New Series of Hebrew Lessons: An Introduction by Dr. S. KALEKO

Lessons over the radio are distinctly different from the usual lessons in schools or courses, not only from the view-point of the very limited time (quarter of an hour per week) but also regarding the means of learning which consists entirely in listening, and, finally, there is the lack of personal contact between pupil and teacher. All these points will necessarily diminish the intensity of the lessons, and they provide new tasks and difficulties for the teacher as well as for the pupil (hearer).

l am quite sure that the success of these lessons depends mainly on the independent work of the pupil. The more the pupils devote attention to the lessons, the more they exercise the words and grammar - which will be published in "Jerusalem Radio"'- and the more they regularly and punctually attend to the radio lessons - the more their progress will be assured. By listening to the radio-lessons the end is by no means attained. These lessons will only condense the results of the independent work that the listener has done throughout the week, they will give him the opportunity to get accustomed to the spoken Hebrew word and give him new tasks.

Now. I shall make a few comments about the programme of the lessons and the method of the printed lessons in "Jerusalem Radio".

1) During the course of a year, (about 50 lessons), we hope to teach the pupils about 2000 words. That is, by the way, sufficient for daily colloquial needs and for reading and understanding the News bulletins given in the daily papers. Besides, the pupil will find in our lessons the most important grammatical rules without which no living Hebrew conversation would be possible. Those grammatical rules that have no vital importance will be left out.

2) In order to make it easier for the pupil to learn the vocabulary, words will, appear in the lessons in the first place according to their meaning and secondly, accordinq to their grammatical order. Our aim is TO LEARN FIVE HEBREW WORDS DAILY! Everyone will be able to learn this small number of words. And this is why we shall use the following method of printing:

a) Every printed lesson will contain 30 words with English and German translations.

b) Besides the vocabulary every lesson will contain reading material, oral and writing exercises with notes in English and German.

c) Every lesson will be divided into three paragraphs, so that the pupil may learn one paragraph every two days and will have an opportunity of revising all three on the seventh day. In this way, the pupil will be well prepared for the radio lesson.

3)The lessons will be published regularly in "Jerusalem Radio" one week before the radio lesson. Every new lesson will be built up out of the previous one.

4) Pupils are advised to provide themselves with an English-Hebrew or German-Hebrew vocabulary note-book and to insert new words according to the latln alphabet. These vocabularies will be useful later for written tasks.

5) The teacher asks the pupils to consult him on all question arising out of the radio or printed lessons. ( Dr. S. Kaleko, c/o Jerusalem Radio, P,O.B. 1073, Jerusalem).

6) From time to time the teacher will give written tasks, which may be sent to him for correction, if the pupil so desires. These lessons are intended, of course, for beginners, but not absolutely raw beginners. In the next two issues of "Jerusalem Radio" there will be published two Supplementary lessons intended for those who do not know the written alphabet and have no practice in reading. This will assist in preparing them for the radio lessons which begin in the first week of August.

Jerusalem Radio, Volume 2, No. 29, page 2, July 14, 1939

Dr. Shaul Kaleko