I have gained many insights about myself through becoming a language learner and cultural explorer. Learning a language and this class have helped me understand how language can be connected to identity, history, and culture. I also realized that learning a language takes patience and consistency, and that I learn best when I can connect the language to the culture behind it instead of just trying to memorize words.
Firstly, I became more conscious about language and how it can shape a culture. Especially when it comes to Hebrew, it is rich with history that has influenced both the biblical and modern language and the people who speak it. Through our class discussion, I learned how language can preserve a people’s traditions and worldview. Hebrew is a perfect example of this because it has survived for centuries and was revived into a modern spoken language. Learning about Hebrew made me see how closely language can be tied to identity and how it can connect people to their past while still being part of everyday life in the present. Doing my class presentation about this helped me learn a lot more about this, and I find modern Hebrew fascinating!
Secondly, I learned a lot about the language itself. I learned about the difference between feminine and masculine terms and how sentences are structured differently from English. I also found it very interesting to learn how modern Hebrew was created and brought back into daily use. Another part that interested me was the root system of Hebrew words because many words are connected through the same three-letter roots. This helped me see patterns in the language and made the vocabulary feel less random. Instead of seeing every word as separate, I started noticing how words are related to one another.
I found memorizing words the most challenging part. When I heard words, I usually knew what they meant, but when it came time for me to actually speak, I would completely forget everything. It is crazy how understanding Hebrew and speaking Hebrew are very different skills. My understanding is much stronger than my active speaking ability.
I will continue my learning by speaking Hebrew with my dad and consuming media in Hebrew. I will definitely continue listening to audiobooks in Hebrew, and I might watch some children’s movies in Hebrew. I think consistency will be the most important part of improving. Maybe I will use Duolingo, but I have heard that it isn’t the best. I definitely want to keep Hebrew in my everyday life. I would also like to learn more conversational Hebrew and everyday expressions so I can better understand how people naturally speak.
I really enjoyed the discussions we had in class and hearing about everyone else’s challenges and journeys. Hearing other students talk about their experiences made me realize that language learning can be difficult for everyone. I also liked the section of class when we learned about language trees because it was fascinating to hear where different languages originated from. The readings about the history of modern Hebrew were especially useful because they helped me appreciate the language beyond grammar. Overall, this semester helped me see language learning as more than just an academic subject. It became a way for me to better understand both myself and the culture connected to the language.
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