10 reasons why you still can’t speak Hebrew like Israelis do
10 tips on improving your Hebrew skills while studying abroad in Israel
If you’ve visited Israel before as a tourist, then you’ve probably already experienced almost every up and down that’s associated with the Hebrew language. Royally messing up the future and past tenses, garbling through trying to read a store sign, or butchering a restaurant menu. If you’re not at the reading Hebrew stage yet, then you’ve probably felt that the local market owner or taxi driver has taken you on the ride of your life because your accent gives away that you’re just a tourist. That being said, the personal victories achieved at being able to manage a basic conversation far outweigh any of the difficulties that you may have encountered. While difficulties will always arise when you’re learning a foreign language in a new country, here are 10 reasons why your progress is slower than you had assumed it would be, but also how you can improve upon it.
You’re at a loss for the ‘everyday’ Hebrew words.
Having picked up a few Hebrew words while growing up is great the issue is being able to retrieve them when you’re standing in front of the locals. This is a very common problem and one that hinders basic communication. Usually the problem is conjugating them or being able to find the right words to weave them together. Here are two simple solutions to this problem:
A) Keep a list of words in your dorm room. Review them often to confidently use them.
B) Walk around with a notebook to jot down any new words that you hear along the way. This way, you can write down new phrases, review ones that you’re familiar with or identify context as to when using certain words is appropriate.
Turn on Israeli iTunes
Listening to your favorite playlists and familiar music from back home is a great way to combat you homesickness but it also limits your ability to thrive in developing your Hebrew language skills. Walking around the streets of Israel, you’re sure to hear some Israeli top-10 hits. Find out some of the most popular Israeli songs and create a new playlist. Listening to Israeli music is a great way to understand content and context. Like many countries, Israel has local bands that cover almost every genre of music. Finding what you like shouldn’t be impossible.
Take your head out of the textbook
Even if you’ve chosen to study on the Thrive @ Hebrew University program, relying on what the top-notch ulpan teachers talk about in class is just not going to cut it. Your Hebrew textbook is an extremely valuable resource but it’s not the only book. Try to find a book that you’ve read before that’s been translated into Hebrew. Since the plot is familiar to you already, it will be easier for you to identify some important words and compare the grammar structures to that of English.
If this isn’t an option for you, yet, Israel has several newspapers in simplified Hebrew for beginners with a word bank for the harder words. For a few shekels, you can stay up to date and compliment your in-class textbook reading, and you’ll be reading like a pro in no time.
What language do you speak outside of class?
Sure in class you break your teeth to speak Hebrew but, as soon as you get out, you’re revert back to English. Really?!
The only way to boost your confidence in speaking Hebrew, or any language for that matter, is to practice. Start by committing a few minutes every day to speak with friends and family in Hebrew. Conversing in Hebrew, regardless of how limited your vocabulary is, is is the single best method to raise your language proficiency level. Guaranteed. Besides, if you make mistakes, Israelis love to correct tourists. It’s a cultural thing.
Google Translate is your friend
Back in number 1, we suggested that writing down the difficult works and phrases in Hebrew will help you remember. This suggestion is only as good as finding out what the words mean. Google Translate has pretty much made all pocket dictionaries obsolete. Some of their suggestions are a bit off, but generally they are spot on.
Another great site is Morfix. The new version even includes examples of usage and acceptable social content.
With apps these days, we recommend Translate Professional is an amazing app available for iPad or Ipod.
You came to Israel without reviewing
With all of the excitement involved with travelling to Israel, you didn’t set aside some time to review the Hebrew words you actually do know. With all that’s involved in securing Visas, packing, and saying goodbye to friends and family, finding time to review is not a top priority. In most study abroad program, you’ll need to take a language placement exam. So by not reviewing, you may actually score lower than your true proficiency, simply because you forgot a few basic words and structures.
Change your cellphone language to Hebrew
In a mobile-central world, we spend countless hours on our mobile devices. We know how to navigate it in English, what would happen if the settings were switched to Hebrew? How’s that for a simple challenge. Warning: Review the settings in English first and make sure the important features are all set without jeopardizing of changing what you wouldn’t otherwise want to by accident, then make the switch!
Read out loud
People may think you’re crazy for doing this but reading aloud is a great way to improve your reading ability, a critical aspect of internalizing a new language. Hearing the words in your own voice will help you comprehend the vocabulary much faster. Especially with Hebrew, hearing yourself pronounce some of the words (with the rolling R, or the ch sound) will make a tremendous difference in how locals respond to you.
Stop comparing
As with many things we do in life, success is judged in relation to other peoples achievements. Even if all of your friends are with you in Israel, they may not be as committed to truly learning the Hebrew language. Don’t compare yourself to them, it lowers youur self-confidence, and neglects any and all of the progress you’ve already made. Just by spending a semester abroad in Israel, will allow you the opportunity to develop your Hebrew, usually a lot more than you realize.
Expand your circle of friends
Instead of finding comfort in the friends that are with you in Israel, take some time and meet Israeli students. If you’re on an Israel program that is based on a University campus, it’s very likely that the local students want to develop their English skills. So try to find a mutual relationship. There’s no better way to experience the local culture than with a local person your age. By spending a good portion of your free time with this person, you’ll inevitably meet other Israeli locals and get a real sense of the awesome scene. Don’t ignore hanging out with Americans completely, just make a concerted effort to spend more time with your new Israeli friends.
