Chocolatespoon: Emily’s Musings

Part of our homework this week was to put the stickers that came in the book around the house to label words we’re supposed to be learning. So now all sorts of random things have yellow labels on them — we’ll see if it helps me learn them…

I’m taking a Conversational Hebrew class — tonight was the first meeting. A ton of people signed up, but it looks like it will be fun. There are eight sessions so hopefully I’ll learn to say a few things before the wedding… The text is Hebrew in 10 Minutes a Day (which I own but didn’t get very far into). I also listened to lessons 7 & 8 of my Pinsleur CDs in the car (we’re still on whether you want to have a drink at his place or the hotel…)

ay-foh at rotza le-shote mashahoo? ba-ma-lon o its-li? [or something like that]

Sunday was our last Adult Beginners Hebrew class so tonight our group has to get up in front of everyone and read part of the service. We’re doing the veahavta part.

In an attempt to pick up a little Hebrew over the coming months (and years), I have been collecting books (I’m working on “Hebrew in 10 Minutes a Day”), checking out CDs and managed to find a few local classes. Today I took “Hebrew 101: A Concentrated Introduction” from Lehrhaus Judaica – The Adult School For Jewish Studies with Orna Morad, held at Cong. Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. It was definitely introductory level, but that is certainly where I am right now.

Some of the things we went over (so I can have them here to practice later). The transliterations may be a bit off in places…

Ma shmekh(f)/sheemkha(m)? [what is your name?]
Shmee… (my name is…)
Me-ayin at(f)/ata(m)? [where are you from?]
Anee me… (I am from…)
Ayfoh at garah(f)/ata gar(m)? [where do you live?]
At mederberet(f)/Atah medaber(m)… [do you speak…?]
Lo, anee lo medaber/t…

and ever important… Ayfoh ha sherutim (Where is the bathroom?)
Sham [there]

then we had lunch and learned to say
Ani rotza(f)/rotze(m) bevakasha… [I want please…]
pita, hummus, melafefon chamotz (pickeled cucumber), tutim (strawberries), anaveen (grapes), oo-gah (cake), cafe, te (tea), mitz tapoozim (orange juice)

we learned our numbers:
ef-es (zero), aH-aht (one), shtahyeem (two), shal-losh (three), ar-bah (four), Ham-mesh (five), shesh (six), sheh-vah (seven — like Be’er Sheva, which is 7 Wells), shmoh-neh (eight), tay-shah (nine) and es-air (ten) [handout was from Akhlah

and asked the time (ma hashaa)

I’d definitely take another class from this teacher — unfortunately the Intensive Modern Hebrew: Level Alef (Beginning) class meets Tuesday nights while I’m at work. Hopefully the fall schedule will have some other options.
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