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Introduction to Classical Hebrew:
Elementary Hebrew I Old Main 002
Classics 117
Fall 2004
Nanette Goldman/hm;[}n
MWF 12:00-1:00 plus 1 weekly lab
117L 02: Tu
11:50-12:50 OM 002 117L
04: Tu 2:45-3:45 CAR 105
Office: Old
Office Hours: MF 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Tu 1:00
– 2:30 p.m. and by appointment.
Email: GOLDMAN@macalester.edu
Course Web Page: http://www.macalester.edu/courses/clas117
Preceptor: Johanna Shreve (Varda)
Email:
jshreve@macalester.edu
Phone: 651-695-1733
Office
Hours:
Sunday 8:00-9:30 p.m. and Thursday aft. TBA, lower level Kagin
Course
Description: This is the first half of a 30 week
intensive study of classical Hebrew grammar, morphology and vocabulary which
will give you the skills necessary to decipher ancient Hebrew texts. Your primary objective this year will be the
mastery of Biblical prose. You will
translate a number of Biblical passages, including extended selections from
Genesis and the book of Ruth. In the
spring semester you will be introduced to matters of text transmission,
interpretation and organization. You will learn to use the research tools,
critical apparatus, lexicon, commentaries. You will be expected to read three
Hebrew print types, book, block and script (students and instructor will use
script for handwritten work). The oral
component of the Hebrew language will receive due attention. The standard for pronunciation is Sephardic
(Israeli) Hebrew. Recitation drills,
online audio resources, aural comprehension exercises, simple conversational
practice, songs and games will reinforce visual acquisition of the language.
The second year Hebrew courses (Intermediate Hebrew)
survey the Hebrew language from antiquity to modernity. In Intermediate Hebrew,
building on the first year grammar fundamentals, you will trace the development
of the language through close examination of extended passages. You will read
selections from Biblical prose, poetry, Qumranic (Dead Sea Scrolls) Hebrew, the
Rabbinic corpus and finish the year by working in the
Hebrew spoken in
Required Text:
Simon, Ethelyn, Irene Resnikoff and Linda Motzkin, The First Hebrew Primer,
3rd edition, EKS
Publishing:
Audio
resources on line from
(http://www.macalester.edu/hrc/Access/Index.html
or linked through course web page)
EKS The First Hebrew Primer, Chapters 1-16
(exercises and vocabulary read in Hebrew)
“The Boy Who Cried Wolf” and “Little Red Riding Hood”
Course
Requirements/Fall Semester:
1. Regular
attendance and class participation 10%
2. Weekly quizzes (lowest score dropped). 20%
3. Daily assignments (lowest four scores
dropped).
20%
4. Two Mid-semester exams.
25%
5. Final Exam (comprehensive).
25%
Regularity in class attendance and
timely completion of assignments are the most important components in acquiring
a new language. Hebrew is not difficult
if you give it daily attention! The average ratio of hours of outside
preparation to hours in class is 2/1.
Frequent quizzes/evaluations provide the incentive to keep up. Students who make regular use of the on-line
audio materials will show marked increase in fluency. If there is need for
absence from class, please notify me in advance via email or phone. Missed quizzes due to unexcused or unannounced absences will automatically be scored as
zeroes. If absent from any class, you will be responsible for obtaining all
handouts from the class period - available in an envelope outside my office
-5% submitted on the due date anytime after the beginning of the class period.
-10% submitted one day after the due date.
Later homework, 2 or more days after the due date – not accepted.
If you feel yourself falling behind, come see me or
Johanna immediately for help in getting back on track. Please don’t hesitate to ask
questions in class or in office hours.
Grading Scale: