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The Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit 2000-2001 Hebrew Language Curriculum

Hebrew Rama Alef – Elementary Modern Hebrew Level 1

Hebrew Rama Alef is aimed at students who are new to Jewish day school education or in need of thorough review of foundation skills. The course objectives are to develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, with an emphasis on active use of the language in its cultural context.
The textbook for Hebrew Rama Alef is Professor Edna Amir-Coffin’s Encounters in Modern Hebrew Level 1. A booklet of supplementary and enrichment materials developed by Dr. Yaakova Sacerdoti will accompany the book.
As part of the learning process, the students will also use a Hebrew software program “School of the Arts” (units 1 and 2) developed by Edna Amir-Coffin at the University of Michigan.
The course meets three times a week (2 periods of 80-minute and one period of 40-minute) with daily assignments for review and application of each meeting’s material. There are 10 units in this course divided by subject. These subjects will be a trigger to present new linguistic and grammatical issues.
There are 10 units in this course divided by subject. These subjects will be a trigger to present new linguistic and grammatical issues.

  1. Diaries and tours around Israel
  2. Personal relations and surveys
  3. Teens, family and society
  4. Seasons and seasonal activities
  5. Holidays
  6. Climate and geography
  7. Vacations and resort areas
  8. Complaints
  9. Communal and municipal issues
  10. Equal rights

Hebrew Rama Dalet – Intermediate Modern Hebrew II

Hebrew Rama Dalet aims at students who are highly motivated and have a relatively strong Hebrew proficiency.
This course is built around two literary units. The first unit “The Mizrachi Voice” is a collection of short stories and poems written by Israelis from sepharadic origin. The second unit “Voices of Ashes” is a collection of poems written by first, second and third generation of holocaust survivors. In this unit the students will also read and analyze the novel “Night” by Elie Weisel. In this course the students will take their first steps towards reading original Israeli literature. Via short stories, poetry, popular music and films the students will be familiarized with the social and cultural issues that stand in the heart of the Israeli society. In addition, students will continue to develop their listening, writing, speaking, critical analysis and reading comprehension skills.
Students will use a course pack exclusively developed and designed for this course by Dr. Yaakova Sacerdoti.
Activities in this course include textual analysis, creative writing (book and films reviews), oral presentations, debates, and role-playing. Throughout the year the students will be engaged in small and creative projects such as creating web sights promoting a film or a musical performer, as well as producing ads and campaigns endorsing social issues and concerns. The highlight of this course will be a final project named “I Do Care”. In this project the students will concentrate on a social issue that is highly debated in their own society or in Israeli society. They will write, produce and film a 30-minute documentary dealing with this issue.
The course meets three times a week (2 periods of 80 minutes and one period of 40 minutes) with daily assignments for review and application of each meeting’s material.

“Moving Voices” – The Israeli Cinema

This course is an upper level course for students who completed Intermediate Hebrew II in the Academy or for students that demonstrate a strong proficiency In Hebrew. The course will focus on the Israeli cinema as the mirror of the Israeli society and culture. The students will view at least ten Israeli movies through out the academic year that deal with the following themes:

  1. The construction and deconstruction of the myth of the Sabra
  2. The Israeli society – a “Melting Pot” or a “Salad Bowl”?
  3. The Arab-Israeli conflict

Students will use a course pack exclusively developed and designed for this course by Dr. Yaakova Sacerdoti.
Activities in this course include literary analysis, creative writing (films reviews), oral presentations, debates, and role-playing. Throughout the year the students will be engaged in small and creative projects such as creating web sights promoting a film, as well as producing ads and campaigns endorsing social issues and concerns. The highlight of this course will be a final project named – “My Moving Voice”. In this project the students will concentrate on a social issue and the way it is portrayed in Hollywood. The students will be asked to prepare a 60-minute presentation.
The course meets three times a week (2 periods of 80 minutes and one period of 40 minutes) with daily assignments for review and application of each meeting’s material.

“The Voices of Myths” – Constructions and Deconstructions of Social and Cultural Myths about Israel

This course is an upper level course for students who completed Intermediate Hebrew II in the Academy or for students that demonstrate a strong proficiency In Hebrew.
The course will focus on the changes experienced by the Israeli society form the late 40’s to the new millennium. The students will debate and discuss several issues including:

  1. The myth of the Israeli man
  2. Holocaust and heroism – oxymoron or necessity?
  3. The kibbutz – construction and deconstruction of a dream
  4. The social myths of the Israeli woman in the army and in the political arena

Students will use a course pack exclusively developed and designed for this course by Dr. Yaakova Sacerdoti.
Activities in this course include literary analysis, creative writing, oral presentations, debates, and role-playing. Throughout the year the students will be engaged in small and creative projects such as writing, editing and producing a newspaper focusing on a specific issue debated in class and mock trials. The highlight of this course will be a final project named – “The Man / Woman and the Myth”. In this project the students will analyze and debate the truth behind a myth. They will be asked to concentrate on an Israeli figure that became a myth (Yitzchak Rabin, Moshe Dayan, Golda Meir, Hanna Senesh) and discover the truth behind it. The students will be asked to prepare a 60-minute presentation.
The course meets three times a week (2 periods of 80 minutes and one period of 40 minutes) with daily assignments for review and application of each meeting’s material.

“From Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem and Back”

This course is an upper level course for students who completed Intermediate Hebrew II in the Academy or for students that demonstrate a strong proficiency In Hebrew. The course will focus on literary and cultural life in the holy and modern cities. Via short stories, poetry, popular music and films the students will be familiarized with the spiritual, cultural and social differences that stand in the heart of the most important and controversial cities in Israel.
Students will use a course pack exclusively developed and designed for this course by Dr. Yaakova Sacerdoti.
Activities in this course include literary analysis, creative writing (film reviews), oral presentations, debates, and role-playing. Throughout the year the students will be engaged in small and creative projects such as creating web sights promoting one city or another, as well as producing ads and campaigns endorsing social and cultural changes. The highlight of this course will be a final project named – “The Best of All”. In this project the students will create an imaginary city that combines the characteristics of Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem into one ideal city. The students will be asked to prepare a 60-minute presentation.
The course meets three times a week (2 periods of 80 minutes and one period of 40 minutes) with daily assignments for review and application of each meeting’s material.