Monday, March 27, 2017

Language Lessons


I have begun a new adventure - learning Hebrew!  I have always wanted to be able to read the Bible in its original tongue and with a new computer, now just seem like the right time.

Last fall, Maid Elizabeth bought Rosetta Stone Hebrew when it was on sale, with the anticipation of purchasing a computer at a future date.  At this point, Elizabeth hasn't acquired a computer, but I have, so I have immersed myself into the full course.

Wow!  I knew learning a new language would be a challenge, but was ill prepared for Hebrew!  Rosetta Stone jumps right in, having you read, write and speak in the first lesson - moving you along quickly from one discipline to the next.


At this point, I have Hebrew rattling around in my brain.  I haven't been able to properly file it away so it rolls around unencumbered!  I can't wait until it makes enough sense to understand.

I have been doing my best not to burden myself with notions of perfection and just take it a lesson at a time. And so I'll continue on my great adventure - Hebrew!

10 comments:

  1. All good wishes with this! I took the plunge and started on Hebrew about four years ago and have found it incredibly worthwhile, though I am still not very good. Hebrew is VERY different.

    One thing I will suggest: when you get far enough along to puzzle out Scripture verses (with help from an English parallel - for this purpose, I found the KJV and the "old" Revised Standard the best), choose a few short Psalms. Write them out, and read/pray one of them every day. That keeps my mind connected with the language and the Hebrew way of thinking even if that is all of the Hebrew that I do that day (which is most often the case), and over time, this handful of psalms becomes very familiar. Writing it out seems to be an important part of it; there is something about simply making the Hebrew letters and words.

    A more general comment: I love your blog, and read it regularly. God's blessings be with you all.

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  2. Awesome. Good for the brain as well. I am learning Morse code at 58. It too is a challenge. At least for me.

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  3. My mother learned at a late age and when she died I brought all her stuff home. If you want you can leave me a message on my blog with your address and I will mail you flash cards as she made a good number of sets. Not sure why, but I have a ton! Jennifer

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  4. While I applaud your continuing education, the Rosetta Stone course probably isn't a great choice if you want to read the Old Testament the original. Rosetta Stone will teach you Modern Hebrew, rather than Biblical Hebrew. And large portions of the OT(the Book of Daniel, for example) are written in Aramaic, the everyday language that Jesus spoke. And while Aramaic is similar & is written using Hebrew letters it is a very different language

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  5. I've enjoyed reading the Orthodox Jewish Bible (a messianic full text) at Bible Gateway. It's another way to start incorporating some understanding of Hebrew in the context of scripture. It really makes the Psalms shine brighter.

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  6. שׁלום אנולה! בצלחה וכול הקבוד עם השיעורים שלך ישוע הוא יברכך אותך ואני סמחה מאוד בשבלך אנחנו אוהבים אתכם
    מכב...:)

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  7. I want to lean Chinese, I like the food

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  8. Have been reading and enjoying your blog for several years and look forward to what you have to share. This is the first time to make a comment and hope that it might be helpful.
    Ten years ago we began attending a Messianic Jewish congregation where we began learning about the foundation of our faith and participated in 4 Hebrew classes. The last session was by far the most helpful due to the teaching materials used. This was Biblical Hebrew not to be confused with conversational Hebrew.
    The materials used were:
    1)"The First Hebrew Primer: the Adult Beginner's Path to Biblical Hebrew, Third Edition" and can be used in a group or for self study. It begins with the very basics and builds from there. The first ten lessons provide the basics needed for scripture study.
    2) The "Complete Jewish Bible" translated by Dr. David Stern from the perspective of a Messanic Jew with many informative insights found in the Introduction.
    3)The Stone Edition of the Tanach (the Torah, Prophets and Writings). It is the writings of what is called the Old (Foundation)Testament. It also offers much insight in the Preface and Appendices. The pages are written with Hebrew being used on the right hand page and English on the left hand page with comments offered as needed at the bottom of the page. (Note: It reads from what we think of as Back to the Front.)
    May you be blessed in your study of His language.

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  9. How did you find Rosetta Stone? I have used one or two other foreign language software programs but did not really get a great deal out of them.

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