Links and Tips: How to open your Hebrew language chakras
If you already looked, throw something in
- "Inhaling the language" is important. It means you can open your eyes, and look at stuff you're usually not looking at. The words on a tip glass (left), for example, are also learning material. You can analyse the verbs הִסתַכַּלְת and זְרוֹק and see what their tense and root are.
- Contextualia. I know this word does not really exist in English. Some strange people like me use it in Hebrew. Anyway, it means that you do not only write down the meaning of the new word, but also, a word that would remind you the context of where and when you learned it. For example: זְרוֹק means throw, in imperative. **Capuccino. Because I had a great cappuccino when I learned it.
- Talk to yourself. Use your mouth to make sounds which sound like Hebrew. The position of the mouth is extremely important when you learn a new language. These days I mumble new words in Arabic, trying to imitate my Arabic teacher. So yes, other people will think you're a freak, but what do they know?
- Whistle. Intonation is also a key factor when you do the 'Inhaling'. For example the phrase "אני רוצה עוגת גבינה" "I'd like a cheese cake", can be whistled with no words, just the melody of the phrase. Listen to me say it and whistle it here.
Pinkas, a small notebook. Say hi to your new friend.
- Have your פִּנקָס (pinkas, left) ready. A pocket-size note pad can be your best friend when you learn a language. You can use your mobile phone as well as a new kind of pinkas. As long as you write the new words somewhere, I am happy.
- The new words can come your way on a shared taxi, when roaming the city streets. This is why it's better to have your pinkas ready at all times.
- Do stuff in Hebrew. If you paint a wall with an Israeli friend, and do it in Hebrew, you will learn more words than if you do by another 'new-words-I-must-learn list'.
- Sing. Songs you heard on the radio are great material. Find them here, read the lyrics, and there you go, a few minutes of work, and you know a new song, plus some new words and verbs. Yay!
A typical Viva scene. Do you understand what he's sayin'?
If you speak Spanish, Portuguese, Korean or Turkish and live in Israel, watch the Viva and Viva+ TV Channels. You'll watch South American telenovelas, South Korean dramas, Turkish series, and thanks to the subtitles in Hebrew, you'll be able to read Hebrew words while hearing your beloved mother tongue. Your brain won't have to work too much on that side, but the Hebrew side is gonna have a ball. Good stuff, although highly addictive.
Pour nos amis francophones :
Plongez au cœur de la langue et de la culture israélienne grâce à notre parcours inédit : Les Pubs israéliennes !
BE IVRIT - Une application et un site pour apprendre l’hébreu.
Plongez au cœur de la langue et de la culture israélienne grâce à notre parcours inédit : Les Pubs israéliennes !
BE IVRIT - Une application et un site pour apprendre l’hébreu.
Favorite websites
Omniglot - Hebrew: Letters and writing systems
Israeli National Radio in Hebrew. They also air in other languages!
Galey Tsahal: IDF Radio. Everybody listens to their morning shows, so this is part of our culture.
Galgalatz Radio: IDF Radio's easy listening radio station. Traffic updates every 15 mins, in Hebrew, of cours.
Watch Israeli sitcom Ramzor. Witty and funny, this series epitomizes Israeli-ness and the episodes have Hebrew subtitles, so you can pause and write down new words and exciting slang idioms.
Mishpachot is a documentary by the Heymann Brothers, and thanks to the subtitles, you can pause and listen to uncensored living freely Hebrew.
If you're just visiting here, and stay in friendly places like the backpackers' hub Abraham Hostel in Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem, don't be too shy. You can always chat to the staff of this great guesthouse and try to speak Hebrew to them, they'll be happy to help you practice and develop your skills.
Israeli National Radio in Hebrew. They also air in other languages!
Galey Tsahal: IDF Radio. Everybody listens to their morning shows, so this is part of our culture.
Galgalatz Radio: IDF Radio's easy listening radio station. Traffic updates every 15 mins, in Hebrew, of cours.
Watch Israeli sitcom Ramzor. Witty and funny, this series epitomizes Israeli-ness and the episodes have Hebrew subtitles, so you can pause and write down new words and exciting slang idioms.
Mishpachot is a documentary by the Heymann Brothers, and thanks to the subtitles, you can pause and listen to uncensored living freely Hebrew.
If you're just visiting here, and stay in friendly places like the backpackers' hub Abraham Hostel in Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem, don't be too shy. You can always chat to the staff of this great guesthouse and try to speak Hebrew to them, they'll be happy to help you practice and develop your skills.