Journal Four: Over the past few months, my Hebrew learning journey has grown in ways. I recently finished my last lesson with my mentor, Rabbi Sherry, and our work has evolved significantly since the beginning of the semester. Early on, we focused…
"I like how you connected the cultural dimensions to both your personal experiences and broader societal trends. Your example about the difference in time perception between the U.S. and India made the monochronic-polychronic concept super…"
"I like how you connected features like pitch, rhythm, and archaic vocabulary to your own language learning journey. It’s smart that you’re focusing on listening and identifying repeated words at this stage, that’s such a practical and immersive way…"
"I liked the way you connected the issue to larger forces like colonization and globalization, it’s a powerful reminder that language loss is often the result of deep systemic pressures, not just personal choice. The point about younger generations…"
"I liked how you highlighted the role of linguists and technology in preservation efforts, and your example of Hebrew as a successfully revived language was powerful and inspiring. Your point about respecting native communities and working…"
"You did a nice job explaining how English spelling and pronunciation don’t always match, and your examples like mortgage and subtle were great. I also thought your comparisons to Korean were helpful, especially when you talked about sounds like…"
"I like how you emphasized the gap between spelling and pronunciation, it’s something many learners struggle with, and you broke it down really well. The examples from other languages, like Arabic and Mandarin, helped highlight how varied and complex…"
"I liked how you broke down each linguistic field and showing how it contributes to understanding Korean, not just structurally, but culturally too. I also liked how you prioritized phonology, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics for conversational…"
"You did a great job showing how language learning goes way beyond just memorizing vocab or grammar. I especially liked how you emphasized the role of sociolinguistics and pragmatics in understanding Korean, honorifics and context indeed play such a…"
"I liked your idea, focusing on cooking vocabulary is such a creative and relatable way to study language. It’s cool how you tied in media like YouTube and blogs, since that’s where a lot of real, everyday language shows up. I also thought your…"
"I like how you connected the honorific system to Korean social norms. Your point about tracking changes from older texts to modern speech was also super interesting, and I think it would reveal a lot about Korea’s history and identity. The way you…"
As part of my cultural exploration in Hebrew, I chose to engage with The Prince of Egypt, a film that has deep roots in Jewish history, language, and cultural memory. Although it is a Hollywood production, The…
"If I received a research grant to conduct a linguistic study of Hebrew, I would start by investigating the convergence of modern Israeli Hebrew and classical religious Hebrew, with a specific focus on how different communities (secular Israelis vs.…"
"Discussion Post #9: Languages go extinct due to a complex interplay of factors, prominently including the dominance of major languages like English, Spanish, and Mandarin in global communication and digital media. This phenomenon can lead to a…"
Over the past several weeks, I have had about eight lessons with Rabbi Sherry, and my Hebrew learning has become more interactive and analytical. We still go over long reading passages and practice basic…