ב''ה
Hebrew Our Way | עברית בדרכנו
Center for Professional Instruction in Hebrew and Lashon HaKodesh
for Torah-Based Institutions
מרכז הכשרה ותמיכה מקצועי
להוראת עברית מקצועית ולשון הקודש במוסדות חינוך תורניים
It's Not About What Students KNOW...
It's About What They Can DO!
What can functional proficiency students learn to do? They can... intuitively understand the depth of a tefillah, quickly identify the main idea in a video clip, ask someone for directions to shul, understand a dvar Torah spoken at native speed, introduce themselves and their families with confidence, follow a recipe, write a personal essay, ask for help, explain how they feel, read Torah with enthusiasm and meaning and more.
Adding the Functional Proficiency Approach to your existing repertoire is one of the most valuable things you can do for your students - and their current and future success - because language and learning skills are the foundation for everything they do as Torah Jews.
Our Mission: Changing HOW
Hebrew & Lashon HaKodesh are taught
The Functional Proficiency Approach is neither a methodology nor a curriculum, and implementing it does not mean you must abandon all your existing materials. Instead, it provides the missing link in understanding where your students are holding in their language abilities and exactly how to move them up from level to level.
HOW collaborates with teachers, administrators, schools, camps, and other institutions to develop highly effective, proficiency-based Hebrew teaching programs, with sensitivity to the core values of our Torah-based schools.
Through our systematic, proven, and personal approach, we inspire new and experienced teachers with professional confidence.
We are also able to facilitate Hebrew instruction for groups and individuals of all levels and ages.
Join our network of schools and educators who are committed to transforming the quality of Hebrew and Limudei Kodesh instruction in the Diaspora.
Proud to be Working with
Fantastic Teams and Educators From...
Oak Park, MI
Tamarac, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Oak Park, MI
Teacher Empowerment & Materials Development
Our student-centered approach solves two problems at once. Hebrew Our Way trained and guided teachers build and add professional skills -- in order to masterfully identify, use, adapt and create engaging materials according to his or her students' and schools' actual needs.
Available Now
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New Cohort: Intro to Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language - 16 Sessions- Fall 5782 - In Progress
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Teaching Dikduk to English-Speakers - A Big Picture Approach - Oct 28 | 22 Cheshvan Workshop
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New Cohort: A Functional Approach to Limudei Kodesh - 8 Sessions - In Formation
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Student Enrichment Events & Activities - Hebrew Newspaper! Cooking! Art!
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Hebrew for Beginners, Refresher Hebrew Course, Conversation Starter Course - Available remotely and in selected locations - private or group lessons - great for parents, community members, and staff who want to focus on their language skills
Our student-centered approach solves both problems at once. Each teacher gains the tools necessary to create, use, and adapt engaging materials according to his or her students' actual needs.
Our Process: Learn, Apply, Repeat
Professional Courses & Workshops | קורסים וסדנאות
1
Get started by learning essential concepts together with like-minded teachers and administrators in the Hebrew Our Way Introductory Certificate Course.
2
Next, learn how to integrate them very practically in your own school or classroom through guided curriculum development. Build your own perfect units and access those of other teachers.
3
Tap into the latest techniques and connect with experienced proficiency experts through continuing education participation.
Introductory Course in Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language: Proficiency Approach
דבורה קפלן
M.A., Director, Hebrew Our Way
START HERE! Gain fundamental knowledge and skills in the Proficiency Approach. Based on decades of language research, and optimized for Torah schools, this course gives you the foundation to transform your students' learning experience.
A Functional Proficiency Approach for Limudei Kodesh
Dvora Kaplan
Dvora Kaplan has decades of experience teaching Limudei Kodesh for multiple levels, ages, and environments.
Not a Hebrew teacher? Bring the powerful benefits of the functional proficiency approach to your Torah, halachah, dikduk, kriyah, and other Limudei Kodesh lessons and watch your students' skills and engagement grow.
Proficiency: Halacha L'Maaseh
גילה אזרד
PhD Student, Modern Languages, Middlebury College
Design activities that get your students up and talking to one another in Hebrew. A balance of theory and practical skills will be presented.
Teaching with "Comprehensible Input" Strategies
Mira Angrist
Senior Lecturer in Hebrew, Hebrew Program Director at Boston University
Learn practical tools to provide accessible input to your learners according to S. Krashen's Comprehensible Input Hypothesis, including Cooperative Story Building, Special Person Interview, Circling, and TPRS.
Art in the Proficiency Classroom & Self-Reflection: Its Importance for Language Learning
Ziva Platner
Language Department Chair, YULA High School, LA
Using art for language acquisition, lesson planning, developing students' listening skills
Maximizing the Lesson Plan through Game- Based Learning and Gamification
Mira Angrist
Senior Lecturer in Hebrew, Hebrew Program Director at Boston University
Learn about using games and a gamification approach, strategies to increase motivation, engagement, interpersonal communication and vocabulary support. Hands-on practice, discussion and self-reflection.
Teaching & Learning Strategies for SLA
דורן כ''ץ
EdD, Instructor, The School of Hebrew at Middlebury College
Language Teaching Strategies
How to Create Meaningful Experiential Learning
Ronit Lerman
MA, Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language; Hebrew Instructor at Broward College, Florida
We know that acquisition comes from meaningful, practical communication opportunities. Ronit helps participants understand what that means for them personally, and for their students, then teaches and develops a useful, research-based model that can be incorporated immediately into the classroom.
Project Based Language Learning
Orly Lavi Travish
Lead Hebrew Language Instructor at Concordia Language Villages, Founder 972Education.comn
The workshop will:
● Develop an understanding of Gold Standard PBL
● Define the roles of students and teachers in PBL activities
● Demonstrate how PBL may be incorporated into Hebrew language classes, and
how Project Based Language Learning (PBLL) may be integrated with the
proficiency approach, as well as with the ACTFL World Readiness Standards for
teaching a second language
● Introduce a suggested PBLL project and format that will form the basis of the
teacher’s work designing a PBLL unit, based on the learner’s proficiency level
and curriculum
● Assist the teacher in starting to create a unit (Collecting authentic materials,
writing goals and assessments, and other relevant planning)
Essential Elements in Literacy Development
אירית שטיין
PhD Student, THSL, Middlebury College
1) עקרונות האוריינות אצל לומדי עברית כשפה שנייה בגיל הרך לאורך תהליך הקניית הקריאה והכתיבה. עקרונות אלה ילוו בדוגמאות. כיצד יש להכין את הלומדים הצעירים לתהליך הקניית הקריאה והכתיבה?
2) המיפגש יתמקד בשאלה כיצד להוביל לומדים צעירים להצלחה בתהליך הקריאה והכתיבה הפורמלי.
3) המיפגש יעסוק בפעילויות שתורמות לשטף הקריאה והכתיבה אצל לומדי עברית כשפה שנייה בגיל הצעיר שסיימו את תהליך הקניית הקריאה והכתיבה, עקרונות אלה ילוו בדוגמאות.
4) המיפגש יעסוק בעקרונות האוריינות אצל לומדי עברית כשפה שנייה בגיל הרך שסיימו את תהליך הקניית הקריאה והכתיבה, עקרונות אלה ילוו בדוגמאות.
Working with Israeli Students in the Diaspora Classroom
Faculty
What do students from Hebrew-speaking homes add to your Hebrew language classroom? What challenges do they present? Their skills in some areas may be advanced, but in others they might well be lacking. So how do we keep them engaged while helping them progress in their abilities?
Overcoming Difficulties in Hebrew Teaching
ליאורה גזית
B Ed. Teaching & Special Ed, Bar-Ilan Univ, M.A., THSL, Middlebury College
Course description coming soon!
Tech in Torah Schools: Challenges & Solutions
יעל גל- בן יצחק
School of Hebrew Technology Coordinator
& PhD Candidate, Modern Languages, Middlebury College
Expert Yael Gal continues to elaborate on the effective use of electronic and internet devices and programs in the classroom.
Early Childhood Hebrew
אילנה וינבגג
Masters in Early Childhood, City College NY; M.A., THSL, Middlebury, B.A. and Teacher Certification, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Ilana Weinberg shares insights into using the proficiency approach in the younger grades.
Designing and Delivering for Student Success
Ketty Granite
PhD Student, THSL, Middlebury College
Focus on specific aspects of Functional Proficiency teaching and learning
Tech for Teachers
יעל גל- בן יצחק
School of Hebrew Technology Coordinator
& PhD Candidate, Modern Languages, Middlebury College
Learn about computer tools, games, electronic worksheets, and time savers that can work in the Torah school classroom.
Differentiated Instruction for Hebrew
דפנה ססלבסקי
Director, Department of Jewish Education & Hebrew, UHM
Learn how to engage students on various levels in this one-day workshop that builds on previous knowledge of the Proficiency Approach.
Each course or workshop includes interactive discussion and hands-on practice with other teachers, tutors, and administrators from around the world. No matter your level of Hebrew, if you are responsible for teaching Hebrew dikduk, language or textual skills, you and your students can benefit. Not sure? Contact us for references related to your particular situation.
Become a Member
Hebrew Our Way annual members receive access to
shared materials, monthly workshops, a community of like-minded educators,
and general support.
What People Are Saying: Testimonials
"My 7th grade daughter opened a Hebrew biography at home and felt able to read it on her own for the first time. It's clear that learning more Hebrew strengthened her Limudei Kodesh skills, and vice versa."
P. NOTIK, PARENT
CHICAGO, IL
My 40 years in Hebrew Language education has shown me that the success of Hebrew proficiency in students depends on the level of professionalism in their teachers’ instruction. I see the Hebrew Our Way initiative as a great opportunity for Hebrew teachers in Torah schools to acquire dynamic tools to help them achieve their teaching goals.
Professor Vardit Ringvald
Director, The School of Hebrew at Middlebury College, Vermont
