[NOTICE] Cambridge Modern Hebrew immersion course (ulpan), 4–15 July 2016
Dear All,
The Cambridge Centre for Modern Hebrew Studies invites applications for this year’s Cambridge Summer Modern Hebrew Ulpan (intensive course), taking place at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, 4–15 July 2016 (with orientation on the afternoon of Sunday, 3 July).
Tuition will involve two weeks of 4+-hour daily immersion-style lessons accompanied by afternoon activities (visits, films, lectures, outings). Multiple levels will be offered. NO PREVIOUS HEBREW KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR THE BEGINNING LEVEL.
Learning a foreign language is challenging, but it can be an immensely rewarding. It gives you not only access into a new world—people, places, culture, history, and world view—but also new perspective on the world you already know. This is true when learning any new language, but the effects are arguably more profound in the case of a language like Hebrew—both a vibrantly dynamic and amazingly flexible modern language of everyday use and high culture and an ancient tongue whose writings are rich in history, artistry, and thought. Few modern languages boast a literary repertoire as influential as Hebrew’s has been throughout the course of human history. And no ancient language has enjoyed more success in terms of revival as a mother tongue. Whatever your background, however much you may know or not know about Hebrew and its literature, whatever your interests in the language and culture of Israel, and whatever you may see yourself doing with this training in future, we invite you to consider entering into the world of Hebrew—in all its wealth, depth, and vitality.
Special note for students of (or others interested in) classical/ancient/Biblical Hebrew: Modern Hebrew differs in important ways from ancient Hebrew. However, there is a great deal of overlap, e.g., alphabet and writing system, word formation, phrase and sentence structure, and vocabulary. For this reason, and because Modern Hebrew is a living vehicle of communication that can be internalised and used, its study is very beneficial for people interested in ancient forms of the language, whether as an entry point or as a means for moving from mere deciphering and parsing to fluent reading and understanding.
For further course details and the downloadable application form, please go to http://www.ames.cam.ac.uk/ulpan. Queries may be directed to Dr Aaron Hornkohl at adh44@cam.ac.uk.
Please also find attached a colour advertisement for posting.
Many thanks,
Aaron
