recap of the </span><a href="http://strategichebrew.blogspot.com/2013/09/strategic-hebrew-leaders-fellowship.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategic Hebrew Leaders Fellowship in 2013</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tell me more about the team?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amy Fechter, Program Director, is also Curriculum Strategist at </span><a href="http://www.strategichebrew.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategic Hebrew, Inc.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Winner of the 2013 Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, Amy brings over a decade of classroom experience with students ages 3-adult. In founding Strategic Hebrew, Amy incorporated the principles of constructivist learning from Bank Street College of Education, where she received her Masters’ Degree in Literacy. She delights in inspiring confidence and cultivating </span><a href="http://strategichebrew.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&max-results=1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">popcorn moments</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> among American Hebrew speakers. </span></div>
<br />
<br />Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-20518005202493041342014-04-10T22:40:00.000-04:002014-07-09T22:17:15.636-04:00Fostering “Aha Moments”<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>“Well, we might as well highlight the whole page,” </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>says one student philosophically</b>, realizing he knew how to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">read and understand</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> nearly all the Hebrew words in the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">מַה נִֹשְתָנָה (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Four Questions asked on Passover) <i>for the first time!</i> </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-7573dbf7-4e89-dcbf-5b22-1fcaf82af3fc" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UhoHqlCMvf17uLa6Om8SsfELY8_hwYVXdlXcqoFi-SBpwE2RI4HFE8sI2tTsDeuPlYsX021luY3-AOUZagMVOV6RTpD78JokXCujuDqByUK5_ZH94NxDqS6m8vSz4qlnmw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UhoHqlCMvf17uLa6Om8SsfELY8_hwYVXdlXcqoFi-SBpwE2RI4HFE8sI2tTsDeuPlYsX021luY3-AOUZagMVOV6RTpD78JokXCujuDqByUK5_ZH94NxDqS6m8vSz4qlnmw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none;" width="237px;" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For several weeks this spring, students have listened to Hebrew children’s stories, conducted an in-depth study of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">לַילָה טוֹב יָרֵחַ</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodnight Moon</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) and begun to craft original short stories with the vocabulary and grammar they have learned in our JJP </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrew Through Children’s Storybooks</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> course. Every session has pushed the students incrementally farther in their understanding of the Hebrew language leading up to today’s spontaneous revelation.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were reading a pattern story about a boy’s discoveries on the road to visit his grandmother. The end of each page posed the question: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?מַה מָצְאוּ בַּדֶרֶךְ</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (What did they find on the path)?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of a sudden we heard sounds of “popcorn” popping all over the room. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Wait…!!!” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’ve heard that word before!!!”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is it anything like </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manishtana</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exactly right! This is the moment we had been building toward all semester!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To emphasize to students the depth of their knowledge, we wrote the words of the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> Ma Nishtana </i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on chart paper. This is a song the students had been practicing for weeks in preparation for Passover. They could read it, sing it and even explain its main themes. However, it was clear after a few moments that they had not yet discovered how many of the Hebrew words they could actually understand on their own, by virtue of their studies in modern Hebrew literature. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So we created a challenge:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The students were tasked with highlighting each word they could READ </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AND</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> UNDERSTAND in the text (not words they kinda, sorta, like, almost got the gist of). Then they got to work.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46dEoqZnlDs/U0dQDW_RB_I/AAAAAAAAA2o/cK7icCGkue4/s1600/unnamed-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46dEoqZnlDs/U0dQDW_RB_I/AAAAAAAAA2o/cK7icCGkue4/s1600/unnamed-8.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Word by word, students discussed whether they heard it before and what they thought it meant. Several times, they delved into their personal dictionaries to confirm the meaning of a word they had learned in another context. They identified prefixes, plural word endings and verb roots, applying many of the language strategies we have been practicing. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>All the while, there was such excitement and pride on their faces! </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many were truly amazed by their own ability to read and understand the familiar yet still foreign Hebrew text. We were so immersed in our discoveries that I forgot to take photos of the learning in action! But you can see the final highlighted product on the left.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of the class, students shared several observations about their own learning. One student commented, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>“When I see Hebrew, now I try to read it… more than I did before.”</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Another student added that he is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>“not so afraid to speak Hebrew now because I didn’t think I could do it before.”</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> See the following journal entries for further reflections.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2xr5B54XTkQ/U0dQCygoTKI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/cw35kbpwkDA/s1600/unnamed-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2xr5B54XTkQ/U0dQCygoTKI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/cw35kbpwkDA/s1600/unnamed-6.jpg" height="200" width="149" /><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"> </span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zG1u8L8_Ow0/U0dQCw18IrI/AAAAAAAAA2U/mY46L17Dxl0/s1600/unnamed-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zG1u8L8_Ow0/U0dQCw18IrI/AAAAAAAAA2U/mY46L17Dxl0/s1600/unnamed-5.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"> </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ouciZjKPTJk/U0dQC-rKx9I/AAAAAAAAA2c/rOT5fVYW3ts/s1600/unnamed-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ouciZjKPTJk/U0dQC-rKx9I/AAAAAAAAA2c/rOT5fVYW3ts/s1600/unnamed-7.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;">There is a midway point in every course where the tenor of our studies changes. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;">Several things happen at once:</span></span><br />
<br />
<ul style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gVe7MRCCMU8/U0dQ_D7AtvI/AAAAAAAAA20/UZ6hjl3oQwg/s1600/unnamed-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gVe7MRCCMU8/U0dQ_D7AtvI/AAAAAAAAA20/UZ6hjl3oQwg/s1600/unnamed-4.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students recognize the value of what they are learning… for it’s own sake. </span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They begin to draw connections between the coursework and their own lives.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They exhibit a greater “buy in” to future lessons as a direct result of recognizing their own progress.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When, like today, the students begin to see real meaning in the prayers they encounter in their religious and family lives... these are the transformative “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">aha</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” moments that both students and teachers will treasure for a lifetime. </span></b></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
</div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-30401972818127088272013-09-24T14:58:00.000-04:002013-09-24T14:58:19.864-04:00“What the world needs now are good Jewish educators” --A Holiday Reminiscence<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the season of holidays culminates with Simchat Torah this week, I cannot help but reminisce about my days in "Junior Congregation" with master educator, Leo Reich, z"l, who untangled the mystery of the Hebrew prayers and made the synagogue experience come to life in vivid technicolor. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">His dedicated leadership and obvious love of both subject and student created a strong foundation upon which I am building my own career in Jewish Education. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">During one of our last conversations, Mr. Reich emphasized that the world needs good, committed, Jewish educators. His words ring in the background of my thoughts whenever I contemplate my choice of profession.</span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Reich was everyone’s adopted father, grandfather, and friend in the Baltimore Jewish community. As principal of the Hebrew school and director of children’s programming for the Ner Tamid Greenspring Valley Synagogue, his soft-spoken, compelling personality drew children from all over the neighborhood specifically to hear his stories and participate in Junior Congregation. “Uncle Leo” made each one of us feel important as members of the Jewish community and took even the most troublesome youngsters under his wing.</span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He also made the prayers come alive. </span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every week, Mr. Reich would conduct a search for the biggest, brightest “Ashrei smile” and give the winner a boost to show off his or her grin. He would tell us to touch our dress clothes before we said the blessing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Malbish Arumim” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(...who clothes the naked) and close our eyes to appreciate the blessing of sight before reciting “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pokeach Ivrim</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” (...who gives sight to the blind). </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prayer had meaning that connected directly with my life--it encouraged me to consider gifts I never really noticed before: the ability to stand up straight, to be free and not imprisoned, to place my feet on steady, dry land. And with Mr. Reich pointing out the meaning of a different phrase within the liturgy every Shabbat, prayer was not an exercise in rote memorization. </span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We children never rushed to leave, knowing as we did that the service would be followed by sugar cookies and stories that we would treasure for years to come. My favorite stories are those from Mr. Reich’s own army days, in which he shared memories of trying to keep Kosher while serving in a wartime army and tales of the people he met while peeling potatoes during KP duty, people whose lives he surely touched. </span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking at Mr. Reich’s legacy, I would venture to say that the good Jewish educators the world needs are people like him, whose dedication to the calling and compassion for every person are so deeply felt by everyone nearby.</span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The field of education is unique in that it requires the engagement of both head and heart, intellect and emotion, and Jewish education is no exception. The teacher’s job is to inspire and motivate the learner to further investigation and growth. It requires sensitivity to the students' feelings and a knack for knowing when to push them to a new level of understanding and when to remain a patient and constant support. </span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More than personnel, it’s personality that will make the biggest difference in students’ lives, affecting the way they experience and remember the material. It is up to us, as educators, to prepare them with both the tools and the desire to continue learning even after they leave our care. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy Fechter is Founder and Curriculum Strategist at Strategic Hebrew, Inc., which is creating a dynamic new approach to Hebrew language instruction through activity-based learning. Many of the guiding principles of the *Strategic* approach derive from Leo Reich's compelling example of how to engage and inspire a commitment to Jewish learning and Hebrew language. </span></i></span></div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-69249650079043504002013-09-03T16:57:00.000-04:002013-09-03T16:57:48.250-04:00Strategic Hebrew Leaders' Fellowship<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddCn6xKezVM/UiVen3xPMtI/AAAAAAAAALQ/XG4N8nGnt8U/s1600/IMG_4073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddCn6xKezVM/UiVen3xPMtI/AAAAAAAAALQ/XG4N8nGnt8U/s320/IMG_4073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This August, a group of talented high school students formed the first cohort of the Strategic Hebrew Leaders Fellowship. For five days, they toured NYC attractions speaking only in Hebrew and learning about language acquisition.</i></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>The fellows came from Long Island, New Rochelle, Connecticut and as far away as Maryland to participate in this cutting edge program that encouraged them to develop strategies for improving Hebrew skills in an immersion environment. All are leaders in their own school communities and are committed to the goal of revitalizing Hebrew language in fun settings. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>During the week, the fellows learned how to plan lessons for teaching Hebrew as a second language through </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>sports events, museum tours and interactive games</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>. They became quite resourceful about using their knowledge base to express increasingly complex ideas and can now quickly assess each situation to determine what they already know and what additional tools are necessary. </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>As they return to school this fall, we hope their performance in all subjects will benefit from the language strategies and cognitive skills they acquired during this week. </i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We were very pleased to watch the fellows gain confidence in speaking Hebrew throughout the fellowship and are proud of their dedication and commitment to making the program a success. </span></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Here is a brief recap of our week and what the fellows had to say about their experiences:</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DAY ONE: Getting Acquainted</b></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8JAHkLzyLAg/UiVNd2pfYmI/AAAAAAAAAIM/AVm2OH2NIeM/s1600/IMG_3899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8JAHkLzyLAg/UiVNd2pfYmI/AAAAAAAAAIM/AVm2OH2NIeM/s200/IMG_3899.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice breakers in Central Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oHOR4YSXslA/UiVOMKLjIxI/AAAAAAAAAIg/9HuGqJQgv5s/s1600/IMG_3918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oHOR4YSXslA/UiVOMKLjIxI/AAAAAAAAAIg/9HuGqJQgv5s/s200/IMG_3918.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do you say Gelato in Hebrew? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I was proud that I could understand most of what people said to me." </i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I learned it is important to try... and to make mistakes."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DAY TWO: Movement and Daily Life</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ejn0eGJkGyg/UiVVlGr468I/AAAAAAAAAKY/v4X1vwkVyuw/s1600/IMG_3972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ejn0eGJkGyg/UiVVlGr468I/AAAAAAAAAKY/v4X1vwkVyuw/s200/IMG_3972.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">בעיטה... סיבוב... 1...2...3..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ifKwDR0fHn8/UiVWAGWqFcI/AAAAAAAAAKo/OQ6VqfLbfRA/s1600/IMG_3990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ifKwDR0fHn8/UiVWAGWqFcI/AAAAAAAAAKo/OQ6VqfLbfRA/s200/IMG_3990.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing in the Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I learned that it helps to keep repeating new words throughout the day." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I learned how to say chills and goosebumps."</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q8DXk5x-iUM/UiVVueVPV0I/AAAAAAAAAKk/RTFUZFb_EU8/s1600/IMG_4009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q8DXk5x-iUM/UiVVueVPV0I/AAAAAAAAAKk/RTFUZFb_EU8/s320/IMG_4009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ladies are at home to receive visitors... at the Merchant House Museum. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"To learn a new language, you have to be relaxed." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I got used to speaking in Hebrew and not answering in English." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I liked the opportunity to be a tour guide at the museum." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DAY THREE: Communication and Identity</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTLiwitwIbg/UiVeO-vaZLI/AAAAAAAAAK4/878jc9Qai7c/s1600/IMG_4043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTLiwitwIbg/UiVeO-vaZLI/AAAAAAAAAK4/878jc9Qai7c/s200/IMG_4043.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have a match!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H-qIDWaAaqM/UiVeXY-6HEI/AAAAAAAAALA/flzzKNhLC4E/s1600/IMG_4042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H-qIDWaAaqM/UiVeXY-6HEI/AAAAAAAAALA/flzzKNhLC4E/s200/IMG_4042.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmn... how can I explain this in Hebrew?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"The drawing game forced me to be specific in my descriptions... or find other words to make myself understood."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I liked speaking in Hebrew because I used new words."</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cRVYBR8BGek/UiVed6b-_DI/AAAAAAAAALI/LLENF4s1MtU/s1600/IMG_4070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cRVYBR8BGek/UiVed6b-_DI/AAAAAAAAALI/LLENF4s1MtU/s320/IMG_4070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Scavenger Hunt in Conservatory Garden. We have a winner!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ePibu0eksTQ/UiVerQs1wAI/AAAAAAAAALY/lIY1r-s-sGk/s1600/IMG_4076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ePibu0eksTQ/UiVerQs1wAI/AAAAAAAAALY/lIY1r-s-sGk/s320/IMG_4076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tracing our roots at the Jewish Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"It was a treat to hear a whole tour in Hebrew. I learned lots of words I didn't know before."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"One strategy I used was listening for the context. Then I could figure out what the main idea was." </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It was my goal to speak more Hebrew today and I'm proud that I managed for almost the whole day."</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DAY FOUR: Nature and Adaptability</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I5RJV7IWYl4/UiVg8nAH3_I/AAAAAAAAALk/scBTx597NnY/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I5RJV7IWYl4/UiVg8nAH3_I/AAAAAAAAALk/scBTx597NnY/s320/IMG_4114.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guided tour of the penguin exhibit by one of our own fellows!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPPgcfVbTLg/UiVhEPodWnI/AAAAAAAAALs/fKF9IXg6gR0/s1600/IMG_4125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPPgcfVbTLg/UiVhEPodWnI/AAAAAAAAALs/fKF9IXg6gR0/s320/IMG_4125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The petting zoo was a rousing success.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"At the zoo, I learned how to describe animals and the names of animals I didn't know before. "</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I learned that it is important for a teacher to be flexible... and that language learning can happen anywhere."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DAY FIVE: Sustainability and Summary</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-poWGFMmpwds/UiViWC_zI8I/AAAAAAAAAL4/rRpibDmQTPQ/s1600/IMG_4153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-poWGFMmpwds/UiViWC_zI8I/AAAAAAAAAL4/rRpibDmQTPQ/s200/IMG_4153.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tour of Spanish Portuguese <br />Synagogue was easy to understand<br />and a fun way to learn about Jewish<br />history. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GN3mYvL6GUY/UiVicM4M0LI/AAAAAAAAAMA/aYrUKXFCQNo/s1600/IMG_4158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GN3mYvL6GUY/UiVicM4M0LI/AAAAAAAAAMA/aYrUKXFCQNo/s200/IMG_4158.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book club in Rockerfeller Center...<br />Harry Potter, A Little Prince, Peter Pan,<br />The Wizard of Oz... what strategies<br />do we need to understand these classics?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Today was a great way to sum up the program in an interactive way (especially when we ordered in Hebrew--it allowed us to see how applicable Hebrew speaking is, even where we'd least expect to use it (in a restaurant))"</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>And a few general reflections:</b></span><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I learned that it is better to be immersed in a language than to just study it."</i><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I liked the opportunity to be physically active while practicing and learning Hebrew in a fun and relaxed way."</i></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I learned to speak creatively in order to get my point across!"</i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I learned more words in this fun, interactive way. It's easier to remember the words because you </i><b>want</b><i> to learn it, not because you're in a classroom setting." </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-41621388096561066312013-07-17T13:21:00.000-04:002013-09-11T23:11:14.313-04:00How to Transform a Hebrew "Class" into an "Experience" (Strategic Principle #3)<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the anniversary of our launch one year ago, we are pleased to share a few of the successful innovations that make our classes 'strategic.' This is the third of 3 valuable tips for making Hebrew classes relevant, engaging and memorable. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1) <a href="http://strategichebrew.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-transform-hebrew-class-into.html" target="_blank">MOTIVATION</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2) <a href="http://strategichebrew.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-transform-hebrew-class-into_27.html" target="_blank">LOCATION</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3) APPLICATION: Learned skills are directly applied to interactive situations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This applies to all facets of language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students gain knowledge and skill in order to reach a higher goal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>What does this mean in practice? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here is a run-down of how each aspect of language is influenced by direct application to real life situations--the experiential approach. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Speaking: </b>Students use the target language to elicit a response--ask a question, receive an item, etc. Instructors guide and assist, but ultimately, the student repeats the sentence in its entirety and is rewarded by receipt of the desired item. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Listening: </b>Instructions for participating in the activity are given in target language. Students develop strategies for understanding in order to take part in the activity. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Vocabulary is introduced in context and students learn to differentiate sounds of familiar words and hear how they are used in a sentence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Writing: </b>Students take notes (in Hebrew characters) to keep an accessible record of what they have learned in their own handwriting, using their own systems. Writing is purposeful, with a goal of student record keeping. As an added bonus, writing is one indicator of language ability and can help instructors assess student progress. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Reading: </b>Reading skills allow students to refer to vocabulary lists and other notes when communicating ideas. This model encourages students to pay attention to what they read; every interaction with text is infused with meaning. </span><i style="font-family: Arial;"> </i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Students read purposefully, with comprehension, and put their newly gained knowledge and vocabulary to use in other contexts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>What these innovations really mean is that students learn language skills not as an end to themselves but as a means to achieving a goal. </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We need to encourage students to decode text... so that they can use what they read, not simply 'get through it.' We need to expand our writing goals for students beyond "fill in the blank" exercises and our objective in spoken language should be more than memorization and repetition of vocabulary. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By showing students how they can rely on each of these skills in practical application, we help motivate them to continue working toward a recognizable and achievable goal of language acquisition. </span></div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-21238673307961893682013-06-27T14:58:00.001-04:002022-12-13T00:48:52.346-05:00How to Transform a Hebrew "Class" into an "Experience" (Strategic Principle #2)<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the anniversary of our launch one year ago, we are pleased to share a few of the successful innovations that make our classes 'strategic.' This is the second of 3 valuable tips for making Hebrew classes relevant, engaging and memorable. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1) <a href="http://strategichebrew.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-transform-hebrew-class-into.html" target="_blank">MOTIVATION</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2) </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Class setup is uniquely un-classroom like. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3) <a href="http://strategichebrew.blogspot.com/2013_07_01_archive.html" target="_blank">APPLICATION</a></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To take a lesson from the old adage, setting is very important. Memory scientists note that the teaching environment has a tremendous impact on whether the information will be accessible at a future time. Test taking strategists recommend that students study in the testing room if possible, so that they are more comfortable recalling their studies in pressurized surroundings. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If our mission is to help Americans gain the skills to speak Hebrew in meaningful situations, then we need to give them every opportunity to practice in a meaningful environment. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>In other words, take the class out of the classroom and learn Hebrew ON LOCATION so students can recall the vocabulary they learn next time they find themselves in a similar situation!</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What does this mean for the Hebrew classes themselves? </b></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>1) Lessons are not desk and blackboard centered. </i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The location of the lesson matches it's content. For example, a cooking class will take place in a kitchen, basketball class on a basketball court, and a dining class around a dinner table or inside a restaurant. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>2) Location enhances motivation!</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students are excited to be on the rooftop playground, in the park or gym or supermarket. Looking around, they don't see usual evidence of school and they feel an activity is imminent. Of course, knowing that the access point to that activity is Hebrew, they pay greater attention to the introductory language lesson so they can use the new vocabulary and grammar tools to participate. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>3) What about reading and writing? </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">A portable board or poster serves as a reference point for the language concept of the day, with vocabulary listed in Hebrew (no transliteration). Students are encouraged to use writing as a tool for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">recording vocabulary in their own notebooks throughout the class period, <i>at any time they have something to record </i>(more on this writing strategy in Strategic Principle #3)<i>! </i> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bottom line? Despite taking place in a non-traditional Hebrew classroom environment, the surroundings are print-rich and directly related to the theme of the class. All of these innovations reinforce the language and learning goals for the class and motivate students to give themselves up to the experience of learning Hebrew. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<i style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategic Hebrew lessons take place on basketball courts and playgrounds, in kitchens and restaurants. The location is chosen to be conducive to the activity and students are so focused on the topic that they are fully engaged even in a lobby or other public space. View images of our classes on our website </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.strategichebrew.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">www.StrategicHebrew.com</a>.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Video footage is available on our facebook page, </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StrategicHebrew">https://www.facebook.com/StrategicHebrew</a> </i></span></span></div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-69216515000323740772013-06-20T21:10:00.002-04:002013-09-11T23:10:47.419-04:00How to Transform a Hebrew “Class” into an “Experience” (Strategic Principle #1)<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the anniversary of our launch one year ago, we are pleased to share a few of the successful innovations that make our classes 'strategic.' This is the first of 3 valuable tips for making Hebrew classes relevant, engaging and memorable. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">1) MOTIVATION: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students know what they are signing up to learn... and they want to be there!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">2) <a href="http://strategichebrew.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-transform-hebrew-class-into_27.html" target="_blank">LOCATION</a></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3) <a href="http://strategichebrew.blogspot.com/2013_07_01_archive.html" target="_blank">APPLICATION</a></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether the topic is basketball, cooking, sports, shopping, or art, students arrive with an expectation that they will get to do something they enjoy. This intrinsic motivation will encourage them to pay attention to new vocabulary so they can use it to participate. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Example</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the Cooking Module at JJP, students were introduced to the terms water, sugar, lemon and mint at the beginning of our Limonana (mint lemonade) meeting. Next, these ingredients were provided, along with cups and spoons, so students could mix the drink to their taste. The catch? Students had to request every item IN HEBREW! </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Check out a clip from our lesson at </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152259378660581&set=vb.374351475962436&type=2&theater" style="text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152259378660581&set=vb.374351475962436&type=2&theater</a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Student Response </b>(journal entries)<b>: </b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2YGesSSadrc/UcOkUT7e22I/AAAAAAAAAFU/8QMK8bCT3yc/s1600/2012-12-12+14.43.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2YGesSSadrc/UcOkUT7e22I/AAAAAAAAAFU/8QMK8bCT3yc/s320/2012-12-12+14.43.58.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"We made Limonana. It felt like heaven because it was a mixture of lemon juice, sugar, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">water... and mint. Being a person at a counter felt like a real experience in a real shop!" </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <i>--5th Grade, Strategic Hebrew Conversation Center II at JJP</i></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAGy-0JWgG4/UcOkmgQ4uSI/AAAAAAAAAFc/DJv2w0tlGXk/s1600/2012-12-12+16.45.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAGy-0JWgG4/UcOkmgQ4uSI/AAAAAAAAAFc/DJv2w0tlGXk/s320/2012-12-12+16.45.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"You get to run around and then cook and eat. We learn Hebrew letters, words, verbs, nouns, adjectives, how to order and cook and have fun!" </span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <i>--4th Grade, Strategic Hebrew Conversation Center I at JJP</i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
</div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x-5kS1lE6z8/UcOk3tX-Q-I/AAAAAAAAAFk/V-tzlCaibVU/s1600/2012-12-19+12.08.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x-5kS1lE6z8/UcOk3tX-Q-I/AAAAAAAAAFk/V-tzlCaibVU/s320/2012-12-19+12.08.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Today I learned more Hebrew numbers. We all played basketball in rotations. If felt good to be active!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">--7th Grade, Mercaz Sicha at CRS</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3g5xLe2Th20/UcOlCNQwdbI/AAAAAAAAAFs/PYdapNDIsRI/s1600/2012-12-19+12.03.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3g5xLe2Th20/UcOlCNQwdbI/AAAAAAAAAFs/PYdapNDIsRI/s320/2012-12-19+12.03.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Today I learned many new [Hebrew] words. I also played basketball.... I expanded my basketball vocabulary because I learned more root words.... I learned to say 'I like___,' 'I want___,' and 'I can___." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this program I was able to begin my Hebrew understanding through basketball and learn a lot of Hebrew words that will help me." </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <i>--7th Grade, Mercaz Sicha at CRS</i></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-90865729050449033312013-05-12T18:32:00.000-04:002013-05-12T18:33:31.502-04:00A Lesson From Sinai: Hebrew is not beyond our reach! <b id="docs-internal-guid-041b6459-9ad9-5e4c-f32c-6a93fdf4fa0a" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-041b6459-9ad9-5e4c-f32c-6a93fdf4fa0a" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-041b6459-9ad9-5e4c-f32c-6a93fdf4fa0a" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-041b6459-9ad9-5e4c-f32c-6a93fdf4fa0a" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-041b6459-9ad9-5e4c-f32c-6a93fdf4fa0a" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During a recent discussion about the holiday of Shavuot (“Festival of Weeks” which celebrates the giving of the Torah), I asked a group of 3 and 4 year-olds why they thought the Torah was revealed on a mountain. The students thought for a moment and then offered a variety of answers that centered around the same theme: “the Torah is so special, it needs to be kept in a safe place where we can’t touch it.” </span></b></b></div>
<br />
<b id="docs-internal-guid-041b6459-9ad9-5e4c-f32c-6a93fdf4fa0a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-041b6459-9ad9-5e4c-f32c-6a93fdf4fa0a" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This response is consistent with the students’ life experiences--think about the breakable artifacts preserved on high shelves and used only for ceremonial purposes. We often do the same with bits of knowledge that feel too challenging for our comprehension (Physics for Poets, anyone?).</span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-041b6459-9ad9-5e4c-f32c-6a93fdf4fa0a" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But that is not true of the Torah, or truth be told, the Hebrew language. There is a beautiful collection of verses in Deuteronomy (30:11-14) that speak to this theme. Moses gives some of his last guidance to the entire gathering of the Jewish people before his death:</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“...לא בשמים היא... ולא מעבר לים”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is not in the Heavens... and it is not across the sea... </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moses wants to dispel the notion of keeping the Torah on a pedestal. He urges the Jewish people to take ownership of it, use it until it becomes a part of them, despite any number of difficulties in observance, differences of opinion, linguistic challenges and other perceived roadblocks. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“...</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">כי קרוב עליך הדבר מאוד, בפיך ובלבבך לעשותו</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” It is very close to you, in your hearts and in your mouths to do it. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moses’s strategy here is brilliant; he focuses on accessibility by breaking down barriers </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">through language</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The word is close to you” </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The text uses the word “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">davar,</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” often translated as “thing,” but really means “word” (as in “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dvar Torah</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”--lit: words of Torah). Strictly speaking, Moses tells the people to use words to bring the Torah close, to express love and take it into hearts </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">through </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">their mouths. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Any language learner notices the significance of word choice, and in this case, the text speaks particularly strongly in favor of Hebrew knowledge. Though one does not need to know Hebrew in order to study the Bible, an awareness of the language adds many layers of nuance to the text. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b>
American Hebrew learners can take encouragement from this idea that Hebrew is not beyond our reach. The more we engage ourselves with it’s use, the more we will appreciate it’s richness and depth. The first step is to create opportunities to explore and practice our skills. If we keep the words in our hearts and in our mouths, surely, we will gain greater appreciation for this beautiful language. </span></b>Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-7843646340457060242013-04-08T21:12:00.000-04:002013-04-08T21:12:05.691-04:00The argument for speaking Hebrew in America<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The biggest recurring question I faced in founding Strategic Hebrew, Inc. was “why?” </span></b></b></b></b></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></b></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8500003407243639" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Hebrew? What is the purpose of learning Hebrew in America? What if I never go to Israel? Anyway, most Israelis speak English… </span></b></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ultimately, I was being asked to define the value proposition of the Hebrew language to Jewish people living outside of Israel. I believe there are many reasons to learn to speak Hebrew that are much more culturally and personally significant than ordering falafel on Ben Yehudah Street. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, there are numerous studies that describe the cognitive benefits of learning a second language, such as mental agility, creative problem solving, defense against aging, etc. These benefits apply to all second languages, so why choose Hebrew? Is Hebrew more significant to American Jews than Spanish or French? Absolutely, and here’s why... </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bottom line: Tradition. Heritage. Jewish connectivity and peoplehood. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Language learning incorporates the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Stronger Hebrew language ability leads to greater comprehension skills, which in turn grant access to original texts, such as the Hebrew bible, the Passover Haggadah, and various traditions of prayer. Understanding the text makes the bar/bat mitzvah and synagogue experience infinitely more meaningful for everyone concerned. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Raising the bar for conversational fluency also allows speakers to connect with fellow Jews throughout the world and dovetails directly with enhanced comprehension of Hebrew texts. Through learning to speak Hebrew, even those living outside of Israel can find a deeper meaning in our daily life and common heritage. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrew lessons become infinitely more powerful when they are combined with meaningful interactions. A thirsty person will learn the words to ask for water, while a child who wants to play sports will figure out how to ask the teacher for permission. When the motivation is strong enough, we learn the words necessary to meet our needs, and with this foundation, our growing vocabularies enliven text wherever we encounter it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If our communal goal is to learn Hebrew for synagogue participation and text study, why stop with reading exercises and basic Hebrew decoding? Why not reap all the benefits of having learned a second language, particularly one that connects us so strongly to our collective past and future? Let’s put our time to good use and learn to speak in Hebrew… what do we have to lose when there is so much to gain? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy Fechter is Founder and Curriculum Strategist at Strategic Hebrew, Inc. A NY State certified teacher with a Master's Degree in literacy from Bank Street College, she has extensively studied language acquisition in both theory and practice. The 'Strategic' approach is the result of more than a decade of successful development and implementation of constructivist language instruction for students nursery through adult.</span></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541365505335154422.post-18040931250260526152013-04-07T21:08:00.000-04:002017-01-08T21:56:24.957-05:00What's 'Strategic' about Hebrew?<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086"></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Strategic Hebrew" is a novel approach to language instruction that incorporates critical thinking, individual motivation and proactive participation in the language learning process. More than just a Hebrew class, each program is a complete language experience unto itself. Rather than envisioning students as simple vessels that passively (or with a great deal of struggle and memorization) absorb components of a language, we give them an active role in their own language (and personal) development. </span></b></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The name “Strategic Hebrew” is a conflation of several ideas that relate to the use of strategies in Hebrew language learning. Here is a brief explanation of each:</span></b></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategic Instruction: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teaching focuses on roots, grammar patterns and recurring vocabulary that form the building blocks of the Hebrew language. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As students learn to appreciate the beauty and structure of the language, they become better prepared to glean meaningful information from the Hebrew. This approach encourages students to think critically about the language and how to dissect its many parts. It engages the intellect to a higher degree than straight memory drills or verb conjugation because students take an active role in building their own understanding for meaningful results.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategic Thinking: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students develop and apply strategies for interpretation, vocabulary recall, reading, writing and other communicative needs.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By shifting the focus of lessons to emphasize development of strategies, students are equipped with tools to continue building their language skills outside of class. Moreover, these strategies can be applied to every area of a student's life, where they manifest as skills for life and learning. Strategies do not substitute for basic, empirical knowledge of vocabulary and grammar skills, but they are an excellent starting point for deeper language study and help students become proactive participant in their own language learning process. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategic Planning: </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Curricular design considers students’ life situations; lessons meet the students where they are most motivated to learn.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Classes that focus on material geared to match students’ interests and intellect are more likely to gain their attention than repetition and memorization of unrelated material. Showing students how the language lessons can apply to their daily lives, whether by the immediate gratification of asking for and receiving ice cream or by recognizing that they can understand the Hebrew prayers on an empirical level, will help them develop a deeper love and appreciation for the language, and therefore a heightened desire to learn it by participating more attentively in lessons.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The "Strategic Hebrew" method acknowledges that teaching a language is tantamount to teaching a whole person; one must take into account students’ interests, desires, intellect, and ability to apply and transfer skills from one arena to another. The more a student is encouraged to take the reigns of his/her own learning process, the more determined s/he will be to succeed and the more pride s/he will feel in each accomplishment.</span></b><div style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
</b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amy Fechter is Founder and Curriculum Strategist at Strategic Hebrew, Inc. A NY State certified teacher with a Master's Degree in literacy from Bank Street College, she has extensively studied language acquisition in both theory and practice. The 'Strategic' approach is the result of more than a decade of successful development and implementation of constructivist language instruction for students nursery through adult.</span></i><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086"></b><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.43731023534201086">
</b>Amy Fechter Mezrahihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144970204480934769noreply@blogger.com0