When you study religion, especially in the Judeo-Christian tradition, it is important to learn to read Hebrew so that you are able to understand the original religious texts rather than relying on translations. Even if you are not a religious scholar, there may be plenty of reasons to enroll in a Hebrew course. Israel, where Hebrew is one of the official languages along with Arabic, is an important political country in the Middle East. Students interested in learning and speaking the Hebrew language should consider the option to learn Hebrew abroad.
Hebrew Language School
In addition to the millions of people in Israel who speak Hebrew, there are also millions of Jews around the world, especially in South America, Europe, and the U.S., who speak Hebrew. Even if Hebrew is not their native tongue, it is possible that you could utilize your Hebrew language skills to communicate with them in the chance that you do not speak their native tongue. There are many places to learn Hebrew abroad, but an immersion course abroad may provide you with additional practice so that you do not just have solid book-skills but can also carry on a conversation.
Learn Hebrew Abroad: Language Courses
If you're interested in learning Hebrew, you may ask yourself; how do I learn Hebrew? The answer is: Immersion Language Learning. When you enroll in one of the Hebrew intensive language programs, you may not only have a chance to immerse yourself in the language, helping you to enhance your linguistic skills, but you could also have a chance to see a part of the world rich with history. You could study Hebrew in Be'er Sheva, Israel, which is not only a large metropolitan area but is also one of the oldest cities in the country. The city is alive with history while also being a thoroughly modern city that millions of tourists enjoy visiting every year. There are also Hebrew language classes in Haifa, a city near the Mediterranean Sea. In your off time you can go snorkeling, sailing, or just enjoy the shore. While studying Hebrew in Israel, you may also have the opportunity to visit Jerusalem to see a city rich in history and home to important religious sites.
Hebrew Course for the Humanities
Although some people may only consider Hebrew for those studying religious history or theology, it could also be an important component for many humanity students, including those interested in art history or history. Hebrew is an ancient language with an important role in many areas of history. Enrolling in Hebrew language school may allow you to understand the documents yourself. Furthermore, while in country, you can visit many of the historical sites to see them first hand. Although those studying the humanities may have reasons directly related to their study to learn Hebrew abroad, those studying business, especially international business, could potentially benefit from learning to speak Hebrew. Additionally, those in other fields, including medicine and law, may find it beneficial to enroll in Hebrew language classes if they plan to practice in an area heavily populated with immigrants from Israel or a traditional Jewish population who speak Hebrew as their first language.
Many of the study abroad programs in Israel that offer a Hebrew course run for the summer, making it potentially easier to take advantage of the opportunity to learn the language in country without interrupting your regular curriculum. It may also be possible to find programs that run for a semester or even a year if you want to have more time to explore the culture and country. One of the best ways to learn a language is to live in the country, and you receive the added bonus of learning more about the history and culture of the area.
