Biblical Hebrew

"Biblical Hebrew: a Living Language" is one of few textbooks that promote the use of modern methods of second language acquisition (SLA)—listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing—for the acquisition and integration of Classical or Biblical Hebrew. For decades, Hebrew grammars have offered deductive and grammar-translation approaches to the language with success, but today’s generation of students is eager to learn through interactive language pedagogy that involves listening, speaking, singing, acting, using visual tools and completing hands-on exercises. This textbook provides a variety of ideas for dynamic classroom teaching. It is designed for teachers who wish to use a blended approach in classroom instruction. Included in the chapters are oral, aural, written, performative, reading and grammar/syntax activities. Instructors who use this textbook should feel free to (1) develop creative activities for teaching the language (e.g., use videos, pictures, props); (2) use objects brought from home for spontaneous discussion in the classroom (e.g., a funny hat, kitchen utensil); (3) invite students to join them in teaching concepts (e.g., teaching assistant for a day!); (4) act out features of the language in front of the class (e.g., climbing on a desk, falling on one’s knees); (5) borrow a student’s object to create conversation (e.g., a coffee mug, a snack); and (6) use games for interactive learning (e.g., Jeopardy, Shimon ’omer). With this approach to language teaching, the sky is the limit! Biblical Hebrew: a Living Language is designed for an undergraduate or graduate/seminary level one-year introductory course. The primary goal of the textbook is to develop reading competency in the Hebrew Bible at the intermediate level. Secondary objectives include proficiency in listening comprehension, writing and speaking.