At 3,000 years old, Hebrew is one of the oldest languages to survive the test of time. Knowing the language allows you to go through ancient documents in their original format – like the Bible, which was originally written in Classical Hebrew. But Hebrew is more than just a portal to the past. Israel has become one of the most important countries for technology and business, recognized worldwide for developing the technology of the future.
Learning Hebrew can boost your career too. The American government sees Hebrew as a critical language and offers roles in areas like diplomacy, intelligence, and the military for fluent speakers. Israel is also a beautiful place to visit due to its rich history, stunning beaches, and modern cuisine. Knowing how to speak Hebrew opens the doors to go beyond popular tourist attractions and experience the local culture.
Hebrew is a unique language as it’s one of the few that made a comeback after being recognized as a dead language. Consequently, there are two types of Hebrew. Biblical Hebrew only exists in written form, and is the language used in historical texts. On the other hand, Modern Hebrew is the official language of Israel and, probably, the one you’ll want to learn. To make things more difficult, Modern Hebrew has two main dialects – Europeanized and Oriental. But no matter which dialect you’re studying, language learning software offers a structured curriculum with a study path that ensures you learn everything in the correct order and at the right time.
As a root-based language, Hebrew becomes easier to learn if you first understand its patterns – these will help you figure out new words by yourself further down the line. Language learning apps that take the time to explain the language fully are perfect for this. Plus, since Hebrew is phonetic, you’ll also want to know how to make the correct sounds for Hebrew characters right away. Language learning platforms with speech recognition software tell you exactly where your pronunciation needs improvement, speeding up the learning process.
LinguaLift’s founder was always determined to find the best method possible for teaching his students new languages. After moving to Korea to teach English, he found his answer. The main problem students face is not the lack of material, but the absence of direction. To answer this need, he created LinguaLift, a language-learning app that offers thorough courses where students are provided with a personal roadmap created by their tutors. LinguaLift provides courses for five languages: Japanese, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, and French. Although this may seem like a small number, each program is meticulously built with tons of cultural content and grammar explanations. LinguaLift’s subscription costs $17 a month with yearly installments and provides access to all courses. Better yet, students can try the first three lessons of all programs completely for free before purchase.
Launched in 1992, Rosetta Stone has over two decades of experience in teaching students a new language. The result is one of the most thorough and effective language learning apps in the industry. The software covers over 20 languages, tackling reading, writing, listening, and speaking with an immersive approach. It’s so intuitive that we didn’t even notice we were learning new vocabulary.
While courses are on-demand, Rosetta Stone does provide 6-week personalized study plans that consider students’ goals. In addition to the usual classes and exercises, the language learning platform also offers live sessions with native speakers and expert tutors, interactive stories, an audio companion, and much more. Prices start at $10.95 per month, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out Rosetta Stone risk free.
Pimsleur was one of the first self-instructional language learning courses to hit the market. Back in 1963, Dr. Paul Pimsleur released his very first reel-to-reel tape with a Modern Greek course. Nowadays, Pimsleur offers programs for more than 50 languages. Though the time of reel-to-reel tapes is long gone, there is one thing that Pimsleur maintained: the Pimsleur method. By combining graduated interval recall, the principle of anticipation, core vocabulary, and organic learning, Pimsleur helps people speak a language in no time. It’s possible to get the various learning language courses by purchasing each level of the program, or by subscribing to a monthly billing cycle that provides full access. Either way, unless you get the CD version it’s possible to use the software both on desktop and mobile, or to download the lessons in MP3 format for offline use.
Hebrew is one of the toughest languages for Westerners to learn. Even so, there are a few things that make this language a little easier to grasp. Since Biblical Hebrew didn’t have many words for modern things, the language borrowed words from others, such as English and French. For example, evolution is אבולוציה (evolútsya). Like English, Modern Hebrew also follows an SVO (subject + verb + object) word order, making it easier than languages like Japanese or German.
However, written Hebrew is one of the most complex parts of the language, as you’ll have to learn a new alphabet and get used to reading and writing from right to left. Plus, Hebrew usually doesn’t use vowels in written form. Vowels are only added to simple texts for children and students to help them memorize where the letters should appear. Because of this, many words are written in the same way, which makes it tricky to read when you don’t have a large Hebrew vocabulary.
Other key challenges you’ll face when studying Hebrew include memorizing seven conjugation patterns (English only has one), learning both printed and written script, and getting used to dropping the verb ‘to be’ when mentioning something in the present.
Language learning software will show you the ropes, but if you want to become fluent in Hebrew fast, you’ll need to complement your studies with other activities. Reading is one of the best ways to learn new vocabulary. Additionally, since Hebrew is a phonetic language, it also helps you master your speaking skills. Complete beginners should start with children’s books because they’re usually written with vowels. Meanwhile, you can take advantage of streaming services to hone your listening and speaking skills – Netflix is home for some of the best Israeli TV shows and movies, such as When Heroes Fly, Fauda, and Mossad 101. It’s also beneficial to talk with native speakers as often as possible, either through social media, a language learning app, or by meeting Hebrew-speaking people living near you.
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