Hebrew Scriptures and More . . . .

The following is a list of files, websites and other aids to improve your teaching of Biblical Hebrew.

1. On Teaching Hebrew in General: Charles David Isbell has provided an excellent article entitled: “The Hebrew Teacher: Guru, Drill Instructor, or Role Model?” This is an expanded version of a paper that Isbell presented at Wake Forest University in 2002. He writes:

“… several characteristics were common to all of the teachers of language with whom I have been privileged to study. Each one was natural, playing to his/her own strengths, fighting in personal suits of armor that fit them better than anyone else. And each successful teacher I have known had a love affair with language. . . .”

2. Rahel Halabe’s website provides some helpful material for teaching both biblical and modern Hebrew. Her page About Teaching Biblical Hebrew contains two materials:

2.1 A link to a SBL Forum presentation of March, 2008 entitled “Ancient Languages are still Around, but do We Really Know how to Teach Them?“

2.2 Halabe has also made available an adapted form of her M.Ed. Thesis entitled The Introduction to Biblical Hebrew: The Practical Way.

3. Teaching students to read biblical Hebrew without vowel points: William P. Griffin has been teaching some students his beginning Hebrew students to read unpointed text. He has presented it on the SBL Forum and entitled his presentation: “Killing a Dead Language: A Case against Emphasizing Vowel Pointing when Teaching Biblical Hebrew.”

4. Aryeh Wohl argues that Hebrew should be taught as a Second/Foreign language. This is a topic that I have been interested in for many, many years now. The article is: “Teaching Hebrew as a Second/Foreign Language.”

4.1 Note Randall Buth’s approach along these lines at his Biblical Language Center.

5. Note the National Association of Professors of Hebrew – Annual newsletter – Iggeret.

6. Biblical Hebrew Resources – Tyler F. Williams. This page contain 5 major subpages with great discussion about introductory textbooks and other resources.

7. John F. Hobbins has an interesting blog post on teaching biblical Languages: “Sadistic Approaches to Teaching Biblical Languages.”

8. Although it is in desperate need of updating my link page on the Hebrew Language may be helpful. I plan to take some time and update the links in the next few weeks.

If you have any other sources that you think would be helpful, please leave a comment.

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