The value of studying a foreign language is well documented: children who study a second language have higher scores on standardized tests, demonstrate increased mental flexibility, creativity, divergent thinking and higher order thinking skills, develop a sense of cultural pluralism and have an improved self concept and sense of achievement. In the context of a Jewish community day school, the study of modern Hebrew produces all these results and many more: increased identification with the State of Israel, greater pride in being Jewish, and the ability to function with greater ease and fluency when they travel to Israel.
However, finding up-to-date and relevant materials that appeal to a contemporary North American Jewish community day school student is no small task. As a teacher of middle school students, I found few reading materials that were age appropriate, current, and employed Hebrew as a living language, rather than having a biblical or haggadic focus. Then I discovered Yanshuf.
Yanshuf is a biweekly Hebrew language newspaper published in Israel, which contains stories about news, politics, sports, and culture written by journalists in conjunction with Hebrew teachers and educators. This combination is what makes the publication work as a pedagogic tool. The topics are of interest to young people because they capture events that take place in the world and in Israel.
Yanshuf is colorful, its language is easily understandable, and it supplies additional Hebrew-English vocabulary to further facilitate reading. The articles are short enough to hold the reader’s attention and long enough to provide great topics for discussion. Unlike the readings commonly provided for Hebrew students, Yanshuf deals with up-to-the-minute happenings in the world of technology, the arts and science that interest students. Riddles, crosswords and other activities provide further language experience, including interactive ones such as a worldwide vote on the “Seven Wonders of the World” that occurs online. Additionally, articles are written without vowels, something not found in more traditional books.
As a Hebrew language teacher, I find it a useful venue for questions and answers, oral and written expression. Sometimes the students generate questions about the articles and sometimes the teacher. The benefit of using this source is that it provides stories that do not need background information, as do more traditional or religiously-based stories. Creating questions and answers based on its articles has the ancillary benefit of enabling students better to understand the testing process, a skill transferable to other subjects.
Yanshuf is the more advanced level of two newspapers published by Good Times publishing group, based in Jerusalem. Bereshit is a simpler version, published with vowels, dictionaries alongside the text and accompanying exercises. Another component of this learning modality is HebrewToday.com, a website that supplements the print editions. For aural practice, an accompanying CD presents the materials read by a native Israeli. Having these authentic contemporary materials to enrich intermediate Hebrew language instruction is a true bonus. ♦
Tamara David is a Hebrew teacher at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School in Syracuse, New York. She can be reached at shds@twcny.rr.com.
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