Next semester I am taking my first class on Hebrew. We are using Dr. Russell Fuller’s text, “Invitation to Biblical Hebrew.” I haven’t gotten past the first page- the alphabet. Greek, while difficult, was easier for me to dive into because I already had some familiarity with the letters and such, but with Hebrew, I have absolutely no familiarity at all. My question to all of you who have studied Hebrew, or even just foreign languages that use an unfamiliar script, is what tips can you give me while studying? Do you have any techniques that you’ve found profitable for learning alphabets? Really, any tips or help would be wonderful.
!שלים
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The alphabet and noun endings was about all I learned in Hebrew, but Hebrew for Christians was a great site to learn the alphabet with. It gives you the visual and audio instruction necessary to really retain the info. I learned the alphabet in the course of a night and haven’t forgotten it since (that was a couple years ago). Check it out.
I used flash cards for everything, including the alphabet and vowel pointings. Not only were flash cards helpful for learning vocab, but I also used them for learning verb prefixes and suffixes.
I stumbled onto a way to memorize all of the significant endings; the Pi’el, Pu’al, Hithpa’el, etc. I was charting the endings when I discovered I only had to memorize one set of endings and add the relevant prefixes. If I can find the chart I made (it’s in a box somewhere in here) I’ll scan it and gladly email it to ya.
Hebrew for Christians was a good site. I found that, after I had started on Learn the Hebrew Alphabet, which was also helpful. One of the guys in the online class this summer also made printable flashcards which are on his website… http://www.headtheology.com/biblical-hebrew-resources/ Another hint, when you get to the rules for syllables in Chapter 5, make a table, put closed and open on one axis, pst, t, pt, ppt, and fill in the rules. They were VERY easy to learn that way.
Hey everyone!
Thanks for the websites and ideas! The alphabet is slowly becoming more than squiggles.
I will certainly take your all’s advice on endings and so forth when I get to them. Thanks!
From what little I’ve studied, as you go through a Hebrew grammar, everything begins to fall into place, if you have linguistic background.
Hey… this stuff looks good. I never really got past the alphabet in my undergraduate degree, and I’ve decided I can’t put it off any longer: Next semester I’m doing a Hebrew course too. It does seem much more ‘foreign’ than Greek, but I think it’s essential really… Thanks for the info, people!
I would encourage you to check out http://www.biblicalulpan.org
I benefitted from this program in Hebrew some years ago and often think of doing the new Greek program.
Its too late this summer, but even after your upcoming semester of Hebrew, this can take you into a fuller grasp of the language.
In short, even if you don’t have a linguistic background, using the language is what counts for retention. Speak Biblical Hebrew. Write it to your friends. Read it from your friends (including the biblical authors).
Sorry that won’t help with the alphabet in the short term, though. Still, start transliterating things in English with it and you’ll probably find it starting to stick.